Category: Sport

Clonlara 2-13 – Broadford 0-14 at Cusack Park, Ennis

MORE OF a grudge match than a championship treat as Clonlara’s impact substitutions provided the knock-out blow in an ill-tempered affair. Following on from the last championship meeting at intermediate level in 2007 when the action in Shannon lasted beyond the final whistle, the real winner of the hour was perhaps Flan Marsh’s shatter safe hurleys in a game that had ten yellows cards and a red one for Cathal Chaplin deep into injury-time.

In the end however, Broadford will feel disappointed not to have got anything out of the game, having disrupted Clonlara for long periods and even led by two points as late as the 55th minute.

That the 2008 champions did survive came down to two key aspects; the leadership of John Conlon and the impact of substitutes Donal Madden and James Hastings who grabbed a goal each in a final flourish.

Clonlara’s progress all afternoon was hampered by an unproductive forward unit that hit 15 wides over the hour and carried far more passengers than normal. Neither did they appear in any danger once John Conlon’s superb over the shoulder point from under the stand began a four point unanswered streak that saw them push 0-6 to 0-2 clear by the end of the first quarter.

However, it was to be their final first half contribution on the scoreboard as Broadford came storming back into the contest with Padraig Hickey unerring from frees (3) and further scores from Paurig Taylor and Aonghus O’Brien to hold a 0-7 to 0-6 lead by the break.

Clonlara re-emerged in determined fashion and might have grabbed a goal in the opening minute had it not been for an excellent block by James Gunning on Cormac O’Donovan in front of goal.

Instead, Broadford held the whip hand, mainly through the scoring prowess of Hickey who was growing in confidence as the hour developed while strangely muted in his celebrations of those scores. Largely it came down to a shooting match between Hickey at one side and Conlon at the other but every time Clonlara would gain parity, Broadford had the ability to pull clear once more.

Such was the case in the final straight when points from Alan Kilcoyne and Hickey had Broadford 013 to 0-11 clear and seemingly on the road to an opening victory.

Cue the introduction of Donal Madden and James Hastings who both would make telling contributions to the final result. Conlon fed Madden for a 55th minute point and only a minute later, the two were again involved as Conlon’s effort for a point dropped short, goalkeeper Ollie Marsh stopped the ball from going over the bar and Madden was there to pounce from close range to pull the ball to the net.

Broadford weren’t finished yet however as Hickey struck a goalbound shot two minutes later that was blocked by John Moloney and after a Hickey point and Cathal Chaplin’s second yellow, Hastings punished another defensive error to pour salt into Broadford’s wounds.

Cratloe 0-16 – Scariff 0-10 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

CRATLOE have yet to spark in this year’s championship but at least they demonstrated that they have the belly to fight for their championship survival after a bruising hour on Sunday.

Wounded after their disappointing opening round defeat at the hands of Tubber, nothing but victory would do for the 2009 champions if they were to reach their third successive final.

In the end, the best that can be said is that they dug the victory out with minimal ruthlessness and maximum fuss. Fourteen wides over the hour told a tale of wastefulness that normally isn’t part of Cratloe’s make-up but it was the manner of those wides that will infuriate most as at times they tended to attempt shots from near impossible angles.

Scariff, meanwhile were making their championship bow and came with an expected warm welcome for last year finalists but for all their hustle and bustle, they didn’t possess the firepower to punish sufficiently on the scoreboard, emphasised by the fact that none of their forwards got more than a point from play.

While Cratloe led from start to finish, perhaps the turning point of the game, came in the 46th minute when Cratloe goalkeeper Sean Hayes produced a magnificent full length save to deny Ross Horan. Had that goal gone in, Scariff might have taken advantage as they were certainly on the front foot with the switch of Diarmaid Nash to midfield for the final quarter.

As it was however, Scariff did hit three of the next four points to cut the deficit to just three points but without a goal, they never looked like cancelling Cratloe’s lead as the south east Clare side cruised home with the last three points of the game.

They had started strongly too, weathering the physical Scariff challenge to score the first four points of the afternoon through county senior duo, Conor McGrath (3) and Cathal McInerney by the 12th minute. Scariff finally opened their account two minutes later when Ross Horan converted a ’65 followed by a Patrick Minogue effort on the run but the remainder of the half was noted more for the tally of wides than scores as Cratloe had nine missess to Scariff’s five. It was 0-6 to 0-3 at the break but in a quickfire resumption, Scariff would double their first half margin in only three second half minutes through Kenny McNamara, Padraig Brody and Horan with brief replies from Cathal McInerney and Padraigh Chaplin.

Two points was still the margin when Enda Boyce and Horan swapped points at 0-9 to 0-7 before Cratloe upped the ante to hit three successive points approaching the turn for home.

One of the features of Cratloe’s display was the strong link between Sean Collins in midfield who pulled the strings all afternoon and front pair Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney, and despite the expected Scariff onslaught in the final quarter, it was that triumvirate that provided just enough quality to gather Cratloe’s first points of the campaign.

Tubber 2-10 – Whitegate 0-07 at Shannon

IT’S 30 years since Tubber reached their first and only county final – there’s no talk of marking that 30th anniversary with another big day out, but they definitely talking amongst themselves about a first quarter-final appearance in eight years.

Why not? It’s all to do with backto-back wins to start this campaign – following up their first round win over Cratloe with a comprehensive nine-point triumph over a very disappointing Whitegate side.

It’s onwards and upwards for Tubber as they face into the 15-week break – for Whitegate it’s a fight for survival in senior ranks on the back of two straight defeats.

Tubber had much of their work done by half-time when they had forged a 1-5 to 0-3 lead despite hitting nine wides; their work was done when they hit 1-3 without reply inside the opening 12 minutes of the second half as they moved 11 points clear.

This game never set the pulses racing, but Tubber didn’t care as they always had the edge from the moment Shane O’Connor bustled his way through on goal and kicked the sliotar to the empty net for the opening goal in the 11th minute.

O’Connor’s strike franked Tubber’s steady start that saw them hit 1-4 without reply in a six-minute period after Georgie Waterstone had opened the scoring for Whitegate in the fourth minute.

Mark Early, Barry O’Connor (2) hit points by the eighth minute, while the mercurial Eamonn Taaffe teed up Tommy Lee for an 11th minute point to put Tubber 1-4 to 0-1 clear and firmly in control.

Whitegate did stop the rot with a Pat Minogue point in the 12th minute, but the remainder of the half was a forgettable affair as the sides could only muster two points between them – Eamonn Taaffe opened his account in the 15th minute while Brendan Bugler, Whitegate’s lone star throughout, burst forward in the 25th to hit an inspirational score.

Not that it inspired those around him, save a burst midway through the second half when Michael O’Brien, John O’Brien and Georgie Water- stone hit points.

By then, however, it was already too late as Tubber’s impressive start to the half sealed the two points and put them top Group 2.

Tommy Lee lofted over a point two minutes, while the decisive score came two minutes later when Shane O’Connor sealed his and Tubber’s day when pouncing on a rebound when Andrew Fahy foiled Mark Early’s goal-bound drive, batting to the net from seven yards.

It put them 2-8 to 0-3 clear – Whitegate did peg it back to eight points with ten minutes left, but that was as good as it got. David O’Donoghue and Patrick O’Connor, who hit three second half points ensured Tubber cruised home.

Tubber
Ronan Taaffe (7), John O’Connor (7), Eoin Ruane (7), Paul Fogarty (7), Fergal O’Grady (7), Conor Earley (8), Patrick O’Connor (7) (0-3f), Mark Earley (7) (0-1), Clive Earley (7), David O’Donoghue (7) (0-1), Shane O’Connor (8) (2-0),Tommy Lee (7) (0-2), Darragh O’Connor (6), Barry O’Connor (7) (0-2), EamonnTaaffe (7) (0-1).

Subs
Justin McMahon (6) for Darragh O’Connor [51 mins].

Whitegate
AndrewFahy (7), John Minogue (7), John Bugler (7), Cathal Mulvihill (7),Trevor Kelly (7), Brendan Bugler (8) (0-1), Jason Malone (7), Ian Fahy (6), Tomas McNamara (6), Michael O’Brien (7) (0-1), Terence Fahy (6), Stephen Malone (6), Georgie Waterstone (7) (0-4f), Patrick Minogue (7) (0-1), Shane O’Rourke (6).

Subs
John O’Brien (7) for Fahy [40 mins], Eoin Quirke (6) for Malone [48 mins].

Man of the Match
Shane O’Connor (Tubber) Referee TomStackpoole (Ennistymon)

Sixmilebridge 3-16 – Wolfe Tones 0-10 at Cusack Park, Ennis

WORD had it down in the Goalpost bar in Shannon that Patsy Keyes was Libya bound for work before its people decided to rise up against Colonel Gadaffi – if he’d gone he would have had an easier time manning troops on the ground than he had managing Wolfe Tones from the field of play as they took their bow in the 2011 senior championship on Friday evening.

All because, so depleted are the Tones resources this year that this was like going into battle with water pistols against anti-aircraft tanks. The difference between the sides was that stark as the ‘Bridge, no doubt on their guard because of the scare they got against Clarecastle in the first round, strolled to a 15-points success.

It was every bit as easy as the scoreline suggests with Jamie Shanahan’s brilliant 24th minute goal breaking the Tones’ resistance. The underdogs were competitive until then as points from Bobby and Garret McPhillips (2) in reply to ‘Bridge points from Shanahan (2), Niall Gilligan (2) and Caimin Morey had them only 0-5 to 0-3 in arrears.

The goal changed everything as Shanahan showed great pace when gathering in the right corner, turning and flashing a great sot to the net from 15 yards. From there the ‘Bridge turned the screw before half-time with a further five points to move 1-10 to 0-3 clear. Gilligan helped himself to two from play and a free, while Pa Sheehan and Caimin Morey were also on the mark.

With the wind to come in the second half, all the Tones could do was be like Colonel Gadaffi himself – refuse to surrender. That they did, with Colonel Keyes doing his best from full-back, while up front the two-time senior champions save some face when adding to their tally by seven points. Three points in row from the 37

Tulla 1-13 – Clarecastle 0-10 at Shannon

WHEN the Magpies were in their pomp in the mid-‘90s Tulla never stood back from the challenge, famously nearly bringing them to ground in their greatest ever year of 1997.

They didn’t stand back here either – but did the business this time as their mix of youth and experience eased them to a thoroughly deserved six-point win over a Clarecastle team that’s going through tough times.

Daragh Corry was the star turn from the new generation; David McInerney had his moments before being injured, while old boys Andrew Quinn, Aidan Lynch and Mark Quinn provided inspiration at key intervals as Tulla took another giant step towards a return to the quarterfinal for the first time since their sto- ried 2007 season.

The final leap was provided by last year’s county minor Corry – another soaring catch that was crowned when he turned and drove to the net from eight yards in the 59th minutes to ease any Tulla nerves and put them six clear.

Truth is, Tulla were nerveless at key moments of this tempestous encounter that saw referee Seanie McMahon flash five yellow cards and reds to Danny O’Halloran and Derek Quinn.

Before half-time when when Andrew Quinn hit four points in a row to ease Tulla 0-9 to 0-5 clear at the break; at the death after Clarecastle had pegged it back to point, only for the claret and gold to hit back with points by Cathal Dinan and Daragh Corry; finally Corry’s goal.

Clarecastle did have their chances, but a spate of bad wides in the closing stages – they hit ten in all – cost them very dear, as did their failure to match Tulla in the physical stakes.

Tulla’s Danny O’Halloran paid the price of a straight red card for a wild pull on Ollie Plunkett after only seven minutes; Eanna Torpey was very lucky not to walk for a pull on Eric Flynn three minutes later, while Clarecastle’s Derek Quinn went that way after some argy bargy in first half injury time.

In between there was actually some hurling – Tulla held the initiative early on and led 0-4 to 0-1 after 15 minutes with Aidan Lynch to the fore with two good points, but a flurry of four-in-a-row from the Magpies when Tyrone Kearse (2), Derek Quinn and Darragh Moloney put them 0-5 to 0-4 clear.

Ultimately, however, it was Clare- castle’s failure to raise a flag in the final ten minutes and Andrew Quinn’s haul of 0-5 in the same period that set them up for victory. Their fourpoint lead was still intact by the 40th minute after they traded a brace of points each.

Another surge by the Magpies saw them peg it back to the minimum as two Tyrone Kearse frees and a Conor O’Gorman effort had the matters delicatley poised at 0-11 to 0-10 in Tulla’s favour.

Clarecastle looked capable of kicking on, but didn’t as their wide tally mounted and they failed to score in the final 13 minutes of the game.

Tulla had no such problems and Clarecastle could have no complaints as the 2007 champions also missed two penalties during the game, as Aidan Lynch and Andrew Quinn had their shots stopped.

Tulla
Philip Brennan (7), Eugene Cooney (7), SeanTorpey (7), John Brennan (7), Paul Lynch (7), Mark Quinn (8), Cian McInerney (7), Cathal Dinan (7) (0-1), Conor O’Halloran (7), EannaTorpey (6), Daragh Corry (9) (1-1), David McInerney (7), Danny O’Halloran (6) (0-1) (6),AndrewQuinn (8) (0-7, 3f, two 65s),Aidan Lynch (8) (0-3).

Subs
Michael Murphy (6) for McInerney [40 mins], Raymond Stewart (6) for Murphy [57 mins].

Clarecastle
Donagh Murphy (7), Seanie Moloney (7), Stephen O’Halloran (6), Ollie Plunkett (7), Fergus Ryan (6), Patrick Kelly (7), Eric Flynn (7), Eamonn Callinan (6) (0-1), Danny Scanlan (6), Darragh Moloney (7) (0-2), Ciaran O’Dwyer (6), Jonathon Clancy (7),Aaron Considine (6), Derek Quinn (6) (0-1),Tyrone Kearse (7) (0-5, 4f).

Subs
Conor O’Gorman (6) (0-1) for O’Dwyer [41 mins], Gary Farmer (6) for Callinan [57 mins].

Man of the Match
Daragh Corry (Tulla) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-8 – Kilmaley 1-8 at Cusack Park, Ennis

ONE of these days Kilmaley will actually win a championship game, while this could yet be one of those days that Newmarket-on-Fergus look back on and say was the making of them.

The Blues were lucky to escape with a draw; Kilmaley unlucky to be consigned to their sixth draw out of their seven championship outings over the past three seasons. They looked to be home to the two points when leading by 1-8 to 0-7 entering the last two minutes – they were brilliant in defence, with veteran Anthony Cahill putting in an inspiring hour’s work on the edge of the square, while on the edge of the other square Diarmuid McMahon’s strike for a 45th minute goal put daylight between the sides for the first time.

The Blues looked a beaten docket, in a performance that was strikingly similar in standard – the lack of standard that is – to the championship opener against Wolfe Tones three years ago.

Kilmaley had the hunger and that extra bit of class up front too thanks to Daire Keane who chipped in with three delightful points from play as they closed in on the victory that was denied them in the first game against Crusheen thanks to Paddy Vaughan’s last gasp levelling point.

However, history repeated itself thanks to Newmarket’s late surge. Firstly a needless foul on David Bar- rett on the 21-yard line when the sliotar was going away from goal yielded the free that was blasted to the net by Colin Ryan; three minutes later Eoin Hayes landed a brilliant equaliser from underneath the grandstand to save the Blues’ day.

It was rough justice on Kilmaley really, but punishment at the same time for their failure to kill off the game in the closing minutes against a lethargic Newmarket side that seemed to be going through the motions for much of the hour.

Kilmaley started the better with points from Brian McMahon and John Cabey inside five minutes, while it took Newmarket 13 minutes to get off the mark through an Eoin Hayes point.

It was pedestrian stuff for the first half – the standout moments provided by Daire Keane’s two points from, while four Colin Ryan points, three of which were from frees, and a David Barrett effort edged them 0-6 to 0-5 clear at the break.

However, the Blues’ looked to have blown their chance by failing to raise another flag until the 47th minute when David Barrett scored, by which time Kilmaley had hit 1-2 without reply.

Daire Keane got them going with the equaliser eight minutes in while 1-1 from Diarmuid McMahon inside three minutes had them in pole position. A fine point from play by Kenneth Kennedy in the 53rd minute edged them four clear and within touching distance of victory until Newmarket’s late, late show.

Crusheen 1-14 – Clooney/Quin 1-11 at Cusack Park, Ennis

PERHAPS IT comes with championship success but it was Crusheen’s ability to take their chances while on top that decided this relatively open final encounter at Clare headquarters on Sunday evening.

1-8 in the final 20 minutes, inspired by a Conor O’Donnell goal in the 42nd minute and the introduction of Paddy Meaney who could have scored a hat-trick of goals only for the bravery of goalkeeper Damien O’Halloran, cemented a first victory for the holders and puts them back in charge of their own destiny in the group.

On the flip side, it was Clooney/ Quin’s profligacy when backed by a strong breeze in the opening half that ultimately cost them the win in this their championship bow, having hit ten first half wides. In fact, had Clooney/Quin led by six or seven points at the break, few could have argued as Crusheen were struck to the ground and on the backfoot for the majority.

Between the wides, Padraig Ward was the chief marksman while Peter Duggan also dissected the posts with a stunning 50 metre lineball as the challengers held a 0-7 to 0-5 halftime advantage.

Crusheen were a different animal on the turnover however, even though it took them until Conor O’Donnell’s 42nd minute free to gain some much needed confidence and indeed the lead as well.

That goal came midway through a 1-5 unanswered streak for the champions that essentially decided the game as Clooney/Quin were unable to get past the old familiar half-back line wall of Cathal Dillon, Cian Dillon and Ciaran O’Doherty while Paddy Vaughan and Tony Meaney fed off the breaks.

They did eventually rally with three Peter Duggan frees and a late Cathal Egan volley to the net from a dipping Duggan effort from distance but by now substitute Paddy Meaney was causing consternation in the Clooney/Quin full-back line that should have yielded at least two more goals for the champions who ran out deserving winners in the end.

THERE WAS success for Clare handballers recently in the final major 40×20 event of the year. At the prestigous Irish Nationals in Wexford, Shannon’s John Cawley claimed the Golden Masters B title while Diarmaid Nash of Tuamgraney reached the final of the Mens Open section.

Cawley had a 21-11, 21-18 final win over Meath man James Kelly to be crowned champion while Nash was very unlucky to go down 15-21, 2118, 2-11 in the Open decider against Westmeath’s Robbie McCarthy, one of the top senior players in both big and small alley. Nash had already knocked out some real big guns in Dominic Lynch, Joe McCann and top-seed Charly Shanks. The Ladies Open Singles was won by Fiona Shannon (Antrim) when she easily overcame Kerry’s Maria Daly.

With the arrival of long evenings and the sound of the cuckoo, so the handball focus switches from small to big alley over the summer months and a number of Banner County handballers are preparing for this year’s 60×30 Munster Championships. At Junior B grade, Tuamgraney Handball Club are hosting the O’Neill Cup Singles competition. The Michael O’Neill Perpetual Cup was donated to the club in recent years by the O’Neill family to honour the memory of the late Michael O’Neill who was one of the real stal- warts of Tuamgraney Handball Club in times past and will be remembered in the club for the tireless work he did for underage handball in the area.

This year, the Tuamgraney club have put forward the O’Neill Cup to be played as a Clare Junior B Singles Championship. There are 12 entries in total from across the county and quarter-finals are down for decision this week.

Avenue United 2 – Bridge United B 0 at The County Grounds, Doora

GERRY Sexton, who was the resident County Grounds DJ for the day cranked up the volume of ‘Gonna Fly’ – the famous Rocky theme tune as the teams paraded out onto the field.

The precursor for the knockout blow, no doubt, but unlike the first instalment of the Rocky series it wasn’t delivered by the underdog – never looked likely either.

Yes, heavyweights Avenue United bossed this game from the word go, cruising to their landmark tenth Clare Cup success, delivering two knockout blows along the way to put a game, but limited Bridge team out of their misery.

Two goals, but it could have been more from a rampant Avenue side that used the central midfield dominance carved out by David McCarthy and Pa Wilson in the first half to take the initiative that they never looked like surrendering.

The goals, a thundering drive from McCarthy after 26 minutes and a brilliantly angled header into the top corner by Con Collins after 64 minutes, gave Avenue that comfortable cushion, but truth is that it was even easier than the scoreline suggests.

It wasn’t until the 91st minute that Bridge forced their first corner – Avenue alone had seven in the first half as they laid siege on Barry Deasy’s goal.

Bridge never managed a shot on John Healy in the Avenue goal – they were too busy defending their own where only the heroics of Albert Finnan at the centre of the defence prevented more goals.

The repeat of last year’s decider was a tetchy affair at times, with the verbals and some tough tackling on the field also moving to the sideline where fourth official Frankie Coote had words with management and supporters alike.

Red cards were shown to Avenue’s David Smythe and Bridge’s Dominic Murphy – Smythe for a dive in the penalty area and then dissent after 59 minutes; Murphy for taking down Mikey Mahoney as he tore down the right flank in the 63rd minute.

Mahoney hobbled off with an ankle injury a few minutes later, but his work was done. The centre-forward was central to both goals, providing the final flick pass to David McCarthy for the first, while the second came directly from the free awarded after the Dominic Murphy tackle on Mahoney.

Avenue had goals on their mind from the opening minutes of this final – the club’s 17th final appearance between draws and replays in the last 25 years.

That’s tradition; that’s a club in a Clare Cup class of their own; that’s what they were on this day as they piled the misery on Bridge United for the second successive year.

Con Collins had a half chance as early as the second minute when he flashed a left-footed effort wide. Corner after corner then came Avenue’s way, but a combination of poor deliveries and a well-marshalled Bridge defence ensured they came to nothing.

However, the problems were further out the field for Bridge. David McCarthy was conducting things for Avenue and Pa Wilson was his able lieutenant, while David Herlihy and Colin Smythe looked dangerous down the flanks.

The constant pressure yielded the inevitable goal and when it came it was worthy of winning a cup final. David McCarthy picked up possession just inside the Bridge have and with space and time he darted forward ten yards, slipped a ground pass to Mikey Mahoney on the edge of the area, took the return pass and then flashed a low drive into the bottom right corner of the net.

That’s how it remained at the break, after Avenue spurned a number of chances, the best of which fell to Mikey Mahoney on 34 minutes when he got in behind the defence from a Pa Wilson ball, but was foiled at point blank range by Barry Deasy.

David McCarthy could have had a hat-trick in the half, going close on 36 minutes when he got on the end of a Mattie Nugent cross, while only a brilliant block from Albert Fin- nan prevented a goal on the stroke of half-time.

Bridge did have wind assistance in the second half, but any notion that Avenue might be put under the cosh was dispelled as early as the tenth second when opportunity knocked for McCarthy once more after David Smythe threaded the ball into his path in the area.

McCarthy’s shot was deflected wide, but in a sense Bridge were only delaying the inevitable, with Con Collins, a cup winner with Bunratty seven years ago, deciding the issue when he brilliantly headed home Pa Wilson’s free-kick in the 64th mintue.

By then Bridge were emptying their bench in a effort to turn things around; Avenue soon followed as this largely disappointing final ground down to its inevitable conclusion.

Gerry Sexton could have livened things up by cranking up the volume long before the end.

Avenue United
John Healy (7), Simon Cuddihy (7), Colin Smyth (8), Matty Nugent (7), David Russell (7), David Herlihy (7), Pa Wilson (7), David McCarthy (9), Con Collin (7), David Smyth (7), Mkey Mahoney (8)

Subs
Alan Roche (7) for Herlihy, Barry Nugent (7) for Mahoney, Gary Flynn for McCarthy, Dylan Casey (6) for Wilson, Jack Walshe (6) for Cuddihy

Bridge United
Barry Deasy (7), Kevin Meehan (6), Dan Larkin (6),Albert Finnin (7), Dominic Murphy (6),Alan Mulready (6), Damien Murphy (6), Robert Conlon (6), Brendan Murphy (6), Gavin Downes (6), Jamie O’Gorman (6)

Subs
Paul Corbett (6) for O’Gorman, Mark Lonergan (6) for Larkin, Padraig Flannery (6) for Murphy, Darragh Fitzgerald (6) for Meehan,

Man of the Match
Albert Finnan (Bridge United)

IT was stormy, at times bad tempered but nearly always predictable. A gale blasted across the County Grounds and the teams both finished with ten men after the second half dismissals of David Smyth and Dominic Murphy.

Such turbulence can often create the conditions for an upset, especially on cup final day.

But not here. Enjoying a near monopoly of possession ensured that Avenue United were always the more likely to retain the trophy they won against the same opponents last year. It wasn’t quite the clinical performance of 2010 but it was enough.

The disruptive force of the wind and the bloody-minded defiance of Bridge goalkeeper Barry Deasy and centre back Albert Finnin mitigated against making this a stroll in the park for Avenue.

But while Bridge battled gamely they lacked the wit and invention to create problems for their opponents. Avenue suffered no such deficiencies. David McCarthy sparkled in midfield, crafting and expertly dispatching his side’s crucial first goal.

Making it to half time just a goal behind represented a victory of sorts for Bridge. Avenue, having started with three at the back, reverted to a more orthodox 4-4-2 after the break.

Bridge committed Jamie O’Gorman further forward in support of the hard working Gavin Downes. Alan Mulready looked capable of unlocking Avenue’s tightly marshalled defence. When Smyth was sent off you sensed this was Bridge’s opportunity. The moment passed as soon as Dominic Murphy grounded Mickey Mahoney. Avenue immediately got back to business. Wilson’s measured delivery found the unmarked Con Collins. The former Bunratty man headed to the top corner. Lights out. Game over.

Mahoney was replaced soon after but he was prominent throughout. Not quite the goal threat of his match winning turn in the 2007 cup final but a more rounded danger, running with the ball from deep. The Smyth brothers, Colin and David, continue to impress. The flicks and trick apart the pair, watched by father and Avenue coach Coley, caught the eye mainly for their ability to make the game look easy. The Galway born brothers weren’t the only products of Avenue’s schoolboy talent factory to get a look in. Irish international Dylan Casey, Jack Walshe and Alan Roche also got a chance to savour the feeling of a cup winning moment. With such well coached, grounded and skillful footballers teeming through their ranks, you wouldn’t back against Avenue making it three in a row next year.