Category: Sport

Clare 3-10 – Fermanagh 1-12 at Parnell Park, Dublin

IT was a struggle at times, but then again it was never going to be, or supposed to be a canter. That said when it came to the crunch, Clare’s class in front of goal shone through as they maintained their unbeaten record over Fermanagh by laying claim to a first National League success in three years.

Back then it was a Division 2 title over Donegal – this time it was Division 3 honours over their near neighbours thanks to a three-goal blitz in the second half that finally put paid to dogged Fermanagh persistence.

The key for Clare was that they had the more balanced team against a Fermanagh side that relied too much on the three Little sisters. It was their collective performance in the first half that gave Fermanagh a fighting chance, but ultimately the Ernesiders’ failure to build up a first half lead was their undoing as they turned to face the elements in the second half.

Shauna Hamilton rattled the crossbar early on for Fermanagh, while Sharon Little blasted over the bar when teed up for a great goal chance by her sister Caroline after 15 minutes, but two minutes later Clare had their best goal chance of the half when Roisin Gleeson made a great double-save from Niamh O’Dea and Naomi Carroll.

It was that kind of game – always open, with a bit of controversy thrown in as Fermanagh’s Marcella Connolly was sin-binned in the 20th minute for a high tackle on Eimear O’Connor while Clare captain Niamh Keane’s sin-binning in the final minute of the half seemed very harsh.

However, it was Fermanagh who suffered most because, their numerical disadvantage in the closing ten minutes of the half meant they only had a share of the spoils at the break with matters resting at 0-5 apiece.

In all the sides were level on five occasions in the half, trading point for point after Marcella Connolly opened the scoring in the fifth minute. Louise Henchy levelled matters before the Sharon Little showcased her talents with a great point from play.

In all she scored three from play in the half, tormenting the Clare defence as Fermanagh threatened briefly to cut loose and bag what could have been a crucial breakthrough goal.

However, Clare had Louise Henchy, her sheer energy around the field as she ranged from one end to the other took the fight to Fermanagh, while the understanding between Clare’s forwards was also key. It kept them in the game by half-time – Henchy hitting two points on the way, while Niamh O’Dea hit three.

Then came a stunning second half display as Clare rattled off 3-5 in the half-hour to move up to Division 2 as champions.

Making light of their numerical disadvantage they hit the ground running, Niamh O’Dea pointing in the first minute before responding to Caroline Little’s equaliser in the fifth by a great goal a minute later when midfielder Marie Considine raided from midfield and slammed the ball past Roisin Gleeson to give Clare a 1-6 to 0-6 lead.

Fermanagh did rally with points from Marcella Connolly and Sharon Little, but they were always fighting a losing battle once Eimear Considine illuminated the game when blasting to the net after 48 minutes.

Running on to a long delivery from midfield, the Kilmihil star hit a thunderbolt to the net from all of 14 yards. Clare led by 2-7 to 0-8 and were never going to surrender the initiative from there, despite Fermanagh’s never-say-die attitude that kept them fighting to the end.

Points by Eimear Considine and Ailish Considine ensured that Clare’s five-point lead was intact at the final ten minutes loomed when but then the result seemed to be put beyond any doubt when Niamh O’Dea struck for Clare’s third goal.

In truth, the Banner Ladies star had goals on her mind all afternoon and was finally rewarded for her busy hour when from a long punted free from Louise Henchy, she outfielded three Fermanagh defenders on the edge of the square and coolly sidefooted the ball to the net to put Clare seven points clear.

A Caroline Little point and then a goal by her sister Sharon when she pounced on a rebound from Aisling Moane’s shot left only a goal in it with two minutes remaining, but Clare nerves were eased when O’Dea brought her tally for the afternoon to 1-5 with a last minute point.

Clare
Emma O’Driscoll (The Banner), Claire Hester (Fergus Rovers), Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (The Banner), Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Róisin McMahon (Newmarket), LouiseWoods (The Banner), Marie Considine (Liscannor) (1-0), Louise Henchy (The Banner) (0-2, 1f), Colette Corry (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Keane (The Banner), Naomi Carroll (The Banner) (0-1), Eimear Considine (Kilmihil) (1-1), Niamh O’Dea (The Banner) (1-5, 2f)), Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels).

Subs
Ailish Considine (Kilmihil) (0-1) for Corry [half-time], Katie Geoghegan (West Clare Gaels) for Carroll [53 Mins], Sinead Eustace (Coolmeen) for Bohannon [55 Mins], Carmel Considine (Liscannor) for Hester [59 Mins], C O’Leary for O’Dea [62 Mins].

Fermanagh
Roisin Gleeson, ClaireWoods, Nuala Curran, OReihill; DMurphy,Tara Little, Patricia Melanaphy, Marcella Connolly (0-2),Aisling Moane (0-1) Shauna Hamilton, Sharon Little (1-4, 1f), Louise McFrederick, Nuala McManus, Caroline Little (0-5f),Aine McBrien.

Subs
Kyle McManus for Hamilton (37), Joanne Doonan for McFrederick (46), Roisin O’Reilly for Woods (57), Aisling Maguire for McManus (58), Louise Slevin for Melanaphy (59).

Player of Match
Louise Henchy (Clare)

Referee
Des McEnery (Westmeath)

Gr oup 1 Killanena v Smit h O’Br ien’s @ Sca r iff, Sunday 1pm KNIVES and forks at the ready as the both sides will have hungrily eyed this game up as one that they could potentially garner two valuable points. Even in this opening tie, points are valuable because the initial instinct from the respective sides will be to consolidate their senior status before even thinking about extending their ambitions.

Smith O’Brien’s will enter a senior championship game as rare favourites after paying their dues at senior level and looking to advance to the next stage. They partially impressed in last year’s championship, winning their opening game against Tulla while they should have shown more resilience against Whitegate in round 2 and that defeat began a slippery slope that was only halted in the final relegation play-off against Corofin.

The Killaloe side have certainly held their own in this year’s competitive fare though as in Division 2A of the Clare Cup, they have won three out of four games and should be confident of victory this weekend.

Killanena will also hold out significant hope of success in what could otherwise be a less than comfortable maiden voyage in the top tier. Without key forward Ronan Flaherty and set to lose more players to emigration in the summer, Killanena will look to the two games in May as their best hopes of securing the points needed to survive another year at senior level.

As ever, Mark Flaherty will be Killanena’s trump card and without question, Killanena will throw every drop of sweat and blood into this game in order to dig out a result. How much Smith O’Brien’s have learned from last year will only be known this Sunday but undoubtedly the loser of this tie will be under pressure for the remainder of the championship to avoid the relegation dogfight and that alone should see the tension lifted to 11. Ver dict: Killanena Br oadfor d a bye Gr oup 2 Whit egat e v I nagh /Kilna mona @ Cusack Pa r k, Sunday 4pm CAST your mind back almost 12 months ago to the day in the opening round of the senior championship at the same venue when Whitegate, on the crest of a wave after finally winning the intermediate championship and following it up with an unprecedented run in the top tier of the Clare Cup, took on the perennial championship favourites Newmarket. That day, the east Clare side threw the kitchen sink at the Blues and were only beaten in the final quarter when Newmarket got out of jail. That enthusiasm and confidence has largely subsided since then however and as Whitegate bid to recapture that form, Inagh/Kilnamona appear to be heading in the opposite direction as they attempt to get the right balance of youth and experience in their line-up.

How Whitegate would love such a luxury of strength-in-depth as they lament the loss of Tommy Holland and also their young starlet Michael Dooley who is out due to an ankle injury.

That inequality should get Inagh/ Kilnamona over the line in this opener as Gerry and Niall Arthur, Conor Tierney, Cathal Lafferty, Eamon Glynn, Ronan O’Looney and Patrick Kelly should provide a superior cutting edge. Ver dict: Inagh /Kilna mona Sca r iff a bye Gr oup 3 Sixmilebr idge v Cla r eca st le @ Cusack Par k, Fr iday 7pm THE theory that every action has an equal and opposite reaction could have been written with this game in mind. You see, everything seems to be coming together nicely for Sixmilebridge at the moment, defending their Clare Cup title in confident fashion at the top of the Division 1 table along with adding a second Under 21A championship in three years only a few weeks back, with the majority of that team primed to hit the senior championship running.

On the flip side however, Clarecastle have struggled to find their form entering the championship having lost their last three competitive games to Whitegate, Inagh/Kilnamona and fellow group contenders Tulla, and are still experimenting with their team having lost key player Conor Plunkett to a long term injury just over a week ago.

The championship inevitably should rally some pride within the Magpies’ camp, especially against one of their rivals while the ‘Bridge will certainly be wary of them, especially as half of Clarecastle’s line-up have championship winning experience.

In saying that, form cannot be turned on like a tap and therefore it’s Sixmilebridge’s game to lose unless the Magpies can make a stand not seen against one of their main rivals in four years. Ver dict: Sixmilebr idge Tulla v O’Ca llaghan’s Mills @ Cusack Pa r k, Sunday 5. 30pm The third successive championship meeting between these east Clare neighbours and like any trilogy, there will be an air of familiarity that should add an extra spice to proceedings this weekend, more like The Godfather Part Three rather than Toy Story 3.

The Mills have had the best of the two previous meeting by taking three of a possible four points but the advantage could swing in the Senior B champions direction on this occasion as the Mills have injuries to key performers Adrian Donovan, Diarmuid Hehir and James McMahon and Tulla are entering the championship in a confident manner after two straight victories over group rivals Clarecastle and Sixmilebridge.

Derbies are never that straightforward however and expect a few twists and turns before this must win opener is concluded, with perhaps Tulla to emerge the slenderest of victors. Ver dict: Tulla Wolfe Tones a bye Gr oup 4 Cr usheen v Kilmaley @ Cusack Pa r k, Sat ur day 7pm THIS could potentially be the game of the weekend as the defending champions make their championship bow against a resurgent Kilmaley side. Crusheen will have to be even more resilient than last year as they know they will be a target for every side to up their performance against the county champions. That will apply particularly in this opening tie against Kilmaley who have a point to prove after last year. Kilmaley hold the unwanted record of being the only side ever not to have lost a championship game and still exit the championship having drawn three and won one of their four games in last year’s championship. Still, with an experienced county spine and their younger crop having a year’s more experience, they will be hoping to turn those draws into victories, starting with Crusheen. Ironically, it was the last meeting between the pair two years ago that essentially ended Crusheen’s involvement at the group stage and sharpened their hunger for their historic run to last year’s county championship. Kilmaley should have the hunger this time around but with arguably the best defence in the championship, the holders should have enough grit to survive. Ver dict: Cr usheen Clooney/Quin a bye

IN AN effort to improve the conduct of mentors in underage hurling games, Bord na nÓg Iomaint have issued new regulations to be observed with immediate effect.

Every club secretary was subsequently emailed a letter advising of the new rules that ban managers, coaches or selectors from entering the field of play unless to attend an injured player, give drinks or provide a replacement hurley.

Also mentors are also ruled out from carrying a hurley while on the sideline during a match.

‘The carrying of a hurley by a men tor can be very intimidating to young players and will not be permitted.’

‘The referees have been made aware of the Bord na nÓg requirements.

“We would ask you to ensure that all of your mentors observe them and cooperate with referees, who have been asked to report any instances where transgressions occur.

Where such reports are received, Bord na nÓg will apply appropriate sanctions,’ the letter concluded.

Newmarket on Fergus 4-15 – Ballyea 0-11 at Cusack Park, Ennis

A STROLL for the Blues as they took up the challenge of trying to bridge a 30-year cup since the Canon Hamilton last did a tour of local hostelries starting at O’Neills on the Ennis Road and finishing on the Sixmilebridge road near Fr Murphy Park.

The hurlers on the high stool, many of them with as many medals as loose change in their pockets, won’t be taking up the Blues’ championship challenge just yet, but who knows what will happen if the ruthlessness they showed in front of goal stays with them for the year.

They banged them in for fun in the first half, exposing Ballyea for what they were – a team with poor numbers at training and consequently poor preparation and whipping boys for a Newmarket team intent of laying down an early marker.

And they did that as early as the first minute when Colin Ryan picked up the pieces of a defensive mistake and fed Eoin Hayes who drilled the ball to the net past a stationary Shane O’Neill.

From there the tone of this match was set – the first half at any rate as Newmarket seemed to have goal on their mind any time they mounted an attack, while an under siege Ballyea were depending of the talents of the two Tonys, Griffin and Kelly, to keep them competitive in the half.

They did their job, keeping their score ticking over, only for a porous defence to let them down the other end as Newmarket knifed through them for further first half goals through Colin Ryan (2) and Shane O’Brien to decide things by half-time as Newmarket 4-8 to 0-7 lead.

Forget the second half when Newmarket’s soccer wing and neutrals alike were more interested in events at Old Trafford than they were in events in Cusack Park – maybe this disinterest seeped through to the players in a totally underwhelming half as the Blues pulled the handbreak and still cruised to a 16-point success.

It was that easy after those goals, even though Ballyea’s spirit had them plugging away until the end in search of their own goals to take a lop-sided look off the scoreboard.

It began to look lop-sided as early as the sixth minute when David Barrett raced through and teed up Colin Ryan for goal number two and listed further when Ryan hit another bullet to the net in the 22nd minute are points by Tony Kelly (2) and Tony Griffin threatened to keep Ballyea competitive.

And, finally the point of no return arrived in the 32nd minute when Shane O’Brien sauntered forward and had his turn at blasting to the net to leave 13 points between the sides at the call of half-time.

That whistle couldn’t have come quick enough for Ballyea – as it turned out Newmarket could never summon the same enthusiasm afterwards as the game listed as much as the scoreboard did in the first.

Remarkably the Blues could carve no more goal openings, but still racked up 0-7 to Ballyea’s 0-4, rattling off the first four points of the half throgh Eoin Hayes from play and three Colin Ryan frees to move 17 points clear.

Ballyea did limit the damage from there on in, but the real damage had been done and could never be undone.

It’s will be a short and painful championship for Ballyea, going on this. As always the jury is still out on the Blues.

Newmarket on Fergus
Kieran Devitt (7), Eoin O’Brien (7), Stephen Kelly (7), Niall O’Connor, (7), Sean O’Connor (7), James McInerney (8), Darren O’Connor (7), Enda Barrett (7), Martin O’Hanlon (7), Enda Kelly (6), Shane O’Brien (7) (1-1), David Barrett (7) (1-1), Colin Ryan (8) (2-9 7f), Eoin Hayes (7) (1-2),Tommy Griffin (6).

Subs
James Liddy (7) (0-1) for Griffin [46 Mins],Alan Barrett (6) for [49 Mins] Darren O’Connor, Paudie Collins (6) for Shane O’Connor [49 Mins],Anthony Kilmartin (6) for Ryan [51 Mins],

Ballyea
Shane O’Neill (6), Eamon Griffin (6), Kevin Sheehan (7) (0-1), Jack Browne (6), Brian Murphy (6), Paddy O’Connell (7), Niall Keane, (7) Paul Flanagan (6), Gearóid O’Connell (6), Cathal Doohan (6),Alan Carrigg (6), Niall Deasy (6) (0-1), Tony Kelly (7) (0-6, 3f, two 65), Francis O’Reilly (6), Tony Griffin (7) (0-2)

Subs
David Sheahan (6) for Eamon Griffin [Half-Time], Francie Neylon (6) for Murphy [Half-Time], James Murphy for Carrigg [44 Mins],

Eire Og 1-15 – Ogonnelloe 0-5 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Eire Óg got off to a great start in this year’s Intermediate championship as they comfortably overcame Ogonnelloe on Sunday in the first round at Tulla.

A good start from Eire Og saw them go four points to one up early on with scores from Ronan Keane, David O’Halloran and Danny Russell. Ogonnelloe came back into the game as Kieran Forde converted three frees to draw level but this was to be there last scoring action before the half. Eire Og regained control from here and with Danny Russell on target from placed balls they went in at the break on a 7-4 lead.

The townies started the second half much like they ended the first and continued to dominate a poor Ogonnelloe side. Ogonnelloe’s only score of the half came from a free that was deflected by Eire Og ‘keeper Kevin Brennan over the bar, having only scored one point from play Ogonnelloe never looked like any real threat. More Danny Russell frees and further points from Barry Nugent, Niall Daly and David O’Halloran built a commanding advantage. Then a goal from substitute John Lawlor wrapped up a solid performance for Eire Og to secure the win.

Eire Og will look at this result as the first stepping stone back to Senior level for 2012 and will be happy with such a performance which they will hope to build on in the coming weeks as preparation for their second round tie.

Eire Og:
Kevin Brennan; Kevin Hally, Marc O’Donnell, Cathal Whelan;Tadgh McNamara, Fergus Flynn (0-1), Kevin Moynihan; Noel Whelan, Mark Fitz; Ronan Keane (0-1),AdrianWalsh, Danny Russell(0-6, 4f); David O’Halloran (0-3), Barry Nugent (0-2), Niall Daly (0-2). Subs: John Lawlor (1-0) for Nugent, Ronan Cooney for Hally,Tomas Downes for Daly.

Ogonnelloe:
Tomas McKenna; John O’Brien, Michael Costelloe, Eoin Sheedy; Paschal Sheedy, Patrick Barton,Tomas Condon; Barry Kiely, Michael Noel Bugler; Paul Healy, Kieran Forde (0-4, 4f), Ozar McMahon; Robert Dreelan (0-1), John McKenna, Peter English.

Clonlara 0-12 – St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 0-12 at Shannon

AS paradoxical as it may seem, nearly every draw has a winner and loser and for the second year running, it is Clonlara who will feel that they left this game behind them while St Joseph’s will be more than content with a draw.

With two minutes of normal time remaining and four more of injurytime to come, Domhnall O’Donovan gained parity for Clonlara with his second successive point and with a gale at their backs and momentum gathering, nothing but a win seemed on the cards. However, St Joseph’s dug deep and never allowed the 2008 champions the opportunity to pick off a winning point in the remaining six minutes and in the overall anaylsis, while possibly paying too much respect to their opponents in how defensively they set up in the second period, Doora/Barefield will take great encouragement from a repeat of their opening day heroics of last year.

On that occasion, it was St Joseph’s who rallied late to secure an unlikely draw but with the wind dictating play on Sunday, this time Doora/Barefield got the opportunity to build up a halftime advantage. Indeed, they had five points on the board before Clonlara would even score through a Nicky O’Connell free in the 14th minute. Ivor Whyte was at the heart of their scoring powers by hitting three of those points and adding two more on their way to a 0-9 to 0-3 half-time advantage.

With the gale taking from the quality, goal chances non existent and Clonlara unusually sleepy, St Joseph’s chose to go on the defensive in the second period bringing back full-forward Kevin Dilleen as a spare midfielder and Damien Kennedy as sweeper.

That tactic seemed to backfire early on as it only invited Clonlara onto them for the second period but fortunately for ‘The Parish’, Clonlara’s shooting radar was off as they hit 14 wides over the hour. As ever, John Conlon stood above the pack in the leadership stakes in an attempt to topple the six point deficit, hitting two frees in as many minutes of the restart. However, as the wides piled up, St Joseph’s took advantage with an Ivor Whyte free before Clonlara replied through Conlon, Colm Galvin and Darach Honan entering the final quarter. In a rare attack, Niall DeLoughery gave St Joseph’s some breathing room to restore a three point advantage but a further brace from Conlon cut the deficit to only the minimum by the 55th minute. Try as they might however, the equalising point would not come and instead, Doora/Barefield used the opportunity to counteract with a point from substitute Eamon Clohessy. Up stepped centre-back Domhnall O’Donovan to show his forwards the way with two excellent points from distance and as unlikely as it seemed at that stage, they were to be the last scores of the game as Clonlara’s creative division faded and the spoils were shared once more.

Clonlara
Ger O’Connell (7), Senan Nihill (7),Tomás O’Donovan (7), John Moloney (7), Cillian Fennessy (7), Domhnall O’Donovan (8) (0-2), Paul Nihill (7), Nicky O’Connell (7) (0-1f), ColmGalvin (7) (0-2), John Conlon (8) (0-5 4f), Donal Madden (6), Cormac O’Donovan (7),Tommy Lynch (7), Darach Honan (7) (0-2), Cathal O’Connell (6)

Sub
Pat O’Hare (6) for Madden (34 mins)

St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Paul Madden (7), Cathal O’Sullivan (7), Marty O’Regan (7), Sean Flynn (8),Alan O’Neill (7), Ken Kennedy (7), Darragh O’Driscoll (7), Damien Kennedy (6), Mark Hallinan (7) (0-2 1’65), Niall DeLoughery (7) (0-2), Noel Brodie (7), Ivor Whyte (7) (0-6 4f), Emmet Whelan (7) (0-1), Kevin Dilleen (7), Jarlath Colleran (6)

Subs
Shane O’Connor for Colleran (29 mins), Eamon Clohessy (6) (0-1) for O’Connor (37 mins, inj), Gary Hassett for D. Kennedy (59 mins)

Man of the Match
John Conlon (Clonlara) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Feakle 1-20 Meelick 1-12 at Shannon

WITH only two qualification places available from each group following the restructuring of the championship, every group game takes on added significance. Add in the fact that Feakle and Meelick are not among the bookies favourites to advance and that must win mentality became manifold on Sunday in this championship opener.

Feakle took the honours with a bit to spare after taking advantage of the conditions in the first half to build up a 12 point advantage and being able to respond when Meelick finally gathered momentum late in the game.

Central to the victory was Gary Guilfoyle who was their chief marks- man, both from full-forward and later as ball winner around midfield with an impressive total of 12 points, eight of those from play.

On the flip side, Meelick will be disappointed that they didn’t start motoring until the final quarter and will wonder how they would have fared had they had the advantage of the wind in the opening half. However, they will feel satisfied that they are on the right road again after further blooding some of their emerging talent from the Árdscoil Rís stable. County minor Damien Moloney was Meelick’s most outstanding player from centre-back; schoolmates Oisin Hickey, Bobby Sherlock and Colin Ryan all featured while one of last year’s Harty Cup winners Sean O’Connor was their most prominent forward.

However, what Meelick lacked was a tagetman such as Gary Guilfoyle as well as the experience of a Feakle side most of whom featured in the 2009 intermediate final.

With a gale at their backs, Feakle eased to a 0-12 to 0-03 advantage by the 19th minute, with Under 21 Guilfoyle grabbing half of that total.

Goal chances were few and far between but after pulling wide just beforehand, Killian Bane broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute by finishing to the net after Damien Moloney had stopped Cathal Collins’ initial effort.

It prompted Sean O’Connor to go for goal at the other end from a 20 metre free soon afterwards but it was saved as Meelick trailed by 1-14 to 0-05 at the break.

Two further Gary Guilfoyle points immediately on the resumption pushed the leaders a seemingly unassailable 14 points clear. However, Meelick finally used the wind to their benefit and toppled the lead mainly through the free-taking of Sean O’Connor.

Still, it was only when O’Connor set up substitute Greg Daly for a 55th minute scrambled goal to cut the deficit to only five that Feakle became nervous for the first time in the game.

But with Henry Hayes moving to centre-back, they stopped the supply and finished strongly to open their 2011 account and build up confidence ahead of tougher challenges ahead.

Feakle
Eibhear Quilligan, Paddy Daly, Colm Naughton, Peter Collins, Padraic Hogan,Alan Hogan, Francis O’Grady, Ger Hanrahan (0-1 s/l), Henry Hayes, Raymond Bane (0-2), Colin Nelson (0-2), Killian Bane (1-2), Stevie Moloney, Gary Guilfoyle (0-12 3f, 1’65), Cathal Collins (0-1)

Subs
Ronan McGuinness for Moloney (18 mins, inj), Enda Murray for A. Hogan (52 mins),Tommy Moroney for C. Collins (62 mins)

Meelick
James Duffy, Sean Cooney, Richard O’Grady, Kenneth Keane, Bobby Sherlock, Damien Moloney (0-1),AdamSherlock (0-1), Eanna Mulvihill (0-1),WilliamO’Shaughnessy, Dara Quinn (0-1), Sean O’Connor (0-6 5f), Gary Callinan,Alan Markham(0-1), Oisin Hickey (0-1),AndrewWhyte

Subs
Donal Thomas Broggy for B. Sherlock (37 mins), Colin Ryan for Whyte (39 mins), Ger Markhamfor Callinan (44 mins), Greg Daly (1-0) for A. Markham(49 mins)

Man of the Match
Gary Guilfoyle (Feakle)

Referee
Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)

WHAT is it about the blue and white of Cratloe that stirs something deep inside Tubber? Whatever it is, they should bottle it and use sparingly throughout the championship after getting the perfect start at Clare heaquarters on Sunday evening.

For the second successive year, Tubber were the hungrier, more determined side while outside of the final quarter when they realised the severity of the deficit, Cratloe were a pale shadow of their free-flowing selves and appeared like a side that expected just to turn up and collect the points.

While the final margin was only a mere point, it doesn’t reflect the fact that Tubber led from start to finish, were eight points ahead at one stage of the contest and six clear as late as the 55th minute.

In addition, Cratloe seemed to learn little from last year’s contest at the same venue. There wasn’t any obvious chest thumping motivation from Tubber this time around but again their victory stemmed from a dominance in midfield, this time through Clive Earley and the inspirational Mark Earley who simply ran the show and ended the day with 1-4 from play.

The Clare senior was instrumental in Tubber’s blistering start, picking off three points on their way to a 1-7 to 0-2 advantage by the 20th minute, with evergreen Eamonn Taaffe grabbing 1-2 in a six minute period. The goal came at the turn of the opening quarter when Taaffe caught a high delivery from Mark Earley before dispatching to the net from close range.

Trailing by eight points finally stoked a reaction within Cratloe and after a glorious Cathal McInerney point in the 21st minute in which he dummied his marker on the right wing before arrowing between the sticks, the county senior added a goal only a minute later. Damien Browne supplied the pass inside to Conor McGrath who attracted three defenders, leaving McInerney all alone to receive the pass and billow the net.

However, just as it seemed as if Cratloe were back in the match, Mark Earley again pulled his side clear with a superb opportunist goal, sensing the oportunity to take on the defence and drive a low shot under the body of goalkeeper Sean Hayes on their way to a 2-7 to 1-6 interval lead.

An uneventful third quarter played into Tubber’s hands, with both sides only managing two points apiece before Tubber decisively struck a third goal at the turn of the final quarter through Eamonn Taaffe after a goalline scramble from Shane O’Connor’s pass.

The seven point deficit finally sparked some urgency into Cratloe but while Conor McGrath attempted to chip away at the lead, Tubber replied on each occasion, twice through substitute Tommy Lee along with Mark Earley.

There was still six points between the sides with five minutes of normal time remaining before a late Cratloe rally of Damien Browne and Conor Ryan points and a Conor McGrath injury-time goal from a 20 metre free that was essentially the last puck of the game.

Overall, Cratloe’s urgency came far too late but there is nothing like losing the first game of the championship to sharpen the focus for the remainder of the must-win group stages. While for Tubber, the championship now opens up in front of them but whether they can take advantage against teams other than Cratloe will only be known in time.

Tubber
RonanTaaffe (7), Justin McMahon (6), Paul Fogarty (7), Eoin Ruane (7), Fergal O’Grady (7), Conor Earley (7), Patrick O’Connor (8) (0-3 2f, 1’65), Mark Earley (9) (1-4), Clive Earley (7), David O’Donoghue (6), Barry O’Connor (7) (0-1), Jack Neylon (6), Darragh O’Connor (6), Shane O’Connor (7), EamonnTaaffe (8) (2-2)

Subs
Tommy Lee (7) (0-2) for Neylon (46 mins, inj), Gerard O’Connor for D. O’Connor (54 mins)

Cratloe
Sean Hayes (6), Philip Gleeson (6), Barry Duggan (7), David Ryan (7), John O’Gorman (7), Michael Hawes (7), LiamMarkham(7) (0-1f), Sean Collins (7),Aidan Browne (6), Damien Browne (7) (0-1), Conor Ryan (7) (0-2), Sean Chaplin (6), Podge Collins (7) (0-1), Conor McGrath (7) (1-7f), Cathal McInerney (8) (1-2)

Subs
Gearoid Ryan (5) for A. Browne (39 mins), Sean Hynan for Chaplin (56 mins)

Man of the Match
Mark Earley (Tubber)

Referee
Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)

Bridge United B 2 – Burren United 2 (AET) Bridge United won 5-4 on penalties at The County Grounds, Doora

ROMANCE and heartbreak. That’s cup football and it was to be found in abundance at a very and windy County Grounds on Sunday evening as Bridge United carved their own niche in Clare soccer history.

History and romance was in qualifying for their second Clare Cup final in a row – the only B side ever to do so.

Heartbreak was being in Burren United corner, as they thought they had this game won, not once, but twice before they finally succumbed on penalties.

The weather may have been foul as a squall early in the game, combined with the strong breeze blowing towards the Quin Road end, made for conditions that weren’t conducive to good football, but there was still drama aplenty.

From the opening minute to the last kick when Barry Downes finally decided the contest when converting Bridge B’s final penalty and catapulted them back into another cup final.

It was rough justice on Burren – losing a semi-final on penalties is, but proof once more that anything can happen in cup football was the real winner over the 120 minutes plus of drama as league form was thrown out the window.

As early as the first minute it looked as if Burren would expose the chasm between the sides at league level – they were promoted to the Premier Division last Wednesday, while Bridge United B have long since been relegated to the Third Division.

That’s how long it took for Burren to open the scoring, after an Ian McInerney’s inswinging corner was met at the near post by Mark McCarthy and flashed to the net past a shell-shocked Barry Deasy.

Burren, who played against the breeze in the first half, looked like holding that advantage until the break, only to be hit just on the stroke of half-time as a sweeping Bridge movement was finished to the net by Barry Downes after he latched on to a Brendan Murphy cross to fire home.

The second half turned into a dogged affair – Burren weren’t living up to their undoubted pedigree, while Bridge United, even though they held sway thanks to Ian McInerney presence in midfield.

However, with warhorse Albert Finnan marshalling things brilliantly at the back, the game looked to be heading for extra-time until Evan Talty struck for Burren with ten minutes remaining.

His low free kick from just outside the area beat the wall, skidding on the greasy surface before flying past Barry Deasy into the net.

It looked to have decided things until Brendan Murphy produced a contender for goal of the season. Ghosting up the left flank, Murphy let fly from 25 yards and his shot thundered into the top corner past a bewildered Craig Flanagan.

It was worthy of winning a cup tie, and that’s just what happened after penalties, but not before Burren thought they had sealed a first cup final spot in ten years with five minutes of extra-time left.

Martin McDonagh broke clear down the right wing and his cross into the box was met and finished to the net confidently by Mark McCarthy, only for his namesake, Dave McCarthy to raise his flag for offside.

There were howls of protest that could be heard nearly as far as the Burren, but to no avail. The flag stayed up, no goal, which meant the game drifted to the inevitability of penalties.

Evan Talty converted Burren’s first kick, before Albert Finnan set the tone for Bridge but scoring his. It was advantage Bridge when Barry Deasy save Mark McCarthy’s kick and from there they held on to that advantage as Gavin Downes, Robert Conlon, Jamie O’Gorman converted their kicks.

Gihat Marine, Martin McDonagh and Liam Keane scored for Burren to leave it at 4-4, but Barry Downes had the final say coolly slotting his home to secure Burren’s passage to the final.

WHEN three members of the Clare senior camogie management team, including manager Patsy Fahey, resigned just over six weeks ago, the Banner’s season threatened to implode before it had even begun in earnest.

After a first ever winter programme and an unprecedented extended training squad, Clare were looking to climb a few rungs of the national camogie ladder this year but three successive league defeats allied to college commitments from a large chunk of the young squad made Fahey question the players’ commitment to the cause and so he, along with selector Eamon O’Loughlin and Ger O’Halloran, decided to step down.

However, a third selector, Tom Hogan, remained with the squad and out of the ashes of the last regime, he has taken on the mantle of manager and assembled a new backroom team around him along with a renewed commitment from the players ahead of this weekend’s Munster senior final.

“It has worked out okay. Ger [O’Halloran] came back a week after that again and we have been working away three times a week since. We also have a couple of challenges played in the last couple of weeks against Limerick twice and the Gal- way intermediates so we have been working away okay.”

It may be seen as a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire for Clare though, as their return to competitive action after a nine-week absence sees them take on Cork, the most successful camogie side of the last decade who are desperate for success themselves after being out of the winners enclosure in all competitions since 2009. Not only that but Clare will also meet the Rebel county in the first round of the All-Ireland championship four weeks later.

“Going out against Cork, not having a competitive game for so long, is not ideal. We saw Cork play Tipperary and they beat them fairly well so we know we are really up against it.

“We would have also preferred if we didn’t have to play Cork so soon again after the Munster championship but that’s the way it goes and that’s what we have to do.”

And far from wallowing in self pity, Hogan feels that the players themselves are eager to prove themselves once again and put recent unwanted publicity behind them.

“There are a share of them doing exams at the moment and trying to fit in training as well so it’s hard to get a full panel together at the moment but I know that they are anxious to get back in action alright.

“Siobhan [Lafferty] is more or less out and Kate Lynch is nursing a finger injury at the moment but hopefully she will be fit to play. They are our two concerns at the moment but they are two huge concerns as well. “We are looking for a performance this weekend. It would mean a huge amount if we could pull it off but it’s a tall ask really.” Lest we forget that the darkest hour is just before the dawn.