Category: Sport

Shannon Olympic 3 – Avenue United B 0 at Shannon

SHANNON OLYMPIC were crowned Prego Menswear First Division Champions after a convincing win on Sunday afternoon.

Olympic had a scare in the fourth minute when Cormac Morel found himself clear through on goal after a mix-up in the Olympic defence, but the Avenue man failed to convert what seemed an easy chance.

In the 12th minute captain Jason Regan combined with strike partner Karl Scott to run clear and finish coolly to the Avenue net.

A combination of poor finishing and great goal-keeping from Greg O’Neill in the Avenue goal, including a penalty save in the 24th minute, kept the score to 1-0 at half time.

The second half started with Olympic continuing to create chances and just 3 minutes into the half Jay Regan was put through by his brother Wayne to finish for his, and Olympic’s, second goal to give them a deserving 2-0 lead.

In the 80th minute Jay Regan capped off a superb performance by him with a calm finish to complete his hat-trick and win the game and league title for his side.

With the game, and league, in the bag Olympic played some brilliant football in the final minutes and were unlucky not to increase their lead when a Lionel Messi style run from winger Alan Casey, left a trail Avenue players behind him but he shot weakly wide.

The game finished 3-0 to Olympic and the final whistle sparked jubilant celebrations from the Olympic players and fans. This win caps off a hugely successful season for Olympic who also won the league cup earlier in the season.

Best for the Champions on the day were Captain fantastic Jason Regan, and midfielders Ray Quigley and Donncadh Kelly.

Shannon Olympic
Gary Mc Gettrick, David Collins, James Fitzgerald, Ian Hogan, Karl Fogarty, Jay Regan, Donncadh Kelly,Wayne Regan, Eamonn O’Neill Ray Quigley, Karl Scott.

Subs
Alan Casey, Richie Hanley, Jimmy Houlihan, Michael Byrnes.

Avenue
Greg O’Neill, Ed Slattery, Richie O’Grady, Neil Slattery, Barry O’Neill, Craig McNamara,Alan McNamara, David Considine, Killian Culligan, Michael Byrnes, Cormac Morel

Subs
Ian Hassett, Patrick Sherlock, Conor O’Brien, Barry Cusack, Eoin O’Loughlin, Emre Zequiri.

Man of the Match
Jason Regan (Shannon Olympic)

Shannon Olympic 4 – Connolly Celtic 0 at Shannon

IT WAS a big week for Shannon Olympic – first it was to secure promotion on Wednesday night, then to win the league outright on the Sunday.

The first part of the equation was duly solved with this comprehensive victory over Connolly Celitc as they showed no mercy in securing a swift return to the top flight of Clare football.

They flew out of the traps and took the lead in the seventh minute with a lovely strike from Ray Quigley. The second goal followed minutes later, when, after three attempts, Eamonn O’Neill finally hit the back of the net. Olympic piled on the pressure for the rest of the first half with chances from brothers Jay and Wayne Regan.

Olympic started the second half with great determination and were rewarded with a well deserved goal from Jay Regan in the 50th minute. Olympic put the game to bed on the hour mark with a goal from Karl Scott.

With the game and promotion secured Olympic took their foot off the gas and allowed Connolly more possession. In the 75th minute Connolly won a penalty but for the second week in a row Olympic’s keeper Gary McGettrick made a superb save denying Connolly’s Kieran Dillion.

Best for Olympic on the night was Ray Quigley and Eamonn O’Neill as they looked ahead to Sunday for another home game ane the chamce to land the title.

Shannon Olympic
: Gary Mc Gettrick, David Collins, James Fitzgerald, Ian Hogan, Karl Fogarty, Jay Regan, Donncadh Kelly,Wayne Regan, Eamonn O’Neill Ray Quigley, Karl Scott.

Subs
Alan Casey, Greg Keane, Jimmy Houlihan

Connolly Celtic
Sean Cregan, Jack Neylon, KillianTorpy, Kieran Dillion,Tola Coote, Seanan Mc Carty, Brendan Dillion, Sean Courtney, Eamon Bracken, Eoin Meehan

Subs
Bernard Field, Michael Lynch

Man of the Match
Ray Quigley (Shannon Olympic)

Sixmilebridge 5-14 – Whitegate 0-10 at Whitegate

IT WAS back to business for Sixmilebridge who brushed off their first defeat of the season and put their Under 21 silverware away in the cabinet on their way to a straightforward victory over Whitegate on Friday evening. The defending champions started and finished with a goal and largely controlled the tie with a fluid team display that saw Niall Gilligan return in commanding fashion allied to scoring flourishes for Declan Morey and debutant Jamie Shanahan.

Whitegate, without their most influential player, Brendan Bugler, failed to capitalise on their chances particularly in the first half and therefore, there was a certain inevitability about the result once Niall Gilligan snuck in for the opening goal inside two minutes. Whitegate rallied and through George Waterstone (2), Michael O’Brien and Ian Fahy, they only trailed by the minimum by the tenth minute at 1-2 to 0-4.

Sixmilebridge’s superior movement and eye for goal would separate the sides however, epitomised by Rory Shanahan’s 17th minute strike when teed up by namesake Jamie and Gilligan. The third goal duly arrived two minutes later when Declan Morey picked out Jamie Shanahan with an inch perfect crossfield pass for the county minor to knock past goalkeeper Andrew Fahey for his first senior goal on their way to a 3-7 to 0-6 interval advantage.

Any murmurings of a recovery were soon quashed only minutes after the restart when Shane Golden soloed through the centre of the Whitegate defence before laying off for Declan Morey to rattle the net. And the ‘Bridge punished further with a flurry of points from Gilligan (2), David O’Connor (2), John Fennessy, Pa Sheehan and the tireless Shane Golden to open up a 19 point advantage by the turn of the final quarter before easing off the gas.

Credit Whitegate for not throwing in the towel and they hit back with three successive points while Stephen Malone also had a flick saved by goalkeeper Fahy. However, the gulf between the sides on the night was emphasised by Sixmilebridge’s ability to go up the other end of the field and cancel out that fightback in one fell swoop with a Declan Morey goal that completed the rout and gave the ‘Bridge a sizeable boost ahead of the championship, even without the services of Caimin and Danny Morey, and Páidi Fitzpatrick.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan,Trevor Purcell, Barry O’Connor, John Fennessy (0-1), Paul Fitzpatrick, Shane Golden (02), Pa Sheehan (0-1), David O’Connor (0-2), Rory Shanahan (1-0), Seadna Morey, Jamie Shanahan (1-2), Niall Gilligan (1-5 1f), Declan Morey (2-1)

Subs
Anthony Liddane for R. Shanahan (34 mins), Brian Culbert for J. Shanahan (38 mins),Tommy Morey for S. Morey (40 mins)

Whitegate
AndrewFahey, Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler,Trevor Kelly, Patrick Minogue, Jason Malone, Christy Jones,Tomás MacNamara, John Minogue (0-1), Michael O’Brien (0-1), Ian Fahy (0-1), George Waterstone (0-5f), Eoin Quirke, Shane O’Rourke, Stephen Malone (0-2)

Sub
John O’Brien for Jones (48 mins)

Man of the Match
Niall Gilligan (Sixmilebridge) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

Inagh/Kilnamona 0-15 Clarecastle 0-12 at Inagh

A SUPERIOR finish was enough to earn the home side all the points in a game that seemed destined for a draw for long periods. With both sides needing to bounce back after defeats last time out, it was always going to be a battle to the finish and so it proved as the sides were level on eight occasions over the hour before Inagh/Kilnamona broke away to snatch victory.

Indeed, it was the home side’s strong finish in both halves that earned them a much needed win. Tyrone Kearse and Jonathan Clancy were instrumental in Clarecastle holding a 0-6 to 0-4 advantage by the 23rd minute but they would go in trailing by the break after a brace of Niall Arthur points and a monster free from goalkeeper Patrick Kelly.

The second half continued in the same vein with Aaron Considine gaining parity immediately after the break before Kearse and Kelly would cancel each other out with a brace of frees apiece.

The Magpies lost centre-back Patrick Kelly to injury but still had enough opportunities to pull clear but only Aaron Considine would add to their tally before the home side’s strong finish. Again it was the supply from the half-back line that catapulted Inagh/Kilnamona to victory. Two Arthur placed balls and two from play from Tomas Kelly and Conor Tierney in response to two Kearse pointed frees steered the home side to their second win of the campaign while the Magpies were resigned to successive defeats for the first time in 12 months.

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy, Seanie Moloney, Conor Plunkett, Mark McNamara, Kevin Clohessy, Patrick Kelly (0-1f), Stephen O’Halloran, Fearghus Ryan, Eric Flynn, Derek Quinn, Kieran O’Dwyer, Jonathon Clancy (0-2),Aaron Considine (0-2), Darragh Moloney,Tyrone Kearse (0-7 6f, 1’65)

Subs
Ollie Plunkett for McNamara (HT), Garrett Barry for Kelly (40 mins), Fergal Griffin for Moloney (57 mins)

Inagh/ Killnamona
Patrick Kelly (0-3f), Milo Keane, Brian Glynn, Dermot Lynch, Damien Lafferty, Eamon Glynn, Ronan O’Looney, Colm Pilkington,Tomás Kelly (0-1), Niall Arthur (0-8 4f, 1’65) Cathal Lafferty (0-1), Dermot Gannon, StephenToomey, Gerry Arthur (0-1), Conor Tierney (0-1)

Subs
David Hegarty for Pilkington (40 mins), Eoin Vaughan for C. Lafferty (45 mins), Shane Griffin for Gannon (45 mins), Sean McConigley for Toomey (53 mins) Gary Lafferty for Keane

Referee
Ger Lyons (Ruan)

Clooney/Quin 1-18 Whitegate 2-07 at Whitegate

SURPRISINGLY straightforward for Clooney/Quin who expected a battle but came away from fortress Whitegate with all two points intact with little fuss. That said, it could also be seen as a pyrrhic victory of sorts as the two points came at a cost of five injuries to Cillian Duggan, Conor Harrison, Derek Ryan, Mike Daffy and Joe O’Loughlin and only weeks away from the championship, it is worrying for Clooney/Quin.

On the scoreboard, they had little problems though, opening up an early five point lead, with Mike NcNamara grabbing three of those. When Whitegate did finally open their account, Clooney/Quin simply upped the ante once more with another four point burst and repeated the dose once more after Whitegate’s second point in the 19th minute to hold a 014 to 0-02 interval advantage.

Whitegate were better after the break but still made hard work of splitting the posts. Substitute Ruairi McNamara cancelled out Whitegate’s hard earned points with a goal in the 56th minute but there were consolation goals from Ian Fahy and an Andrew Fahey penalty to cushion the blow of Whitegate’s defeat as Clooney/Quin secured their first win of the competition.

Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrison, Shane McNamara, Derek Ryan, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrison, Sean Conheady, Padraig Ward, Ronan Gallagher, Mike McNamara, Cathal Egan, Martin Duggan, Fergal Lynch, Mike Daffy

Subs
Tony McMahon for O’Loughlin (inj), John Earls for C. Duggan (inj), Brian McInerney for Ryan (inj), SeanWard for Daffy (inj), Ruairi McNamara for C. Harrison (inj)

Whitegate
AndrewFahey, Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler, John Minogue, Jason Malone, Brendan Bugler, Christy Jones, Shane O’Rourke, George Waterstone, Stephen Malone, Ian Fahy, Michael O’Brien, Niall Hayes,Terence Fahy, Eric Minogue

Subs
Tomas McNamara for Hayes, Eoin Quirke for O’Rourke,Trevor Kelly for T. Fahy, Gary McClearn

Referee
Johnny Healy (Smith O’Briens)

Tulla 1-15 Sixmilebridge 0-10 at Tulla

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Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-13 Kilrush Shamrocks 0-8 at Michael Tubridy Park, Kilrush

KILMURRY Ibrickane are sitting pretty at the summit of affairs in the Cusack Cup after a Bank Holiday Monday victory that’s every bit as convincing as the double scores result reads.

They brushed aside the disappointing Shams challenge, largely on the back of hugely impressive starts to both halves when they blitzed the home side with a flurry of scores, while holding conceding very little at the back.

They led 1-4 to no score inside the first 22 minutes, a fast start that all but decided the destination of the two points and secured Kilmurry their third win from four starts and maintained their unbeaten start to the 2011 league season.

Ian McInerney showed the way with two early frees before Kilmurry put themselves in pole position thanks to a well-worked goal that was finished to the net by Enda Coughlan in the 15th minute.

Still, there was no respite for the Shams and no let up by a rampant Kilmurry side as man of the match Shane Hickey made his first impression on the scoreboard with a point in the 19th minute before young gun Thomas Lernihan added another three minutes later.

It was until Kilrush started to make changes that their fortunes lifted somewhat, with substitute Darragh Bolton getting his side off the mark five minutes before half time with a point from play, one that was followed up by a Stephen Sweeney effort a minute later.

However, Ian McInerney finished the half as he started it with another pointed free to give his side a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead – a six-point advantage that was a portent of things to come as the 2008 champions really turned the screw in the opening stages of the second half.

A six-point deficit wasn’t insurmountable for the Shams, but a 12point deficit most certainly was. That’s the margin that separates the sides approaching the last ten minutes of play as Kilmurry reeled off six points in-a-row to move 1-11 to 0-2 clear.

It was hugely impressive stuff – Enda Coughlan (2), Thomas Lernihan, Evan Talty and Peter O’Dwyer all grabbed points from play, while Ian McInerney brought his tally for the hour to 0-4 as the Shams were pummelled into submission.

However, they plugged away in the final stages to give the scoreboard a more respectable look to it, once Peadar McMahon opened their account for the half with a pointed free in the 48th minute.

Jim Young pegged another back in the 50th minute before Enda Coughlan landed his third point from play a minute latter. All that was left was for Peadar McMahon to finish the game with a mini-flourish of four points in seven minutes, while Shane Hickey rounded off his impressive display with a second point from right-halfback.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
Peter O’Dwyer, JohnWillie Sexton, Darren Hickey, Declan Callinan, Shane Hickey (0-2), Paul O’Connor,Thomas Lernihan (0-2), Seamus Murrihy, Peter O’Dwyer (0-1), Ian McInerney (0-4f), Mark McCarthy, Seamus Lynch, Johnnie Daly, Enda Coughlan (1-3), Michael O’Dwyer.

Subs

Evan Talty (0-1) for Lynch, Niall Hickey for Michael O’Dwyer.

Kilrush Shamrocks
Tony Burke, Seamus Bolton, Cathal Lyons, Niall Gilbride, Gearóid O’Brien, Niall Clancy, Matthew Moloney, Paul Heaslip, JimYoung (0-1), Paddy Clancy, Peadar McMahon (0-5, 4f), John Hayes, Rory O’Connor, Donal O’Sullivan, Stephen Sweeney (0-1).

Subs
Darragh Bolton (0-1) for Bolton, Con O’Brien for O’Brien, Pat Joe McGrath for O’Connor.

Man of the Match
Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Referee Michael Rock (Ennistymon)

St Joseph’s Miltown 0-9 – St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 2-2 at Hennyssy Memorial Park, Miltown

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THE CLARE Ladies Football Minors had a very busy week playing two Munster Championship games with mixed results. On Wednesday, they met Cork in the magnificent Mallow Sports Complex and though short several key players in Laurie Ryan, Aoife Clohessy and Sinead Sexton, they held Cork to within a couple of points after twenty five minutes. The defence had their hands full, leaking 2-6 to Cork in the first quarter against Clare’s solitary goal by Niamh O’Dea. During a great spell from the Saffron and Blues, Edel McMahon, Aoife Martin, Ellie O’Gorman and Shauna Harvey closed ranks as Cork found themselves under massive pressure and conceded two quick penalties against Niamh O’Dea and Aoife O’Gorman who ran at them incessantly. Both were converted by O’Dea bringing the teams within two points but Cork responded with two three pointers of their own in the closing seven minutes. A converted free on Clare’s Eleanor Carey was negated by another point for the Reds. After the restart, Clare were eclipsed completely by a dominant home side whose tally of 3-9 smothered Clare’s and O’Dea’s three points. Clare just didn’t have the firepower on the field or on the side line to match the Reds . Final score 3-5 to 7-17.

When the Manager James Lafferty surprisingly resigned the following day, citing unfair criticism, he was followed by two of his three selectors, leaving JJ O’Dea two days to assemble the panel for the Tipperary game on the Saturday and once again the never say die character of the Clare panel shone through. When they turned out to meet Tipperary in Doora-Barefield GAA Grounds two days later, a resolved Clare panel launched attack after attack to dominate the game completely.

Clare’s Niamh Pender and Niamh O’Dea had put up two points before Tipp responded with one of their own. As Aoife O’Gorman went for a certain goal, an illegal foot block by Tipp custodian Imelda O’Donovan resulted in a well-taken penalty by Sinead Sexton.

Sexton was called upon minutes later to repeat the feat when Eleanor Carey was brought down but not before Tipperary had goaled at the end of a well executed movement that started from the kickout.

This would be the only hiccup from an otherwise impenetrable half-back line of Ellie O’Gorman, Shauna Harvey and the outstanding Roisin Howley. Midfielders Eleanor Carey and Kayleigh McCormick worked hard to keep the ball in the Tipp half. Clare 3-4 to Tipp 1-2 at half time.

A staunch full back line that included Kayleigh McCormick (switched with Aoife Martin who went into midfield), Edel McMahon and Aoife Clohessy rebuffed several Tipperary attacks but were caught out when the visitors started the half with two good points. Captain O’Dea pointed first for Clare and Ashling Torpey who came on for the injured McCormick, followed suit minutes later. The Banner were hunting in packs at this stage which was noticable by the deep forward position that Aoife Martin was in when she got the touch just ahead of goalie O’Donovan to push 4-6 to 1-4 ahead.

The impressive Aoife O’Gorman goaled again and O’Dea pointed from a free to finish the game Clare 5-7 to Tipp 1-4.

Clare
Ciara O’Malley (Fergus Rovers),Aoife Martin (Banner Ladies), Edel McMahon (Kilmihil), Aoife Clohessy (Fergus Rovers), Eleanor O’Gorman (Kilmihil), Shauna Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels), Kayleigh McCormick (Burren Gaels), Eleanor Carey (Banner Ladies), Niamh Pender (Miltown), Karen O’Brien (Doorabarefield ), Niamh O’Dea (Banner Ladies), Megan Byrne (Burren Gaels), Sinead Sexton (Miltown),Aoife O’Gorman (Cooraclare) Subs AislingTorpey (Liscannor ),Tara Sheehan (Eire Og), Ciara Burke (Miltown) Panel members Laurie Ryan, NiamhWalsh, Orlaith Lynch, (Banner Ladies), Roisin Looney (Cooraclare),Alana O’Brien, Shaunagh O’Brien (Eire Og), Eimear O’Shea (Fergus Rovers), Roisin Rouine,Threase Shannon (Liscannor), Shauna Crowley (Miltown), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels). Manager JJ O’Dea.

Sixmilebridge 4-14 – Cratloe 1-10 at Cusack Park, Ennis

A RECORD breaking 13th Under 21A title for Sixmilebridge who banished the ghosts of recent finals to take the honours in the O’Garneyside derby. Having contested the last five minor and Under 21A deciders but only winning one, the pressure was on Sixmilebridge to deliver and they did so in emphatic fashion with an unanswered 2-5 final eight minute flourish to flesh out the winning margin.

In truth, the 13 point difference didn’t reflect the significant role that Cratloe played in the narrative of this often scrappy but tense neighbouring encounter, however there is no doubting that Sixmilebridge deserved their latest silverware on the balance of play.

As expected, the key aspect of this game came down to balance. Sixmilebridge had far more strength in depth and those greater variety of options proved decisive against a Cratloe side that constantly relied on the individual brilliance of all too few.

That said, the near-telepathic understanding between Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath up front kept Cratloe within touching distance until the finale but it was always going to be a huge ask to expect that pair along with Liam Markham, Conor Ryan and Podge Collins to carry the side over the line.

Instead, Sixmilebridge had their homework done on their opponents strengths, altered their side accordingly and utilised their own assets to bounce back to the winner podium. Paidi Fitzpatrick executed a match-winning manmarking role on McGrath; Brian Carey curbed Ryan at midfield while Shane Golden expertly pulled the strings alongside him and up front Seadna Morey and later Jamie Shanahan put the finish- ing touches to the victory.

After a 15 minute delay due to an uneven queue to turnstile ratio, the eager sides got the game off to a blistering pace with Conor McGrath feeding Podge Collins for the opening scoring inside 30 seconds, with an almost immediate reply from Brian Carey. That pace was maintained for the next few minutes but the accuracy dipped dramatically with Sixmilebridge in particular firing from ambitious ranges.

Cratloe took advantage, with a brace of Cathal McInerney points putting them 0-3 to 0-2 in front by the end of the opening quarter until Sixmilebridge pounced for the opening goal in the 18th minute. A Cratloe puck-out was gathered by Pa Sheehan to play a low ball to Declan Morey who made a trademark turn and solo towards goal before firing on the volley to the net.

Sam O’Sullivan followed up with a point but while the ‘Bridge were on top, they failed to hammer home that advantage further and it allowed Cratloe a window of opportunity that Conor McGrath inevitably took just before the break with two points to trail by just two at 1-4 to 0-5.

That fightback was completed by a Cathal McInerney goal only three minutes after the restart when Sixmilebridge failed to clear their lines and McGrath fed the unmarked McInerney to billow the net. Gaining momentum, Joe O’Connor traded points with Seadna Morey before McIner- ney and McGrath again combined for the former to point once more and extend their lead to two at 1-7 to 1-5 by the 36th minute.

Sixmilebridge had to dig deep and they upped their display considerably through Fitzpatrick, Seadna Morey, Golden at midfield and Jamie Shanahan who opened his account in the best possible manner in the 41st minute with a goal from close range after dispossessing goalkeeper Collins. County minors Shanahan (2) and Morey added another three points without reply to open up a five point lead while goalkeeper Stephen Fleming made a full length dive to stop a McInerney shot in the 44th minute.

Still, Cratloe were not done yet and after a Liam Markham ’65, they reduced the deficit to only two points once more by the 49th minute with a superb Conor McGrath point after shrugging off three defenders and another from Conor Ryan.

Cratloe’s hopes of a full recovery was dashed however only minutes later when a Shane Golden burst down the left wing ended with a shot from 40 metres that eluded goalkeeper David Collins and dropped into the net.

From that point, Cratloe’s heads dropped and a buoyant Sixmilebridge took full advantage with Jamie Shanahan coming into his own in that final period, scoring an impressive 1-4 to ease up to victory.

The good times were back for Sixmilebridge and going on the potential shown on this occasion, they should be there for a long while to come.

Sixmilebridge
Stephen Fleming (7), Gerry Quilligan (7), Paidi Fitzpatrick (8), Eanna Burns (7), Barry O’Connor (7), John Fennessy (7),Trevor Purcell (7), Brian Carey (7) (0-1), Shane Golden (8) (1-0), Seadna Morey (8) (0-4), SamO’Sullivan (7) (0-1), Pa Sheehan (7) (0-1), Ronan Mullane (6) (0-1), Declan Morey (7) (1-0), Jamie Shanahan (8) (2-6 4f, 0-1 Pen)

Subs
Noel Purcell (6) for Burns (46 mins), Cathal O’Connor (7) for Mullane (46 mins)

Cratloe
David Collins (6), Joe Conroy (7), Sean Hynan (7), Jack McCourt (7),Wesley Deloughery (6), Liam Markham(7) (0-1 1’65), Enda Boyce (7), Conor Ryan (7) (0-1), Podge Collins (7) (0-1), Patrick Carey (6), Cathal McInerney (8) (1-3), Dean Deloughery (6),Tomás Ryan (6), Joseph O’Connor (7) (0-1), Conor McGrath (7) (0-3 1f)

Sub
David McInerney for D. Deloughery (58 mins)

Man of the Match
Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)

Referee
Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)