Category: Sport

DIARMAID Nash continued in his history-making vein of form on Saturday when he was crowned All-Ireland Intermediate Singles champion. The Tuamgraney clubman played out a classic final against Ruairi Kelly (Tyrone) in Roscommon, eventually coming through on a 21-16, 21-20 score.

In the first game, Nash built up an early 10-0 lead but it didn’t take long for the Red Hand to come into the game and, using an effective lob serve and pinpoint ceiling shots, clawed his way back into contention.

Nash’s early lead was too big a gap though and the Clareman always had a healthy lead, finishing strongly to win 21-16.

At the start of the second, Nash again raced ahead and went 8-1 up before Kelly again came back strongly. Using the tricky lob serve all the time, the Ulster champion was killing brilliantly in both corners and came back to 7-11 before Nash went on a good run of his own to lead 169.

Both players found it hard to make scores, such was the quality of handball played, and there were a number of fantastic rallies. Nash pushed on again, up 19-14. Kelly coming back again, 19-17, levels it at 20-20.

The All-Ireland title was hanging in the balance, but Nash showed no nerves and nailed the final serve of the day to seal it and crown a glori- ous year for the Clareman.

Munster Senior Open Singles Champion; All-Ireland Colleges Open Singles Champion; Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate Doubles Champion; and now Munster and All-Ireland Intermediate Singles Champion. Nash has had a fantastic season and Clare’s highest achieving handballer in a generation.

There was less success for the Banner County in the two other All-Ireland finals played on Saturday. In Junior Singles, Cathal Hannon was defeated by Wexford’s Paul Lambert. In another outstanding match, the Tulla man took it to the full three games but was defeated 12-21, 2119, 15-21 in Nenagh. John Cawley and Teddy O’Hanlon travelled to O’Loughlins, Kilkenny to play Kildare (Paul Ruane and Cyril Carr) in the Golden Masters B Doubles Final. Despite a great Clare showing in the first game, the Lilywhites moved up a gear in the second and third to win 18-21, 21-11, 21-12.

Ballina’s Fergal Collins secured the under 21 Singles title for Tipperary when he comfortably defeated Patrick Funchion (Kilkenny) 21-9, 21-13 in Carlow. Collins won under21 All-Irelands in both the big and small alley last year and will be favourite to do so again this year.

TUAMGRANEY Handball Club, one of the most famous and historic in the country, celebrates 100 years in existence this year. Since the building of the 60×30 alley in 1911 and the early thriving and flourishing of the club, through the glorious ‘70s with multiple All-Ireland and World Championship titles (and the addition of the 40×20 court) and on to the present day heroics of more provincial, national and world glory, the club has always been synonymous with high achievement and community involvement.

To mark the occasion of the centenary, the club will hold a gala handball weekend in July. The weekend will feature tournaments in both alleys, the unveiling of a commemorative monument, prize draws and a social event.

The roof of the 60×30 alley is also being renovated and a ‘club history’ will be published toward the end of the year.

Tuamgraney Handball Club has put together a special ‘Centenary Committee’ who have been working hard over recent weeks and months to make the occasion a success.

To launch the centenary year and to mark the fantastic Munster and AllIreland successes of Tuamgraney handballers in 2011, a social night will be held this Saturday (April 23) in Teach ui Bhriain, Tuamgraney. Music is by Hush and admission is free. There will be presentations by the club on the night as well as a raffle draw. All are welcome to come and celebrate.

To fund the renovation work on the 60×30, which will run to a cost of almost € 25,000, the club will run a number of fundraising events throughout the year. Also, a number of people have agreed to take part in a loan-share agreement whereby they will each give a loan of € 500 to Tuamgraney Handball Club which will be paid back in full, while all past and current club members have been invited to contribute with a donation of € 100. If you feel you can help in this regard, please don’t hesitate to contact any club officer or Centenary Committee member.

Bridge United B 3 – Rineanna Rovers B 1 at Sixmilebridge

DESPITE a disappointing league campaign this year’s Bridge United B have booked their place the Clare Cup semi-final for the second year in succession following a battling display against Rineanna Rovers B in Sixmilebridge on Sunday.

Having overcome the Bridges’ A team in the previous round, the Shannon club were full of confidence on the arrival in Sixmilebridge and started the match the brighter with some good early pressure.

The pressure paid off after half an hour with a moment that Bridge keeper Barry Deasy will want to forget. His attempted clearance from a firmly struck back-pass bobbled over the hapless keeper’s foot and into his own net.

This setback seemed to spur on the home side who came out of themselves and thought they had equalised before half time when a Kevin Meehan corner was bundled to the net – only to be ruled out for an infringement on the Rineanna keeper.

The equaliser finally came in the 65th minutes when super sub Alan Mulready was taken down in the box allowing Gavin Downes to drill his penalty to the net.

The home side were well on top at this stage and could have won the match within the 90 minutes. One final quilt edges chance fell to Dominic Murphy in injury but his effort went wide meaning extra time. The writing was on the wall in the first minute of extra time when a Gavin Downes’ cross was headed home by Brendan Murray. Rineanna had their chances howev- er and Barry Deasy made amends for his earlier error with a superb double save from Tiago and Alan Barrett in the opening exchanges of the second period. The tie was put to bed five minutes from the end when Robert Conlon made great progress down the left before crossing for Gavin Downes to head home to complete his brace. Revenge for the Bridge and bragging rights secured for the B-team.

Bridge Utd B
Barry Deasy, Podge Flannery,Albert Finnan, Dominic Murphy, Kevin Meehan, Paul Corbett, Damian Murray, Robert Conlon, Brendan Murphy, Jamie Gorman, Gavin Downes.

Subs
Alan Mulready for B Murphy, Darragh Fitzgerald for Gorman, Geoff Flynn for Corbett,Alan McAuley for Flannery.

Rineanna Rovers B
Eugene O’Mahony, Darra McCarmac, Ger Cahill, Dabvid Barrett, Conor Cusack, Enda Barrett, Ciaran O’Cpnnor, Martin Frawley, Ronan McCarmack,Alan Barrett, Shane Meehan.

Subs
Tiago for Shane Meehan, Declan O’Mahony for O’Connor.

Man of the Match
Gavin Downes (Bridge United B)

Referee
Declan Hehir

Newmarket Celtic 2 – Bridge United 0 at McDonough Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus

NEWMARKET Celtic boss Liam Murphy handed a first Premier League start to Tom Monaghan for their Sunday morning local derby against Bridge United.

And what an inspired selection it proved to be as Monaghan, who has plied his trade in the B team to date, notching three goals in the season parachuted into the A team with stunning effect as his two-goal blast in the first half kept them on course for a first league title in four years.

Monaghan was the man, making an instant impact on top flight football with his goals that helped Newmarket stroll to the three points.

The first came 15 minutes in when Monaghan latched onto a perceptive through ball from junior international Davy Wall and fired a wonder gaol into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

Then on the half-hour mark Monaghan doubled his tally when he got on the end of Seamus Considine’s cross from the left wing, hitting a sidefooted volley confidently past Derek Fahy in the Bridge United goal.

There was no way back for Bridge, even though they felt hard done by the fact that they weren’t awarded a penalty in the first minute when Tervor Maxwell was tackled from behind in the area by Mark Donnellan.

But afterwards Bridge had no complaints, while Newmarket could have ran riot, such were the plethora of chances that they missed over the 90 minutes. Eoin Hayes was most guilty after opportunity knocked a number of times, while sub Michael Crosby also had gilt-edged chance when Derek Fahy lost the ball outside the area, but he proceeded to kick the ball tamely at Fahy.

Newmarket Celtic
Ciaran McGlynn, Mark O’Malley, Seamus Lawlor, Mark Donnelann Daren Culinan, Eoin O’Brien, Mike O’Malley, Michael Devitt,TomMonaghan, Seamus Considine (Crosbie), Eoin Hayes, David Wall (Kieran Devitt)

Man of the Match
TomMonaghan (Newmarket Celtic)

Referee
Julian Stanford

The Clare Ladies Football Minors will travel to Cork on Wednesday to play the Rebels in the second round of the Munster Minor A Championship. The Clare girls will feel they could have played better against Kerry last week and should come out with all guns blazing if they are to play to the level they set themselves at the start of this year’s campaign. With all the ground work done in the lead up to the Munster Championship, their biggest test will be to see if they retain the appetite for the big game. It doesn’t get much bigger than going to Mallow to play Cork who have come off the back of a big win over Tipperary. Clare last met Cork in the final of the 2010 Munster A Championships and already know they will have to be ready to take any and every scoring opportunity against Cork and also to defend tirelessly.The team bus will depart Bank Corner Miltown Malbay at 4pm and leave the West County Hotel at 4.50pm sharp. The Clare Panel is as follows:

Niamh O’Dea, Laurie Ryan, Niamh Walsh, Eleanor Carey, Orlaith Lynch, Aoife Martin (Banner) Megan Byrne, Kayleigh McCormack, Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels) Roisin Looney, Aoife O’Gorman (Cooraclare) Karen O’Brien (Doora-Barefield) Tara Sheehan, Alana O’Brien, Shaunagh O’Brien: (Eire Og) Ciara O’Malley, Aoife Clohessy: Eimear O’Shea (Fergus Rovers) Edel McMahon, Eleanor O’Gorman (Kilmihil) Aisling Torpey, Roisin Rouine, Threase Shannon (Liscannor) Niamh Pender, Shauna Crowley, Ciara Burke (Miltown) Shauna Harvey, Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels)

Clare face Tipperary in the third round of the Munster Minor A Championship which is set for this Saturday April 23rd at St. Joseph’s Doorabarefield at 3:30pm THE BANNER Ladies’ Under 14’s will accompany West Clare Gaels, Kilmurry Ibrickane and Doorabarefield into the semi-finals of the Feile Peil na mBan after emerging strongest from their group at the weekend. The Banner Ladies coasted to the semi’s with emphatic wins over New

market, Wolfe Tones and Crusheen at the St. Flannan’s pitches last Sunday. The semi-finals and final will be concluded in Gurteen on Bank Holiday Monday at 10am. This year’s football Feile is hosted by Cork and the winners of the Clare Feile will be grouped in Division 1 with Cork local teams Fermoy and Aghada and the Feile winners of Mayo.

Clare 5-13 – Wicklow 2-12 at Templetuohy, Tipperary

CLARE secured promotion back up to Division 2 of the National League on Saturday. Within a year of relegation, they will be back competing there in 2012 thanks to their semi final victory over Wicklow at Templetuohy, Tipperary.

It was Wicklow who started the better team and dominated early on in this game. Wicklow centre forward Niamh Carroll notched 1-2 from play to give her side a 1-5 to 0-4 lead sixteen minutes into the match. A goal from Kilmihil’s Eimear Considine then got Clare motoring and Wicklow failed to score for the remainder of the half. Points from team captain Niamh Keane, midfielder Louise Henchy and full forward Niamh O’Dea saw Clare retire at half time 1-9 to 1-5 ahead.

Wicklow again started well and had cut the deficit to two points and it was clear the next score would be crucial. It fell to Clare wing forward Naomi Carroll and from here Clare took over and controlled the remainder of the game. O’Dea had the first of four second half Clare goals and Shannon Gaels Colette Corry got Clare’s third. At this stage Clare led 3-13 to 1-11.

The next score was another Clare goal, this time from Eimear Considine who made no mistake from close range and Katie Geoghegan had Clare’s final goal. The last score went to Wicklow who managed a consolation goal in injury time.

Overall it was a fine team performance which was shown by the score board and Clare can now look to Division 3 Final against Fermanagh with real confidence. They now have an opportunity to collect some silverware when they face Fermanagh in the Division 3 final at Parnell Park, Dublin on Saturday May 7th.

Clare
Emma O’Driscoll (Banner Ladies); Clare Hester (Fergus Rovers), Lorraine Kelly (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (Banner Ladies); Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket), LouiseWoods (0-1) (Banner Ladies); Marie Considine (Liscannor), Louise Henchy (0-2, 1f) Banner Ladies); Colette Corry (1-0) (Shannon Gaels), Niamh Keane (0-3) (Banner Ladies), Naomi Carroll (0-1) (Banner Ladies); Eimear Considine (2-1) (Kilmihil), Niamh O’Dea (1-5, 3f) (Banner Ladies), Sarah Bohannon (Shannon Gaels). Subs: Carmel Considine for C. Corry, Katie Geoghegan (1-0) for N. Carroll, Carol O’Leary for S. Bohannon, Grace Lynch for L. Kelly.

Wicklow
Emer Miley,Aoife Heffernan, Caitriona Byrne, Lisa Brady, Sarah Miley, Caitriona McKeon, Niamh Kelly, Caoilfhoinn Deeney (1-3, 2f), Loretta Gilbert,Amie Byrne (0-1), Niamh Carroll (1-2), Eadaoine Lenihan (0-1), Laurie Ahern, Jackie Kinch, Lucy Mulhall (0-4f). Subs: S Hogan for L Brady, J Miley for C Byrne,AMDoran (0-1f) for L. Mulhall, MShelley for E Lenihan, CByrne for E Kelly, L Hogan for L Ahern

Referee:
Richard O’Connor (Tipperary)

Ballyea 0-18 – O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-05 at Cusack Park, Ennis

THESE are heady days for hurling out Ballyea way – just because they expect to win county titles and because of the strong pool of talent that’s come through the underage ranks in the club.

Much of that talent was on show at headquarters on Sunday as they clinically dispatched the O’Callaghan’s Mills challenge to claim their second under 21 title in three years.

And, like previous rounds of this year’s campaign much of the credit for Ballyea’s hegemony rested on the considerable shoulders of midfielder Tony Kelly – this year’s Clare minor captain who had accounted for 4-29 before this decider.

To say the 0-10 he contributed here was crucial is putting it midly – he was the talisman, the thorn in the Mills’ side, the match-winner as Ballyea bade farewell to the under 21 B ranks for 2012 (they have to be in the A grade) with this comprehensive 13-point victory.

It was the Tony Kelly show, with a considerable supporting cast that overwhelmed an O’Callaghan’s Mills that tried hard, but was limited in many departments and second best in nearly every departmeant by the end as Ballyea cruised to victory.

The gulf between the sides was really shown up in the second half when Ballyea hit ten points without reply, with Kelly being difference as he ripped the Mills apart and killed the game with the three brilliant points from play inside the first ten minutes.

Indeed, it was Kelly who had them on their way with a point inside two minutes, while he added two more by the seventh as Ballyea made a fast start to this county final.

The Mills did stay with them in the first half and three-in-a-row from Eoin McInerney, Aidan O’Gorman and a Jamie Lynch free did have the sides level by the 13th minute, but in truth it was as good as it got for them.

Ballyea edged 0-5 to 0-3 clear by the 15th minute thanks to points from Martin O’Leary and Niall Griffin. All the Mills could muster for the rest of the half were two Jamie Lynch frees as Kelly (2) and Martin O’Leary with the point of the half eased Ballyea into an 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead.

There was still much to play for, but once Kelly got into his stride in the second half this game had an inevitability about it as Ballyea were shooting for fun long before the end.

With Ballyea leading 0-11 to 0-5 by the 40th minute, that there was a lull was no surprise as they went ten minutes without a score before they cranked it up again in the final the final ten minutes.

Kelly reached double figures with another point on the run after 20 minutes and a free five minutes later; Niall Deasy produced a closing cameo of three points, while Paudge McMahon and Gearóid O’Connell also got on the scoresheet.

O’Callaghan’s Mills 3-10 – Corofin 0-10 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

O’CALLAGHAN’S Mills eased their way into the Under 21 B decider thanks to a three-goal victory over a disappointing Corofin side on Saturday afternoon, as goals either side of half-time turned the tie decisively in their favour and helped them book a final berth against Ballyea.

Corofin’s failure to use the first half wind advantage was their undoing – despite the strength of the gale and ample possession they could only eke out a 0-9 to 1-5 interval lead that was never going to be enough once the Mills settled into their stride.

Stephen Heagney’s accuracy from placed balls in the first half helped Corofin build up a 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 20tth minute. Centre-back Luke O’Loughlin was very much to the fore in this period while Gearóid Kelly, Kevin Heagney and Declan Stack contributed points from play as Corofin hit four unanswered points to open up a double-scores lead.

However, just when it looked as if Corofin were firmly into their stride and had the momentum to kick on to build up sizeable advantage, O’Calllaghan’s Mills struck for the all-important first goal.

It came from Jamie Lynch after 25 minutes and with that Corofin’s race in this championship was eventually run, even though they responded with another Heagney point just before the interval to give them the lead by the narrowest of margins.

Corofin battled bravely in the early exchanges of the second half, but ul- timately it was a lonely 30 minutes for the men in red – they could add one point to their total while the Mills gradually found their rhythm and hit 2-5 to record a comprenhensive win.

Again, it was a goal that kickstarted the half for the Mills’; again it was Jamie Lynch who worked the oracle, this time finding the net ten minutes in to put daylight between them and Corofin for the first time.

That daylight was extended thanks to Christy Philpott’s 48th minute goal, while Ian Donnellan, Aidan O’Gorman and the impressive Aidan Donovan also chipped in with points as the Mills won as they pleased.

Two late points from Aidan O’Gorman left left three goals in it at the end.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
Henry Skehan, Sean O’Gorman, Gerry Cooney, Michael McGrath, Darren Cooney,Adrian Donovan (0-3,2f),Aidan Fawl, Eoin McInerney, Kevin O’Callaghan, ColmMcHugh, James McMahon (0-2), Eoin McGrath, Jamie Lynch (2-1), Ian Donnellan (0-1),Aidan O’Gorman (0-3). Subs Christy Philpott (1-0) for Eoin McInerney,Jamie Heffernan for O’Callaghan, Eoin McNamara for Donnellan.

Corofin
Patrick Burke, Keith O’Loughlin, Eoin Malone, Manus Malone, Ian Corbett, Luke O’Loughlin, Darren Malone, Fionn Clancy, Stephen Heagney (0-7, 5f), Declan Stack (0-1), Eamon Malone, Jamie Malone, Killian O’Loughlin, Kevin Heagney (0-1), Gearoid Kelly (0-1). Subs Willie Neylon for Eoin Malone, Killian Malone for Killian O’Lgouhlin, Oisin Long for Ian Corbett

Man of the Match
Adrian Donovan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

Sixmilebridge 1-17 – Inagh/Kilnamona 2-12 at Clarecastle

SIXMILEBRIDGE HAVE reached the under 21 A final for the third year in a row after seeing off a strong Inagh/Kilnamona side in Clarecastle on Saturday.

Sixmilebridge managed to finished strong in this close encounter thanks to a Declan Morey goal on 46 minutes which edged them in front but there was never more then a puck of a ball between these sides for the best part of the game.

It was clear early on that ill discipline would prove costly for both teams as Inagh/Kilnamona’s Niall Arthur and Sixmilebridge’s Jamie Shanahan were both on form as they battled it out from placed balls.

Points from Shane Golden and Pa Sheehan aided the sharpshooting of Shanahan for Sixmilbridge but it was Arthur’s goal 12 minutes in that was the difference at half time. He had tried for another goal from a 21 yard free soon after but his shot was stopped and cleared. After playing with a strong breeze, his side looked in control, and led Sixmilebridge, 1-8 to 0-9.

A few positional switches at the break brought Sixmilebridge back into the game with scores from Seadna Morey and Sam O’Sullivan. Then when Jamie Shanahan found Declan Morey in front of goal he buried it into the net to give his side a three point lead and the boost they needed.

Seadhna Morey and Shanahan added two more as Sixmilebridge then went five ahead going into injury time. A Sean McConigley goal is all Inagh/Kilnamona could manage in the closing stages as Sixmilebridge claimed a final spot winning on a two point margin, 1-17 to 2-12.

Sixmilebridge will now face Cratloe in this year’s under 21 Championship Final and they will be looking to rectify last year’s final defeat to Eire Og as they go in search of a second title in three years.

Ballyea 0-14 – St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 1-8 at The Éire Óg Grounds, Ennis

ST JOSEPH’S Doora-Barefield saw red on the double during the game when the sendings off of both Niall Hassett and Shane O’Connor and saw it the same colour again after the ball game was over when a flurry of people vented their spleen at referee Kevin Walsh

But it was Ballyea who saw the promised land of a county final for the second time in three years as they withstood a late surge by the men from The Parish to book a final berth against O’Callaghan’s Mills.

Ballyea were the better team, but St Joseph’s weren’t slow in letting it be known that they had their grievances with Kevin Walsh after they received six yellow cards and two red ones over the course of the hour.

Niall Hassett was marched in the 41st minute after a challenge on Ca- thal Doohan, but by that stage the game was already slipping from St Josephs’ grasp as Ballyea cranked up their performance considerably in the early exchanges of the second half.

In the first 20 minutes of the half they restricted St Joseph’s to just two points, while adding seven of their own to move into a commanding 013 to 0-7 by the 50th minute as they closed in on a final berth.

The first half had been an even affair, with points from Niall Deloughery, Ian Lyons and Cathal Duggan helping St Joseph’s into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead inside ten minutes.

However, as in previous games in the campaign Tony Kelly prodigious scoring talents helped Ballyea play their way into the game.

The Clare minor captain landed two frees by the 15th minute and then hit one from play after good work from Paudge McMahon.

Further points from Paul Flanagan and Niall Deasy in response to a booming point from distance by Alan O’Neill helped Ballyea into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead before an injury time effort from Ian Lyons left only the minimum between the sides.

Jarlath Colleran’s equalising point a minute into the second half hinted at a battle to the death, but it was as good as it got for St Joseph’s for much of the half.

Seven points in a row from Ballyea decided this contest – Martin O’Leary, Niall Deasy (2) and Tony Kelly (4) were all on the mark.

A 58th minute goal scrambled to the net by Cathal Duggan after a long free from Alan O’Neill briefly put the game back in the melting pot, but when St Joseph’s had their claims for a 21-yard free ignored a few minutes later, their cause was lost.

Ballyea
Shane Harkin, Cormac Ryan, Jack Browne, Eanna McInerney, James Murphy, Gearóíd O’Connell, David Sheehan, Paul Flanagan (0-1),Tony Kelly (0-9, 6f), Niall Deasy (0-3), James Murphy, Cathal Doohan, Martin O’Leary (0-1), Paudge McMahon, Declan Keane.

Subs
Niall Griffin for Doohan, Eoghan Donnellan for McMahon.

St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield
Michael Rosengrave, Darragh Murphy, Stephen Collins, Killian Griffey, Niall Hassett,Alan O’Neill (01), Eamon Clohessy, Leo Duggan, Jarlath Colleran (0-1), Ian Lyons (0-1), Niall Deloughery (0-1), Aaron Landy, Barry Mullane, Shane O’Connor (0-2, 2f), Cathal Duggan (1-2).

Subs
Stephen Barron for Griffey, Donal O’Halloran for Mullane.

Man of the Match
Tony Kelly (Ballyea)