Category: Sport

THE 2011 National Hurling League campaign may have started badly for Clare with a home defeat to Limerick, but the county now stands on the cusp of back-to-back final appearances.

Victory over Laois in Portlaoise this coming Sunday would all but guarantee Clare’s safe passage to another decider and another showdown with arch-rivals and closest neighbours Limerick.

However, to achieve this goal manager Ger O’Loughlin has warned that players must “raise their game to the next level” against an improving Laois side.

“We’re bordering on being good enough for Division 1 hurling,” O’Loughlin told The Clare People ahead of Sunday’s crunch tie in O’Moore Park, “but there are times that we look as if we’re a Division 2 team as well”.

And, the two-time All-Ireland winner is in no doubt that Clare need to produce “Division 1 form” to overcome the potential banana skin of Laois away from home.

“We will need to up our performance from the Kerry game,” O’Loughlin said after Clare’s com- prehensive 20-point victory in Cusack Park last Saturday. “This game against Laois will be a case of winner takes all.

“Even though we put up a big score against Kerry (6-23), we still have to improve. We’re still conceding too much and we’re indecisive in some of the things we’re doing.

“I would say we have a huge amount of work to do. I thought our backs were in trouble a lot ot times against Kerry, especially our full-back line who have been playing well.

“We will get punished a lot more next week if we’re not sharper in defence.

“This game against Laois is the one. If we win we’ll will be in the final. It’s up in Portlaoise. It’s not an easy one. We scraped through against Laois last year, probably with more seasoned players that we had this year. I just hope we pick it up and bring it to the next level. That’s what we have to do,” added O’Loughlin.

CLARE will face the Kilkenny youths in this year’s Interleague Youths Cup semi-final in Kilkenny on Sunday and The Cla re People

Sixmilebridge 1-17 – Clooney-Quin 2-10 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

DEFENDING champions Sixmilebridge extended their Clare Cup unbeaten run to eight games on Sunday when accounting for neighbours Clooney/Quin on home soil.

It wasn’t the demolition of last year when the ‘Bridge ran out comfortable 5-19 to 1-12 victors but the ‘Bridge always appeared more likely to take the points after finish ing both halves strongly.

Indeed, the holders were 0-4 to 0-1 clear inside the opening ten minutes, with debutant Tony Carmody getting off the mark. However, they were soon on the backfoot following a Fergal Lynch point and a goal from Cathal Egan who was perfectly positioned to take advantage of a Brian Shally lineball that rebounded back off the post.

Far from panicking however, Sixmilebridge simply brushed aside that set-back and finished the half the stronger with points from David O’Connor and Caimin Morey before Danny Morey raised the green flag to give the home side a welcome 1-10 to 1-05 half-time advantage.

An early fighback from the visitors yielded a three point haul for Mike Daffy, Cathal Egan and Brian Shally but Sixmilebridge soon got back into their stride and built up a nine point lead by the 55th minute.

Clooney/Quin never gave up the ghost though and hit an unanswered 1-2 late on with county senior Fergal Lynch grabbing the goal through a 20 metre free. But it was all too little too late as Sixmilebridge had enough in the tank to prevail and maintain their unbeaten run that now stretches back over 10 months.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan, Ray McNamara, Barry O’Connor, Caimin Morey (0-2 1f),Trevor Purcell, Paul Fitzpatrick, Shane Golden, David O’Connor (0-2), Niall Gilligan (0-3 1f),Tony Carmody (0-1), Danny Morey (1-1), Brian Culbert (0-4), Declan Morey (0-2)

Subs
Tommy Morey for Golden (35 mins), Pa Sheehan (0-2 1s/l) for Fitzpatrick (39 mins), Eoin Quinn for McNamara (55 mins).

Clooney- Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrison, Shane McNamara, Mike McNamara, Sean Conheady, Enda Harrison, Brian Shally (0-3 2f, 1’65), Martin Duggan, Padraig Ward (0-1), Fergal Lynch (1-1, 1-0f), Mike Daffy (04), Ronan Gallagher, Cathal Egan (1-1), Derek Ryan.

Subs
John Earls for Ryan (HT),Adrian Fleming for Gallagher (HT)

Referee
Johnnie Healy (Smith O’Brien’s).

Inagh/Kilnamona 1-15 – Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-12 at Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket

THE SURPRISE of the opening round as Inagh/Kilnamona travelled to Newmarket and came away with both points on Sunday. It’s seven years since Newmarket had been beaten in the opening round of the Clare Cup but having blazed an early trail in recent years before the flames went out in the business end of the season, perhaps it isn’t such a bad thing to gradually get into their stride as the Clare Cup develops this year.

In truth, while it was always close, Inagh/Kilnamona did appear much sharper on the ball throughout, although it was Newmarket who drew first blood when Enda Kelly received a pass on the overlap to grab the opening goal of the game. With Colin Ryan sustaining an injury the previous day while on county senior duty, his influence, especially on the scoreboard, was missed and Inagh/ Kilnamona capitalised when a backto-front move led to a well worked goal for Conor Tierney on their way to a 1-9 to 1-6 interval advantage.

The second half was equally as tight but with Inagh/Kilnamona leading by three in injury-time, Newmarket were awarded a penalty with what was to prove the last puck of the game. County senior James McInerney stepped up but substitute Stephen Toomey was equal to his effort and it was enough to give his side the perfect start to the season.

Inagh/ Kilnamona

Patrick Kelly, Milo Keane, Ronan O’Looney, Dermot Lynch, Damien Lafferty, Eamon Glynn, Colm Pilkington, Gary Lafferty, EoinVaughan,Tomás Kelly, Dermot Gannon, HaulieVaughan, Niall Arthur, Gerry Arthur, Conor Tierney

Subs
Shane Griffin for H.Vaughan, Sean McConigley for E.Vaughan, StephenToomey for Gannon

Newmarket- on- Fergus
Kieran Devitt, Eoin McInerney, Stephen Kelly, Padraig Kilmartin, Eoin O’Brien, Shane O’Brien, Alan Barrett, Martin O’Hanlon, Enda Barrett, Jim McInerney, David Barrett, Eoin Hayes, James Liddy, James McInerney, Enda Kelly

Subs
Darren O’Connor for O’Hanlon, Ronan McCormack for J. Liddy

Referee
KevinWalsh (WolfeTones)

Crusheen 1-20 – Whitegate 0-10 at Crusheen

COUNTY senior champions Crusheen coasted to victory in their season opener against 2009 intermediate champions Whitegate, enjoying a 13point victory in the end as they eased their way into competitive fare in a most decisive fashion.

However, that such a scoreline should come to pass would have been scarcely believable in the early stages of the second half as Crusheen found themselves very much under the cosh.

They had led at half-time by 0-9 to 0-6 when playing with the breeze and hill – it didn’t seem to be enough, something that was hammered home on the resumption when Whitegate hit the ground running when playing with the prevailing elements.

Michael Dooley, George Waterstone and Ian Fahy flashed over points and suddenly the sides were level – more than that, the force was most definitely with Whitegate as they sensed what would have been a very notable scalp.

However, that it wasn’t to be was hammered in the closing 25 minutes as they rolled up their sleeves and proceeded to show just why they’re county champions, blitzing the east Clare men for 1-10 without reply.

What at a turnaround, from a first 35 minutes in which Whitegate had more than held their own. Paddy Vaughan was in great form from places balls throughout the game, starting in the first half, while Conor O’Donnell, Joey Meaney, Gerry O’Grady and Alan Touhy also chipped in with scores.

Whitegate kept in touch with three George Waterstone frees as well as points form play by Michael O’Brien, Ian Fahy and Brendan Bugler, while their fast start to the second half should have teed them up to gather the two points.

Crusheen, however, had other ideas, with Paddy Vaughan imperious from placed balls as he brought his tally for the hour to 0-10, while Sean Dillon was influential when moving out to midfield.

A purple patch of 1-10, with the goal coming from sub Conor O’Loughlin in the 48th minute sealed Whitegate’s fate as Crusheen threw down an early marker to all pretenders, while the scoring return of their bench told of their strength in depth on the day – the subs accounted for 1-3 on the day.

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon, Alan Brigdale, Cathal Dillon, Ian Dillon, Ciaran O’Doherty,Tony Meaney, PaddyVaughan (0-10, 1f), Joe Meaney (0-2), Sean Dillon (0-1), David Forde (0-1), Conor O’Donnell (0-1), Gerry O’Grady (0-1),AlanTuohy (0-1).

Subs
Paddy O’Grady (0-1) for Tuohy Conor O’Loughlin (1-0) for Conor O’Donnell, Gearóid O’Donnell (0-2) Tony Meaney.

Whitegate
AndrewFahy,Tomas McNamara, John Bugler, Cathal Mulvihill, Jason Malone, Brendan Bugler, Patrick Minogue, Ian Fahy, Shane O’Rourke, Stephen Malone, John Minogue, Michael O’Brien, Gary McClaren, GeorgeWaterstone, Michael Dooley.

Sub
John O’Brien for O’Rourke

Man of the Match
Paddy Vaughan (Crusheen) Referee Johnny Healy (Smith O’Briens)

Tubber 1-15 – Tulla/Bodyke 1-15 at Ballyea

BALLYEA had bragging rights from the day before when they scored a comprehensive victory in the Under 21 B quarter-final, but in this Clare Cup game out Tubber showed their battling qualities when landing two injury time points to earn a deserved share of the spoils.

Deserved, because of the way Tubber rolled up their sleeves in the second half when finding themselves six points adrift to a Ballyea side that seemed to be motoring towards victory on their first day out.

The came was delicately poised at half-time with Ballyea armed with a 1-7 to 1-5 advantage after they had forged ahead early on thatnks to a Francie Neylon goal as early as the seventh minute.

Four points in a row in as many minutes between the 16th and 20th minutes from Paul Flanagan, Francie Neylon, Tony Griffin and Niall Deasy put the home side 1-5 to 0-3 clear but a Cyril Cunningham goal for Tubber in the 25th minute brought them back into the tie before the break.

Two Patrick O’Connor pointed frees to bring his tally for the half to four in response to two from play by Tony Griffin, who also hit four in the half, left the game delicately poised on the turnover.

However, Ballyea’s fast start with points from Tony Griffin, Niall Deasey (2) and Francis O’Reilly inside five minutes of the re-start put them 1-11 to 1-5 ahead and in control.

But, it was as good as it got for Ballyea, as a mini-collapse helped Tubber gain a foothold once more, so much so that points over the nest 20 minutes the north Clare side outscored the home side by 0-8 to 0-2 to bring the sides back level.

Patrick O’Connor was the scorerin-chief with five more points from placed balls, while Cyril Cunningham, Jack Neylon, Cyril Cunningham and Mark Earlie chipped in with points from play.

With the sides locked at 1-13 apiece all was to play for but Ballyea recovered their composure to hit the front again by two thanks to points from Tony Griffin and Gearóid O’Connell, only for Tubber to get their reward with points in the 63rd and 65th minutes from Jack Neylon and Patrick O’Connor respectively.

Ballyea
Shane O’Neill, Eamon Griffin, Kevin Sheehan, David Sheehan, Niall Keane, Paddy O’Connell, James Murphy, Paul Flanagan (0-2), Francis O’Reilly (0-1), Gearóid O’Connell (0-1),Alan Carrigg, Niall Deasey (0-2), Declan Keane,Tony Griffin (0-8), Francie Neylon (1-1).

Sub
Frankie Griffin for Keane.

Tubber
RonanTaaffe, Gerard Brohan, Eoin Ruane, John O’Connor,Tommy Lee, Conor Earlie (0-1), Mark Earlie, Patrick O’Connor (0-8), Clive Earlie (0-2), David O’Donoghue, Barry O’Connor, Jack Neylon (0-2), Blaine Earlie (0-1), Shane O’Connor, Cyril Cunningham(1-1).

Subs
Justin McMahon for Brohan, Fergal O’Grady for Lee, Nigel O’Donoghue for Blaine Earlie.

Man of the Match
Tony Griffin (Ballyea) Referee Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)

O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-13 – St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-08 at Gurteen

TWO SIDES that are expected to be in the promotion race but it was the Mills who continued their hold over St Joseph’s with another narrow victory on Sunday. In truth, it was a relatively even-matched game that had all the rusty hallmarks of a competitive opener. However it was the Mills who finished the stronger to hold out for their third successive adult victory of the year, following on from the Under 21’s brace of wins. The winners were behind by the minimum at the break at 1-5 to 0-7, with Enda Lyons (right) scoring the St Joseph’s goal after making a cameo for the Clare footballers in Cusack Park earlier in the day.

St Joseph’s extended their lead directly after the break but far from securing the game, they tired and were not to score again in the run-in as the Mills gained momentum and eventually took both points. Incidentally both clubs could meet again in the Under 21B decider if the Mills and Doora/Barefield can get over the respective challenges of either Corofin or Clooney/Quin, and Ballyea in the last four

O’Callaghan’s Mills
John Cooney, Gerry Cooney, Conor Cooney, Sean O’Gorman, Damien Noonan,Adrian Donovan, Patrick Donnellan, Niall Donovan, John McGrath, Gary Neville, Declan Donovan, Jonathan Lyons, Fergus Donovan,Adrian Flaherty, James McMahon

Subs
Kevin O’Callaghan for Noonan,Aidan Fawl for Lyons, Brendan Hannon for Flaherty, Enda McNamara for N. Donovan

St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield
Paul Madden, Gary Hassett, Marty Regan, Sean Flynn, Darragh O’Driscoll, Ken Kennedy,Alan O’Neill, Kevin Dilleen, Mark Hallinan, Niall DeLoughery, Noel Brodie, Ivor White, Enda Lyons, Damien Kennedy, Shane O’Connor

Subs
Michael Cullinan for Deloughery, Shane O’Grady for D. Kennedy

Referee
Ger Lyons (Ryan)

Clarecastle 3-14 – Broadford 0-09 at Clarecastle

CLARECASTLE were blowing off the cobwebs while Broadford were getting tangled in theirs as this Clare Cup opener ended in a rather lopsided manner. The 14 point margin eclipsed the sides’ championship encounter last summer but in actuality it was a much closer game than the scoreline reflected.

The difference on the day was in terms of pace and finishing. Clarecastle were sharp out of the blocks and economical in their shooting while Broadford showed a typical opening day rustiness and indeed had enough chances both below and above the crossbar to win two games on their way to a whopping 18 wides total.

Clarecastle’s attacking triumvirate centred around Jonathan Clancy, Tyrone Kearse and Aaron Considine who injected added pace and guile to the attack and hence all contributed handsomely to the scoreboard.

The writing was on the wall as early as the first quarter when the home side built up a 1-5 to 0-1 advantage with Aaron Considine the chief marksman with 1-2. The goal was a well worked move involving Clancy, Kearse and Danny Scanlon who picked out the run of the unmarked Considine in the centre to finish to the net from close range.

Broadford improved as the half went on but were continually frustrated by slow striking, a plethora of missed goal opportunities and the fact that Clarecastle were able to quickly cancel out their scores on their way to a half-time lead of 1-8 to 0-4.

A similar pattern continued after the break with Broadford attempting to spark a recovery but ultimately impeded by their own profligacy, alowing Clarecastle to play within themselves and match whatever fightback was thrown at them.

With the result beyond doubt, Clarecastle finished the job with two final sucker-punch goals that Tyrone Kearse provided, first being in the right place to take advantage of a penetrating Garry Farmer delivery and then in the final minute, he controlled and finished an Eric Flynn crossfield pass to wrap up the points.

Broadford will have to learn quickly if they are to consolidate their position in the top flight of the Clare Cup.

Clarecastle
Jamie Coughlan, Seanie Moloney, Garrett Barry, Ollie Plunkett, Garry Farmer, Patrick Kelly, Stephen O’Halloran, Jonathan Clancy (0-3), Eamon Callinan,Aaron Considine (1-3),Tyrone Kearse (2-6 4f), Derek Quinn (0-1), Darragh Moloney, Danny Scanlon, SeanTalty (0-1)

Subs
Eric Flynn for Talty (HT), Kevin Clohessy for S. Moloney (HT), Fearghus Ryan for Plunkett (51 mins),AndrewPage for Callinan (52 mins), Jason Considine for D. Moloney (52 mins)

Broadford
Cian O’Brien, John Corcoran,Aidan O’Brien, Stephen Gunning, Peter O’Brien, Cathal Chaplin (0-3 1f, 2’65’s),Alan Kilcoyne, James Gunning (0-1), Craig Chaplin (0-1),Aonghus O’Brien, Darragh Corcoran, DeclanTeefy (0-1), PaurigTaylor (0-3f), Niall Moloney, Padraig Hickey

Subs
Mark Moloney for Teefy (36 mins),Alan McMahon (Snr) for N. Moloney (51 mins),Alan McMahon (Jnr) for S. Gunning (55 mins)

Man of the Match
Tyrone Kearse (Clarecastle) Referee Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)

Wolfe Tones 1-16 – Tulla 2-13 at Shannon

A LONG RANGE free from Bobby McPhilips deep into injury time was enough to give Wolfe Tonnes a share of the spoils in a closely fought first round match in Shannon on Sunday.

A stunning goal from Tulla’s Daniel O’Halloran with five minutes remaining looked to have given the east Clare side the perfect start to this year’s league campaign, until McPhilips stepped up to tie the match with his long range leveller.

In truth, it would have been rough justice had the Tones lost this match after leading for most of the afternoon’s hurling. The Shannon sides raced into an early lead thanks to a 12th minute goal from Aaron Cunningham and some good scores from Gareth McPhilips and Ronan Hehir.

The Senior B champions were not be overawed however and were still very much in contention at half time thanks to a goal form Mike Murphy and points from Brian Lynch, Aidan Lynch, Andrew Quinn and Raymond Steward.

After coming in just 1-8 to 1-6 down at half time, the east Clare side were within a score of Wolfe Tones for the rest of the match and good second half points from David McInerney, Andrew Quinn, Ciaran Brennan and Dan O’Halloran insured thet they would take something home with them from their opening day trip to Shannon.

Wolfe Tones

Paul Hogan, John Coen, Joe McGauley, John Gillfoyle, George Justice, Bobby McPhilips, Barry Laughnane,Aaron Cunningham, Shane Chambers, Brendan Hughes, Ronan Hehir, Gareth McPhilips, Richie Lillis, Mark Lennon, Daithi O’Connell

Subs
Alan Hehir for R. Hehir, Niall Murphy for Justice, Kevin Mccafferty for Lennon.

Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, SeanTorpey, John Fahy, Donnacha McNamara, EannaTorpey, Brian Lynch, David McInerney, Cathal Dinan, Kieran Brennan, Michael Murphy,Aidan Lynch, Raymond Stewart,AndrewQuinn, Danny O’Halloran

Subs
Mark Quinn for MMurphy, Conor O’Halloran for Stewart.

Tubber 1-13 – Tulla/Bodyke 2-08 at Gurteen

IT WAS A dramatic finish, but in the end Tubber throughly deserved to advance to the quarter-finals on Sunday. Despite an immense leadership display by county senior Patrick O’Connor who scored 11 points over the hour, Tubber generally had the better balance and the two point winning margin certainly didn’t reflect Tubber’s dominance for the bulk of the game.

The north Clare side led from start to finish, held a six point half-time advantage that even swelled to eight mid-way through the half yet still could have been caught in a nervous final quarter as the amalgamation finally gelled.

However, while Tulla/Bodyke outscored their opponents by 1-3 to 0-1 in the run-in and also had a multitude of further goal chances including a penalty that flew over the crossbar, several close-in frees and goalmouth scrambles, they found goalkeeper Ronan Taaffe in stubborn form as time eventually ran out.

That late charge would make one wonder how competitive this game could have been had Tulla/Bodkye shown as much urgency from the outset but instead it was Tubber who opened up an 0-8 to 0-3 advantage by the 29th minute, with O’Connor scoring all but one of that total while the fielding of Cathal Murray and work-rate of Nigel O’Donoghue were also highlights.

Aside from Trevor Vaughan placed balls and some good defensive work by Daragh Corry, Tulla/Bodkye hopes of gaining a foothold in this game stemmed from infrequent goal chances, the first of which Taaffe superbly saved from John Fitzgerald while they did finally break the deadlock on the half hour mark when Tomás McMahon picked up a break to drive a low shot to the net.

Had they been able to go into the break only two points down, Tulla/ Bodyke would have been wholly satisfied but crucially Tubber cancelled that score out when Neil O’Loughlin earned a penalty for Ronan Taaffe to convert to the net in the 34th minute to lead by 1-9 to 1-3 at half-time.

Three Patrick O’Connor placed balls extended that advantage to eight by the turn of the final quarter but they would only score once more as Tulla/Bodyke finally fought back. Four Trevor Vaughan frees cut the deficit to five but a plethora of missed chances in front of goals meant that they were repeatedly frustrated.

Tula/Bodyke did eventually bypass goalkeeper Taaffe in the 62nd minute when substitute Cathal Bolton acrobatically flicked a rebound to the net but it was too little too late as it was Tubber who march on to meet Ballyea this Saturday.

Tubber
RonanTaaffe (1-0 Pen), Paddy O’Connor, Paul Fogarty, Philip O’Connor, Sean Brosnan, Fergal O’Grady, Sean Naughton, Nigel O’Donoghue, Kevin Fawl, Darragh O’Connor, Conor Clancy (0-2), Cathal Murray, Evan O’Donoghue, Patrick O’Connor (0-11 7f, 1’65), Neil O’Loughlin

Subs
Francis McCormack for P. O’Connor (37 mins),Adrian Nilan for Fawl (43 mins)

Tulla/ Bodyke
Alan Leamy, Gavin Moroney, Eoin Halpin, Manus Maguire, Daragh Corry, Sean McGrath, Donnacha McNamara, David McInerney (0-1), Oisin Molloy,Trevor Vaughan (0-7 5f, 1 Pen, 1’65), ColmHalpin,Tomás McMahon (1-0), John Fitzgerald, Danny Maguire

Subs
Cathal Bolton (1-0) for Molloy (43 mins), Cormac Lynch for C Halpin (50 mins)

Man of the Match
Patrick O’Connor (Tubber) Referee Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)