Category: Sport

CLARE CRICKET will be in the spotlight this Friday night as the two clubs in Clare, Lahinch and County Clare Cricket Club took part in an event that will be shown on Nationwide on RTE 1 at 7pm this coming Friday.

The RTE crew were in Shannon on Monday morning as both the Lahinch Cricket team and the County Clare Cricket team who are based in Shannon took part in some training and skills demonstrations for the cameras before heading back the coast to play a match between the two teams on the Lahinch beach which gathered quite some interest. The Clare People caught up with Colin Humphrey, a co-founder of the Lahinch Cricket Club which was set up two years ago to talk about his club and how it was formed. “We gathered together a crew of lads who used to play cricket at some time and we put together a broad mixture of people from Australia, New Zealand, India, England and Ireland and decided to start a team up.” He says that although they are currently only playing friendly matches, with a squad of 24 players they are hoping to enter the Munster League next summer. He then went on to tell of how the idea for the programme came about,

“Well Nationwide got in touch and they wanted to get footage of us for the programme this Friday. I think it was due to the interest of Ireland beating England in the World Cup so we organised a bit of training this morning in Shannon and then came back to Lahinch and organised a match on the beach.”

He also added that the days events were a great success and he hopes that the clubs will grow in size and support as a result of the coverage they will get.

County Clare Cricket Club beat The Lahinch Cricket Club by a single run in the game which was played on the beach but they will join together forces in early May once more as they will be playing league games throughout the course of the summer months.

Bunratty 2 – Avenue 3 (after extra-time) at Bunratty

THIS was the tie of the round between two Premier Division bluebloods who have 13 Clare Cup titles between them over the past 25 years – The Avenue with nine titles, Bunratty with four.

And, it was the biggest meeting between the two sides since their final game shoot-out for the league title two years ago that went to penalties before Bunratty claimed the title.

This one threatened to go to penalties when it went to extra-time, but in the end Bunratty old boy Con Collins who won the day for Avenue, turning from villain to zero when he fired home the winner eight minutes into the first period of extra time.

It was an entertaining game that seemed to be going Avenue’s way when they lead 2-0 inside 20 minutes and created a glut of chances in the half.

The opener came seven minutes in when Mikey Mahony and David McCarthy combined to put David Smyth in the clear – he out-paced the Bunratty defence before coolly dispatching to the net past Fintan Quinn.

On 20 minutes Smyth’s corner found David McCarthy, who fed Gary Flynn inside the area and he drove to the net.

Avenue were on their way, but three minutes before half-time Con Collins spectacularly headed Christy Griffin’s cross into his own net when attempting to head the ball to safety.

Bunratty had a lifeline and they grabbed it when Avenue failed to put the game beyond reach in the second half, equalising with eight minutes remaining when Evan Glynn picked up the pieces after the champions failed to deal with a corner and fired through a forest of players to the net.

It brought the game to extra-time and with it the prospect of another penalty shoot-out, only for Collins to emerge as the hero against his old club. He played a one-two with David Smyth before firing home a great goal to the bottom corner of the net.

Out of respect to his old teammates he didn’t celebrate, a la Denis Law for Man City against United all those years ago.

At least from Bunratty’s point of view, they weren’t relegated.

Avenue United
John Healy, Con Collins, David Russell, Dylan Casey, Mattie Nugent, Gary Flynn

(Richie Lillis), Pa Wilson, Dave McCarthy (Simon Cuddy), David Herlihy, Mikey Mahony ((Eamon O’Reilly), David Smythe.

Bunratty
Fintan Quinn, David Hogan, Gearoid O’Connell Tadgh Keogh (John Ryan), Eoin Nash, Chris Griffin (Brendan Hughes), Ryan Kelly (Jamie Cullen), Evan Glynn, Sean McDonald, Diarmuid Nash, Daithi O’Connell

Man of the Match
David Russell (Avenue United)

Referee
Martin O’Brien

Hermitage A 0 – 0 Manus Celtic B (AET) Manus won 4-3 after penalties at the Fairgreen

33 PLACES separate Premier Division high-flyers Hermitage and bottom tier promotion hopefuls Manus Celtic B but the cup is a great leveller as it proved on Sunday when the tage’s flag was lowered.

And with every giantkilling story, there has to be a hero and on this occasion, the dragon slayer was Manus Celtic’s goalkeeper Jason Considine who not only kept his side in the game in open play, saved a penalty in the shoot-out and score the winner himself but was also only playing his first game of the season.

With such a dramatic storyline, you’d have to believe the script was written for Manus to take the Tage’s scalp and it was a plucky performance from the third Division side who may not have had many clearcut chances but more than matched their opponents in what was a dogged midfield battle.

Indeed, Manus started the better side and had a Bernard Scanlon shot inside the opening minutes hit the side netting but the Premier Division side grew into the game and could have snatched a goal just before the break, only for goalkeeper Considine to pull off a superb stop.

Hermitage continued where they left off on the restart and piled on the pressure but aside from a Scott Hennessy effort that hit the bar, they found Manus’ defence difficult to break down.

Contrary to expectations, it was the Premier side who appeared the more tired in the final quarter and as the game drifted into extra-time, both sides were happy to settle for penalties.

Up stepped Considine who saved the Tage’s second spot kick and when Hennessy put the fourth over the bar, the goalkeeper drove home the winner and secure Manus’ passage into the last eight.

Rock Rovers 2 – 3 Tulla United at Lees Road, Ennis

THESE are heady days for Tulla United. Back in the bigtime of the Premier Division after a number of years in the lower divisions and now in the Clare Cup quarter-final thanks to this thrilling win over former champions Rock Rovers.

Indeed, taking down Rock was a huge achievement for a Tulla side that’s more than holding its own in the top flight of the league thanks to their current standing of third place.

Rock were favourites given their sterling cup exploits in recent years – apart from being winners in 2008 they were quarter-finalists the following year and semi-finalists last year where they were shocked by Bridge United B.

And the Ennis side had things their own way early on, forcing the pace before breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes when Eoin Glynn’s cross from the right wing was volleyed to the net by David Ryan.

However, from there until half-time it went horribly wrong for Rock as they leaked two goals to a cock-ahoop Tulla side. Indeed, it only took four minutes – the equaliser came on 23 minutes when Stephen Loftus failed to gather a cross from the left and Mike McDermott gleefully tapped home to the net.

A minute later a free kick was floated into the Rock area from the right, with centre-forward Niall Whelan rising highest at the far post to head to the net.

Rock did have chances to equalise in the second half, but David Ryan and Marty McLoughlin both missed great chances early in the half. Opportunity knocked for McLoughlin again on 56 minutes, but his free header flashed over the bar from close range.

These misses came back to haunt Rock on 75 minutes when Tulla struck for a third on the break. A shot from left hit the cross bar and bounced down to Keith Lenihan who slammed the ball to the net from range.

Rock did give themselves a lifeline on 86 minutes when from a cross by Eoin Glynn, sub Stephen Hickey volleyed to the net from a yard out, but try as they might in the closing stages, the equaliser that would have brought the game to extra time never came as Tulla marched on.

Rock Rovers
Stephen Loftus, Michael Dinan (Ashley Glynn), Ciarán Russell, JasonWhite, Shane Daniels, Dean Gardiner, Eoin Glynn, Francis Daniels (Ronan Judge), David Ryan, Barry Woods, Marty McLoughlin (Stephen Hickey)

Tulla United

Shane Collins, PaudgeVaughan, Gearóid Doherty (Tommy McKeon), Dennis Murphy, Darragh Corry (Brian Hehir), Mike McDermott, Padraic O’Malley, Shane Mason, Niall Whelan,Alan Brigdale, Keith Lenihan.

Man of the Match
Darragh Corry (Tulla United) Referee Martin Monaghan

A QUINTESSENTIAL cup tie that appeared to be heading for extratime before centre-half Michael Concannon unleashed an unstoppable injury-time winner to send Corofin Harps into the last eight. It was a cruel way for home side Kilmaley to exit the cup. The victory was no more than Corofin Harps deserved on the day.

While the goal was a rare strike from general play, there were several opportunities from set-pieces with Kilmaley hitting the woodwork in each half.

That was as good as it got for Kilmaley who were second best possession-wise for the bulk of the encounter. On the flip side, Corofin played some eye-catching passing football but found Kilmaley’s defence difficult to break down.

So when Paul Linnane’s 88th minute free whistled just over the crossbar, extra-time seemed to be on the cards. That was until the ball fell kindly for Concannon to strike from 35 yards into the top right corner.

Kilmaley Fern Celtic
Gerry Healy, Pa Sherlock, Noel Healy, Philip Noonan, Jamie Meehan, Eoin McNamara (Alan Hehir, 78 mins), Jamie Mills, Conor Brennan, Greg O’Flanagan, Liam Meaney, Sean O’Flanagan

Corofin Harps
Mike Heath, Steven Quinn, Jason O’Connor, Michael Concannon, John Keane, Ronnie Meere (Fergal Neylon, HT), Paul Linnane, James Keane, JasonTierney, GaryTierney, Brian Halpin (Damien Ryan, HT)

Man of the Match
John Keane (Corofin Harps) Referee Paddy Dunne

Lifford 2 – Newmarket Celtic 1 at Cassidy Park, Drumcliffe

NEWMARKET Celtic are flying high at the top of the Premier Division and closing in on their first title in three years, but their Clare Cup drought will extend to a dozen years at least.

All because they were dumped out of this year’s competition by Lifford, who have go all the way back to 1976 for their last success in the blue riband of the game in Clare.

They reached the last eight for the first time since 2009 thanks staving off Newmarket in the second half, with Jean Silva in goal and central defenders Mickey Joe O’Sullivan and Hamed Kuku in inspiring form as they doggedly held on to the 2-1 lead they’d carved out by half-time.

The home side got a dream start when Lunga Balman latched onto a through ball from midfield, used his strength to fend off a couple of Newmarket defenders before planting the ball past Kieran McGlynn in goal.

Newmarket were back on terms after 30 minutes when Davy Wall’s pile-driver took a deflection off Eoin Hayes and flew to the Lifford net past Jean Silva, but Lifford wee back in front five minutes later when Gary McNaboe raced into the area and was fouled for a penalty that Ryan Boyle dispatched to the net.

Those three first half goals may have rounded off the scoring, bu there was no shortage of goalmouth action in the second half as Newmarket laid siege on the Lifford goal.

The Ennis side were content to soak up the pressure and try and hit Newmarket on the break, a ploy which nearly paid dividends in the 63rd minute when Conor Donnellan was foiled by a great save from Kieran McGlynn.

Donnellan also had a penalty claim turned down, as did TJ Ajisomo, but the other penalty area was the scene for much more activity as Newmarket threw everything into getting the equaliser.

Substitute Kieran Devitt, a cup winner with Rineanna Rovers two years ago, had a great chance to get his side on terms on 84 minutes but was foiled by Jean Silva.

However, Newmarket were conviced they’d got back on terms five minutes from time when Mike O’Malley’s header looked goalbound only for Jean Silva to claw it back into play. Newmarket protested that the ball had crossed the line but Dave McCarthy waved play on and with it Newmarket’s cup race was run.

Lifford
Jean Silva, Joe Lynch (Conor Donnellan), Hamed Kuku (Kieran Connelly), Mickey Joe Sullivan, Dylan Blake, Ryan Boyle,TJ Ajisomo, Gary McNaboe (Gary Browne), Ruairi Norrby, Roberto Pinto, Lunga Balman (Kieran Neenan).

Newmarket Celtic
Kieran McGlynn, Mark O’Malley (Davy O’Grady), Mark Donnellan, Eoin O’Brien, Paudie Hayes (Mike O’Malley), Mike Devitt (Kieran Devitt), Eoin Hayes (Gary Collins) (Neil Ryan), Darren Cullinan, Seamie Lawolor, Davy Wall, Mikey Crosby.

Man of the Match
Mickey Joe O’Sullivan (Lifford)

Referee
David McCarthy

THE CLARE Minors Ladies Footballers continued to hone their match skills when they hosted current AllIreland Minor Champions Galway at Quilty GAA Grounds last Sunday.

Another fast paced work-out for the Banner girls over three twenty minute games, Clare were faster off the mark than they were against Dublin last week showing an increase in appetite that is vital for their first round of the Munster A Championship against Kerry on April 9.

The overall result for the day was the fairest possible outcome but Clare were decidedly sharper than the Tribeswomen in their first selection.

This position was reversed in the second challenge and Clare took the win in the third game but results are secondary in this type of event as both sides are continually changed and tested over the course of the day.

The Clare Minors will take on Limerick at Parteen GAA Grounds next Sunday at 11am in a similar event.

A bus will leave Miltown Bank Corner at 8.15am and depart from the West County Hotel, Ennis at 9am sharp.

Sixmilebridge 0-17 – Clonlara 2-5 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

YOU get the sense with Sixmilebridge that where this championship is concerned, 2011 is about unfinished business.

That mood was very much in evidence in Tulla on St Patrick’s Day when the defeated finalists from 2010 were comfortable winners over a Clonlara side that were always chasing a losing cause once they found themselves trailing by seven points at half-time having played with the wind.

Yes, the ‘Bridge hit this championship running, strutting to a six-point victory that flattered Clonlara somewhat as both their goals came in the flurry of action in the final five minutes that also saw Eoin Meehan and Cathal O’Connell see red for the vanquished, while John Fennessy suffered the same fate for the winners.

The 2009 champions never really looked back after responding to the opening point from Cathal O’Connell in the fifth minute by reeling off five of their own to lead by 0-5 to 0-1 after 15 minutes. Ronan Mullane did the early damage with two points before a hat-trick from man-of-thematch Jamie Shanahan.

The marker was down and the ‘Bridge more than living up to their early billing for the rest of the game. A four-point lead was stretched to seven by the interval, with Shanahan notching two more frees, while points from play came via Sam O’Sullivan, Shane Golden and Shanahan brought their tally to 0-11.

Clonlara were fighting a losing battle, with only Cathal O’Connell’s frees (2) and an effort from play by Colm Galvin keeping them anyway competitive. The 2008 champions did rouse themselves early in the second half, moving Darach Honan from midfield to full-forward and opening the scoring thanks to Thomas Begley.

However, it was as good as it got for over 25 minutes as the ‘Bridge soon assumed total control and reeled off another flurry of five unanswered points by the 50th minute to move 11 clear. Impressive wing-back John Fennessy got them going with a huge point from play three minutes into the half, before points by Shanahan and Seadna Morey stretched the lead to nine by the 40th minute.

Clonlara needed goals, but after Darach Honan’s 20-metre free was stopped by Stephen Fleming in the 45th minute they had to wait until very late in the game for consolation scores, with Honan blasting a semipenalty to the net in the 56th minute and then teeing up Cathal O’Connell for a goal a minute later.

Then came the argy bargy that saw three players seeing red, with Fennessy rather unluckily being picked out as one of the culprits.

O’Callaghan’s Mills 3-11 – Clarecastle 4-07 at Cratloe

IN THE END, only an injury-time Adrian Donovan ’65 with almost the last puck of the game separated the sides but in truth, even if Clarecastle had secured a draw, it would have been a major escape having played second fiddle for much of the game and only grabbing a late lifeline after some fortunate goals.

All this was in contrast to a near perfect start that saw the Magpies storm 1-3 to 0-0 clear early on with Conor O’Gorman grabbing the goal and Aaron Considine converting all three points. Unfortunately, far from settling the side, the Magpies failed to build on that lead and would only score one more point in the half through Patrick Casey as the Mills finally found their feet.

By half-time, three Adrian Donovan placed balls and further points from from Eoin’s, McInerney and McGrath slashed the deficit to only two at 1-4 to 0-5.

The Mills maintained that pattern after the break and took the lead for the first time in the 35th minute when Eoin McGrath pulled to the net from close range followed by another brace of points to take a 1-7 to 1-4 advantage.

Clarecastle’s attempted fightback through a pair of Aaron Considine frees was interrupted by a second Mills goal, this time with Ian Donnellan pulling through a crowded goalmouth.

By the 50th minute, the Mills had pushed 2-9 to 1-6 ahead but far from seeing out the game, a dramatic yet bizarre finale lay in store.

Goalkeeper Henry Skehan did well to keep out a Stephen O’Halloran shot only for the clearance to go straight to John Reidy who managed to find the net from 40 metres as Skehan lost his footing.

Crucially the Mills responded immediately to the set-back, with James McMahon pulling to the net followed by an Eoin McInerney point but even then a seven point lead wasn’t enough. An Aaron Considine free and a goal from a deflected David Green shot saw the Magpies recover to within a goal and in the 61st minute, a Conor O’Gorman ’65 again came off the stick of a defender to nestle in the corner of the net and tie up the game.

However, the Mills showed their character once more and were handed a highly controversial penalty as Eamon O’Connor seemed to legitimately hook Ian Donnellan on his way towards goal only for referee Damien Fox to signal a penalty. With only seconds remaining, Adrian Donovan unconventionally chose to go for goal instead of securing the win with a point and was almost punished when his effort was stopped for a ’65. However, this time he kept his cool to convert the placed ball and send his side into a quarter-final meeting with Whitegate.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
Henry Skehan, Sean O’Gorman, Gerry Cooney, Michael McGrath,Aidan Fawl,Adrian Donovan (0-4 2f, 2’65 s), Darren Cooney, Kevin O’Callaghan, Eoin McInerney (0-2), Eoin McGrath (1-1), Ian Donnellan (1-0),Aidan O’Gorman (0-1), ColmMcHugh (0-1), James McMahon (1-0), Jamie Lynch (0-2f)

Clarecastle
Jamie Coughlan, Gearoid Ryan, Eamon O’Connor,Austin Guckian, Cormac Donnellan, Stephen O’Halloran, Fearghus Ryan, Patrick Casey (0-1), John Reidy (1-0), Mark Foley, David Green (1-0), Conor O’Gorman (2-0), Seanie Dilger,Aaron Considine (0-6 3f), Michael Casey

Subs
Gary Porter for P. Casey (40 mins),Tom Kelleher for Guckian (47 mins), James McAllister for Foley

Man of the Match
Adrian Donovan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) Referee Damien Fox (WolfeTones)

Cratloe 1-13 – Éire Óg 1-6 at Newmarket-on-Fergus

THE CURRENT U21 champions Eire Og won’t be retaining their crown in 2011 as they were beaten by a very strong Cratloe side who proved to much for the townies on St. Patrick’s day as they went out on a score line of 1-13 to 1-6.

Éire Óg held their own in a first half that were neck and neck to the interval with only a point separating the sides at half time. However, Cratloe should have built a much stronger lead if it wasn’t for some wayward shooting and great defending by Eire Og full-back Ciaran Russell.

The second half then saw the townies begin to get the better of Cratloe as they came at them from all angles. A goal then from Eire Og’s David O’Halloran looked as if it would ignite the belief that his side needed to go on and win but in fact it was just the opposite.

Eire Og failed to register a score again until the closing minutes and Cratloe went on to hit 1-8 without reply as Conor McGrath began to find his form. Some loose marking in the middle of the park gave Cratloe plenty of opportunities to feed the dangerous forwards who began to pick off scores.

Both teams were reduced to 14 men when a bust up between Eire Og’s Thomas Downes and Cratloe’s Pa Carey saw them receive second yellows as there looked to be little chance of an Eire Og comeback. Then an off the ball incident resulted in another red for Eire Og as Niall McMahon got his marching orders and it looked to be all over.

Fiachra Connellan then got the last point of the day but it was too little too late for his side as they were beaten by a dominant Cratloe team that is dripping with inter-county talent. They now face the winners of Newmarket-on-Fergus and Kilmaley.

Cratloe
Dean DeLoughrey, Joe Conroy, Sean

Hynan, Enda Boyce, Conor Ryan, LiamMarkham (0-2); Jack McCourt,Wes DeLoughrey, Podge Collins (0-3); Pa Carey, Cathal McInerney (0-2); David Collins, Joe O’Connor, Conor McGrath (15);Thomas Ryan (0-1).

Subs
David McInerney for Boyce, Boyce for David Collins, Robert Foskin for Boyce.

Éire Óg
: Kevin Brennan, Kevin Hally, Ciaran Russell, Niall Malone, Jack Walsh, Kevin Moynihan, Cathal Whelan,Thomas Downes, Conor Stack, Fiachra Connellan (0-1); Niall McMahon, Graham Glynn (0-1); Shane O’Donnell, David O’Halloran (1-4, 2f); Niall O’Connor.

Subs
Aaron Fitzgerald for Stack, Caoimhin Fitzgerald for O’Connor.