ENNIS rugby is on the cusp of a fa- mous double this week as they go into battle against storied Garryo- wen in the final of the North Munster Under 18 Cup final.
Already this season the Ennis side coached by Frank Considine, John Colleran and Niall McGann have claimed the league title.
‘To win the cup would be great and we have exceeded all expectations since starting out last July with this team,’ Frank Considine told
WITH exactly one month until the European Elections, Fianna Fail has just one candidate in the race for Ire- EE TteM Condom one
Party members in Clare now be- lieve that it is not possible to find a candidate to replace outgoing MEP and formerly declared candidate, Sean O’Neachtain.
Geographically, the party’s only candidate, Paschal Mooney, is in Leitrim and miles from the Banner County, and many in Clare feel he is unlikely to have any significant im- pact here.
While Fianna Fail has just one can- didate named, Fine Gael launched all of its European candidates, including two for Ireland North West, on Sun- day.
Eleven counties in total make up the Ireland North West Constituency – Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscom- mon, Sligo, Clare, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan Longford and _ West- meath.
None of the eight candidates de- clared are from Clare, however, with the nearest candidate hailing from Galway in the form of the Libertas founder and party leader.
Sitting MEPs Marian Harkin (Ind) and Jim Higgins (FG) are now the
only two MEPs hoping to retain their seats in this three-seater con- stituency.
Other candidates seeking election include Senator Joe O’Reilly for Fine Gael, Padraig Mac Lochlainn for Sinn Fein, Fiachra O Luain will run as an Independent and Susan O’Keefe has declared for Labour.
Ms O’Keefe is the journalist who exposed malpractice in the beef in- dustry that led to the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry in the 1990s.
In 1995, she was threatened with prison for refusing to reveal her sources on the beef industry story.
Senator O’Reilly, from Cavan will join Jim Higgins on the Fine Gael ticket.
A former schoolteacher, Sena- tor O’Reilly was elected to Seanad Eireann (Industrial and Commercial Panel) in July 2007 and polled al- most 10,000 first-preference votes in General Election, 2007.
Sinn Fein’s Cllr Mac Lochlainn is from Donegal, as is Independ- ent candidate Fiachra O Luain. Mr O’Luan, who is the founder of the website www.dearmrpresident.eu, has invited European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and all of the candidates from the North West to a debate in Donegal on the eve of the election.
Petition set up for sacked garda
AVENUE’S fate wasn’t in their own hands going into this Sunday morn- ing showdown in Liscannot.
In a way Moher Celtic were partly to blame for that because it was the north Clare side’s sensational 4-3 victory over the Avenue in Lees Road in early April that looked like being the hammer blow to their league chances.
Not so thanks to a storming finish to their campaign, while their title rivals around them spluttered as the finishing line drew nearer. And, while Bunratty’s 18-match programme fi- nally spluttered to a disappointing end in Cassidy Park, Avenue were whipping up their biggest storm yet.
This was revenge for their 4-3 de- feat five weeks previously as the mercurial Mikey Mahony led a rout against a hapless Moher Celtic team that sadly lacked the menacing pres- ence of Dessie Molohan up front.
It was Molohan’s hat-trick that un- did Avenue at Lees Road — Mahony hit a double hat-trick in a remarkable display of finishing that helped him to top scorer in the league for the sec- ond successive season.
There was little to suggest in the early exchanges that it would be so easy — Moher, who needed a win to
have any chance of avoiding relega- tion, were competitive in the first 20 HOD USLULKoISE
However, despite great displays from Dara Blake and Alan Clohessy, a severly depleted Moher side, who
only had nine out of 26 first team players to call on due to injuries and GAA commitments, were eventu- ally steamrolled when the Avenue machine cranked to life midway through the first half.
Soon after Gary Flynn’s opener from a penalty in the 21st minute the competitive element drained from the game. The penalty came after David Herlihy’s cross from the right was handled in the area.
Five minutes later Avenue started putting daylight between the sides — this time a Sweeping move in which they broke from defence was finished to the net by Davide Ghilard1.
From there it was a stroll, some- thing that was really hammered home in the 35th minute when ‘keep- er Simon Donnell through to Eamon O’Reilly, Gary Flynn, David Smyth and Davide Ghilardi were involved in a brilliant passing move down the field — the final pass went to Mikey Mahony who fired to the net from 12 NETKORSE
From there on it was the Mikey Mahony show.
A minute before half-time he cut in from the left and drove home his sec- ond via Craig Flanagan’s right hand post. His hat-trick was up five min- utes after the re-start, albeit that Mo- her hit back for a goal of their own via a Dara Blake penalty.
However, by this stage word had filtered through to Liscannor that Lifford were 2-O up on Bunratty — it gave cause for further celebration and the real bluebloods over the last
25 years did that in style.
Bratislav’s flick put Mahony in for his fourth in the 64th minutes while Richie O’Grady was the provider for the fifth in the 77th. Number six ar- rived in the 85th minute when Maho- ny snapped up a rebound from Craig Flanagan and thumped to the net.
So ended one of the great one-man- shows in Clare soccer history. So begins the rebuilding process for the Moher boys.
FIVE BROTHERS, charged in con- nection with a volatile feud between two Traveller families in Ennis have re-appeared in court.
The accused are Michael (36), Ed- ward ‘Ned’ (33) and David (24) Mc- Donagh, of 20 John Paul Avenue; Gerard McDonagh (26), Bramble Lane and Jason McDonagh (25), Dun na hInise, Ennis. They are charged with assault causing harm to John McDonagh, at John Paul Avenue, Ennis, on March 28 last.
John McDonagh was knocked un- conscious after he was struck to the back of the head with a spade and knocked to the ground, in an alleged attack. While on the ground, he was hit in the face with a plank of tim- ber. He sustained a broken chin, jaw, nose, eye socket and received cuts to
the head and inside his ear. He had all of his top teeth knocked out and spent a week in hospital.
When the five accused appeared in court last Thursday week, gardai strongly objected to bail. At the end of a lengthy hearing, bail was re- fused for Edward ‘Ned’, Michael and Gerard McDonagh, while Jason and David McDonagh were granted bail.
On that occasion, they were repre- sented by solicitor Charles Foley. At Ennis District Court last Friday, the accused were represented by another solicitor, Michael McDarby. He ap- plied for bail for those in custody.
However, Inspector John O’Sullivan pointed out that that application had been made previously.
Judge Eamon O’Brien told the so- licitor, “You have to appeal that deci- sion to another court.” The case was adjourned until later this month.
MISSION accomplished for Rock Rovers in the end, but to say that they made very hard work of it is the understatement of the Clare soccer year.
The maths beforehand were sim- ple really – Rock had to win this lo- cal derby to claim the title, while a draw would have plunged them into a play-off decider against Shannon Olympic, provided the latter got the better of Kilrush Rangers at home.
Olympic got their win – Rovers did too, but it was nailbiting stuff at the end of this Ennis derby as the ‘Pike chased down an equaliser that would have seen the Clare League’s assist- ant secretary Oliver Fitzpatrick keep the First Division trophy under lock and key in his car.
Seven minutes from time it looked as 1f that equaliser had arrived – a diving header from substitute Shane Moroney looked destined for the bot- tom left-hand corner of the net until Leonard Keane somehow got a hand to it to turn it the other side of the post.
Then two minutes from time Brian Shannon got past Rovers’ defensive wall, but from 10 yards shot straight at Keane.
Thing is, if the ‘Pike had managed to breach Leonard Keane’s goal in this desperate onslaught that saw keeper Dermot Gannon move for- ward into the opposition half, Rovers would only have had themselves to blame.
They dominated this game in the first half – the bumpy pitch failing to upset their attempts to play a slick passing game – and were rewarded with a 2-0 by half-time.
Stephen Hickey was the man. Go- ing into the game he had 18 goals to his name this season – 25 minutes into the final game of the season he reached the landmark figure of 20.
The first after ten minutes was a goal worthy of winning the league t1- tle. David Considine whipped a cor- ner towards the penalty spot; Marty McLoughlin belied his lack of inches to nod the ball towards Hickey and the hottest striker in Clare soccer found the net with an audacious over- head kick.
Hickey doubled Rock’s advantage 15 minutes later – this time it was a more conventional strike as the league leaders cut through the brittle looking ‘Pike defence.
Marty McLoughlin put Niall Mc- Niven through and after his shot was saved by Dermot Gannon, Hickey pounced to pick up the scraps and rolled home the rebound from eight yards.
It looked as if Rovers would have a comfortable afternoon of it – they were dominating in most sectors of the field, while the ‘Pike had nothing
to play for.
Their season was effectively ended on Wednesday night when their 1-1 draw away to Mountshannon Celtic ended their hopes getting third place in the division and thereby playing third from bottom of the Premier Division in the promotion/relegation play-off.
However, the ‘Pike were never about to roll over for Rovers and their battling qualities emerged in the sec- ond half, once they were gifted a goal eight minutes into proceedings.
It was a calamity from Rovers point
of view – Jason Hayes’ shot from just outside the area shouldn’t have trou- bled Keane, but somehow the ball re- bounded off him before being turned into his own net by Greg Howard.
Suddenly the “Pike had a cause – this was a local derby after all and for the rest of the half they had the definite edge.
And as the minutes dragged on Rovers seemed to getting more nerv- ous as their finishing line jitters near- ly came between them and going up to the Premier Division for the first time as champions.
In the 78th minute Stephen Hickey did have a chance for his hat-trick that would have killed the game, but scuffed his shot, while Niall Mc- Niven balooned over the bar from 12 yards in the 82nd minute.
All the while the ‘Pike never stopped pressed forward in search of an equaliser – their persistence seemed to have paid off when Shane Moroney’s header looked all over a goal, while Brian Shannon with that booming left foot of his would al- ways fancy his chances in a one-on- one with a keeper.
Not to be however for both Moro- ney and Shannon as Leonard Keane, a former Turnpike Rovers stalwart, emerged as a hero to rival player of the year Stephen Hickey.
A MAN HAS been charged with de- manding money from another man, in exchange for having a threat on his life lifted.
Kieran Custy (43), of Lismul- breeda, Darragh, Ennis, is accused of demanding €4,000 from Paschal Hurley in return to have a threat on
his life lifted. The alleged offence was committed in the car park of the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Gort Road, Ennis, on November 7 last.
Garda Michelle Holian told Ennis District Court on Friday that she ar- rested the defendant that morning. He did not make any reply to the charge, after caution. Defending so- licitor William Cahir applied for free
legal aid for his client. ““The defend- ant is going to take a certain course in relation to the charge,” he said.
Inspector John O’Sullivan told the court that the DPP directed that the case could be dealt with summar- ily, in the district court, but only on a plea of guilty. Mr Cahir replied, ‘“He’s pleading.”
However, Judge Eamon O’Brien
said he was declining jurisdiction. “It’s a serious charge,’ he said.
Mr Cahir then said, “In the circum- stances then, I’d ask you not to mark a plea.”
Inspector O’Sullivan asked for the case to be adjourned for several weeks, to allow the book of evidence to be prepared. Judge O’Brien grant- COM NOD ECe
EAST Clare went down to Rathkeale in hope but came back with sil- verware as two immense displays against Seanduin and Mid Tipperary earned them the Munster Under 16 inter-divisional championship title on Monday. Winners of the compe- tition as recent as 2006, East Clare qualified for the knock-out stages off the back of group game wins over Avondhu and North Tipperary in Cappawhite at the beginning of April and continued that good form with a O-16 to 2-04 semi-final victory over Cork side Seandtn early on Monday with Clonlara’s Cathal O’Connell leading the way on the scoreboard with seven points, with Alan Mul- ready (4), Colm Galvin (3), Sean
O’Connor and Shane McGrath also getting in on the action in an impres- sive team display. The only downside for East Clare was a leg injury sus- tained by Clooney/Quin’s Eoin Mee- han who had to miss the final which was played soon afterwards.
Their opponents in that decider were Mid Tipperary, who had already beaten fellow Clare side Mid Clare in the group stages by 2-9 to 0-8 on their way to topping their group and after seeing off fellow Premier side North Tipperary in the other semi-fi- nal, they would have been confident of going all the way.
However, East Clare were in defi- ant mood and although they found themselves 1-3 to O-4 in arrears by the interval, a superb second half performance in which they outscored
their opponents by 2-9 to 0-2 saw them reclaim the coveted title. Goals from Colm Galvin and _ substitute Oisin Hickey set them on their way with Cathal O’Connell again to the fore with six points and Sixmilebri- dge pair Alan Mulready and captain Seadna Morey (through placed balls) chipping in with a brace of points each as East Clare eventually ran out 2-13 to 1-05 winners.
THE bank holiday weekend will see people in east Clare getting on their feet and their bikes.
The very first running of the East Clare 12K takes place in Kilkishen on bank holiday Monday next, May as
It’s open to runners, walkers and cyclists over a very picturesque course on the shores of Cullaun Lake and with shade from the – hopefully – hot sun through two kilometres of the walk which wends through Cul- laun Wood.
The walkers will have a water or snack stop at Cullaun House which isina beautiful setting on the shores
of the lake. One steep hill towards Craggaunowen Ring Fort will be a challenge for the cyclists to rise to.
“The running competition will be very competitive as there are valua- ble sponsored prizes for the first four men and the first four ladies home. There will also be spot prizes for the walkers and cyclists,’ sais Pat Nev- ille, one of the organisers.
‘There is a raffle for seven days ac- commodation in a holiday apartment in Sunny Beach Bulgaria for anyone who collects €150 or more by way of sponsorship for the Irish Cancer Association. Of course you can also take part on the day with the appro- priate entry fee or with a donation to the association,” the spokesman
Sr nLGe
Registration takes place in the GAA Clubhouse on the day between llam and 12 noon. The individual entry fee 1s €10, a family can participate for €20. The walkers and cyclists will get on the road at 12 noon and the runners have a scheduled start at 12.30pm
Entries from all over the county and beyond are expected with all proceeds going to the Irish Cancer Association.
Pat said the organisers want to thank everyone who has supported the event “and particularly our main sponsors Lenmac Services”.
Sponsorship cards are still availa- ble and will be posted to anyone who
calls 087 9691415
All sponsorship cards and receipts must be handed in at registration on the day, to qualify for any raffles or other items such as tee-shirts. “This is very important as all moneys to the Irish Cancer Association must be forwarded within 20 days of the event and nobody likes chasing peo- ple for money after an event,’ said le
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