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WHEN Richard Moloney threw the ball in to start what was his first sen- ior inter-county fixture there were only 43 customers who had paid their way into Cusack Park — that was a commentary on the level of interest in this tie and the current plight of senior football in the county.

The stay away supporters and those present knew this was going to be a nothing game — a final day away for the exiles, a day for Clare to hoover up two National League points and end what has been a depressing cam- paign on a winning note.

That about sums up what happened — apart from an early spurt from Lon- don when a fourth minute goal from Enda Gallagher gave them 1-1 to O-1 lead this was a one-sided miss-match as Clare strolled to a facile win.

Then manner in which Clare hit back after Gallagher’s goal was a telling portent of things to come — straight from the kick-off they worked the ball down the field and a slick move in the final phase of the field involving Enda Coughlan, Michael O’Shea and David Tubridy yielded a goal within 35 seconds of London’s shock opener.

Tubridy slammed the ball to the empty net on his way to a top-scor- ing tally of 1-5 as Clare ran riot for the rest of the game. Indeed, but for some very wayward shooting which contributed to 13 wides over the 70 minutes the gap would have been much bigger than the 20 points that separated them at the end.

They’d stretched it to seven points by half-time — points by David Tubri- dy (4), Enda Coughlan and Michael O’Shea had them 1-7 to I-1 ahead by the 20 minute mark before an Enda Coughlan goal on 23 minutes and points by Michael O’Shea and Tim-

my Ryan brought their tally for the half to 2-9.

London did rally towards half-time thanks to three Kevin Downes points to raise their total to 1-5, but any hope that the revival would continue after the break was quickly quashed by an avalanche of Clare points.

Timmy Ryan, David Russell, Enda Coughlan and Liam Markham had points within five minutes of the re- start as the game degenerated into nothing other than a _ slow-paced training game a panel of players might have after a three-hour physi- cal session.

London were dreadful, so much so that it was hard to credit that they had beaten Waterford earlier in the cam- paign. They only managed one point in the half, an injury time effort from Kevin Downes.

Clare, meanwhile, racked up 1-11 in the half. The flurry of points at

the start of the half was taken on by substitute Cathal O’Connor who grabbed a brace by the 44th minute, while Sean Collins finally got his eye in when knocking over two by the 56th minute.

By this stage London were offer- ing no resistance and were finally put out of their misery by Richard Molo- ney’s final whistle — however, before it came Clare notched up a further 1- 6 in the final ten minutes.

Enda Coughlan grabbed four points, Liam Markham and David Tubridy got the others while Gary Brennan goal with virtually the last kick of the game.

THE lack of adequate broadband coverage 1s “deeply frustrating” for communities across Clare, according to the Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Ea- mon Ryan.

Speaking in Ennis on Thursday last, Minster Ryan said Ireland has been “playing catch-up” with the rest of the Europe in terms of broadband connectivity.

He said a multi-pronged approach was needed to deliver better broad- band services, particularly in rural Weer

He said, “Okay, while we’ve been playing catch-up and there is no doubt about it, the availability wasn’t available the way we want it. It has been deeply frustrating for people in areas who couldn’t get broadband. But we’re working on that. We’re putting in mechanisms where we can actually provide it and slowly catch- ing up. Our aim now is to get ahead of other countries and other similar rural areas in particular.”

Minster Ryan was commenting fol-

lowing recent statements by Eircom that communities living more than 5km from a telephone exchange may not be able to receive high-speed broadband access, because of the limitations of Eircom’s DSL technol- ogy.

“Their type of broadband, DSL, works up to about five miles from an exchange. If you’re not near that then the speed starts to lower and the quality doesn’t work as well,” said the Green Party TD.

Minster Ryan continued, “That’s only one of the options, in terms of broadband, that are available. There are a whole variety of others – wire- less technologies, fixed wireless. We have our new national broadband scheme, which is providing mobile broadband to areas that otherwise previously hadn’t got it, and a range of other operators apart from Eir- com. What we’re aiming to do Is to have broadband available across the country and across the county of Clare. And, on the back of that, to keep pushing the competition to get other operators in and to get systems available.”

PLANS for the development of a quarry near the village of Ruan have received a setback with Clare County Council demanding a year long sur- vey into bats on the 40 acre site.

Deferring the application by Lagan Bitumen Ltd, the council raised no serious concerns over the proposal and highlighted few of the concerns outlined by residents opposed to the development.

Documents lodged by Lagan Bitu- men Ltd show that Tony O’ Donoghue of 27 Cloughleigh Road, Ennis; Noel O’Donoghue of Ardcarney, Ruan and Gerard O’Donoghue of Ardcar- ney, Ruan entered a deal in agreed to sell the lands to Lagan Bitumen Ltd on January 29 last.

Letters of support for the quarry came from a number of areas includ- ing Ruan, Barefield, Ennis, Shannon and Sixmilebridge. Two previous planning applications to develop a quarry at the site were not successful after facing stiff opposition locally.

Putting the new plan on hold, the council stated that the proposed de- velopment was located within a’7km radius designated for the conserva- tion of the rare Lesser Horseshoe Bat, which is protected under the EU Habitats Directive.

“It 1s estimated that there are 600 breeding Lesser Horseshoe Bats within a night commuting route of this extensive aera of suitable bat

foraging habitat.

‘The Environmental Impact State- ment (EIS) states that habitat loss from the proposal will directly 1m- pact on them and landscape con- nectivity will be lost as the site is developed, particularly detrimental to Lesser Horseshoe Bats.

As aresult of a submission from the Department of the Environment, the Council is requesting an ‘appropri- ate assessment’ to include mitigation measures proposed for the site in re- lation to bats.

The four season bat survey is to in- vestigate bat usage at the site to in- clude foraging, hiberation and night roosting. The developers have also been asked to address traffic issues at the existing quarry entrance. A decision is not due to be made on the application until next year.

Rival cave will bring job losses, claims Ailwee

WHEN Tulla woman Una Fitzger- ald and a group of supporters set out trestle tables and sold fruit and veg in the main street in Tulla three years ago, little did they know that they were paving the way for a de- velopment which could bring visitors from all over east Clare to shop in the village.

Una and her friends set up the stall for one day after she discovered that trading had to take place on at least one day before the ancient market charter for the town expired.

While the proposal to have a coun- try market in Tulla did not necessar- ily need a charter, if a meeting held

in the courthouse last night leads to the setting up of a market, having the charter means that the venture could eventually have an outdoor market going as well.

Local people interested in setting up a farmers market went along to the meeting last night to hear two representatives from Country Mar- kets Ltd outline what needs to be done.

It is hoped that the courthouse will be the venue for a new indoor market which will features stalls selling lo- cal produce and crafts.

Traditionally, local people would use the markets to sell produce such as eggs and vegetables, to bring in a bit of extra cash.

The people behind the new market idea say that there 1s again a big de- mand for the country market, both from shoppers who want to buy lo- cally-produced or organic foods and from people who are growing or pro- ducing foods and crafts.

“This is an idea I have had for a long time,” said Siobhan Mulcahy, who set up last night’s meeting.

“T talked to people about having a market and I got nothing but positive responses.

“There is such a great group of people here in Tulla – they have such energy and it is time to tap into that and get this going.”

One important aspect of the mar- ket would be a coffee shop, Siobhan

feels.

“The country market also has an important social function. While we have lovely restaurants, we don’t have anywhere in Tulla where people can just go to meet friends and have a cup of coffee, so this has an impor- tant social function.”

Already, producers of vegetables, plants, fresh eggs, baked goods, knitwear, artwork and woodcrafts have expressed an interest in taking part.

“And if the country market be- comes established, there’s every possibility in the future that an out- door farmers market might grow up around it so it’s brilliant that they kept the charter.”

A GOAL three minutes from time by Gearoid O’Brien proved the differ- ence between Kilrush and St Joseph’s and capped a thrilling afternoon of football on Saturday in Cooraclare.

Kilrush began like a dream, grab- bing the opening score and goal of the game after Cathal Carrig buried inside the opening minute.

They gained plenty of momentum from that and pushed on to stretch

the lead to seven points, scoring a second goal with barely five minutes on the clock.

But this didn’t halt the fight from St Joseph’s, who plugged away and be- gan to close the gap.

It would have happened faster only for a brilliant save from Mikey Shan- non in the Kilrush goal after Eoin Conroy blasted for the net.

Two minutes later, though, St Joseph’s did grab their first goal after Diarmuid Barron latched onto a long

dropping ball to steer to the net.

Shortly after Rory Brennan pointed to tie things up at 2-1 to 1-4.

With the game flowing nicely, St Joseph’s moved a step closer to win- ning after Ross McCarthy clinched their second goal, picking up a nice pass from David Conroy. Now, just before the break, St Joseph’s led for the first-time in the game.

But straight after the turn-around, Kilrush hit a serious purple patch and inside the first four minutes of the half, they had regained the lead after hitting 1-4: two points from O’Brien, one from John Kelliher and a goal from Conor Ellis.

They now led by four points, on a scoreline of 3-6 to 2-5, but it always felt like this one was going to go the distance.

And so it proved.

St Joseph’s, once more, showed great character to battle back into the game and with time ticking towards the hour mark, it looked like their second comeback was going to win WSO ENYA

It didn’t, though: O’Brien stepped up and rattled home to send Kilrush through after a game of huge tension ANIemorColraneonle

LADY Luck did not smile on Clare in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday when the Banner men’s determined second-half fightback fell short of forcing a draw after Frank Doher- ty’s side had whittled away Leitrim’s eight point half-time lead to three.

Aided by the breeze Clare out- scored Leitrim by 1-6 to O-4 in the second 35 minutes, but they also hit a number of bad wides which allowed the home team off the hook when they were on the rack for long peri- ods.

This victory edged Leitrim into third place on the Division Four NFL table behind promoted sides Antrim and Sligo.

For Clare a disappointing league continues, with only the lowly Car- low, London and Kilkenny beneath them in the basement division.

Goals by Colin Clarke in the 13th minute, and Shane Canning 15 min- utes later, were undoubtedly the turn- ing points in the game.

Two Leitrim players, Ray Cox and Gary McCloskey, and Clare’s David Russell were dismissed for yellow card offences in the first half.

The hosts took the lead in the fifth minute when Ray Cox shot over from play after Barry McWeeney sent a ball in from midfield.

James Glancy tapped over a free three minutes later to double the lead, after Cox had been fouled by Martin McMahon.

And the Clare defence was split wide open in the 13th minute, allow- ing Colin Clarke to solo through for 20 metres before firing to the net.

Leitrim’s Ray Cox was sent for an early shower two minutes later after he was yellow carded for a foul.

Shortly afterwards Clare finally opened their account when Frank O’Dea skilfully pointed a 20 metre sideline kick.

Gary Brennan then finished off a good Banner move by fisting over in the 17th minute.

Clare should have got on _ level terms two minutes later but unfortu- nately Michael O’Shea blazed a goal chance inches wide.

Leitrim’s advantage was cut to two points in the 20th minute when Enda Coughlan pointed after receiving a pass from Michael O’Shea.

That score was negated two min- utes later when Brendan Gallagher was fouled and James Glancy slotted over the resultant free.

Colin Clarke stretched Leitrim’s lead a minute later when pointing after being put through by Tomas Beirne.

And things got worse for Clare in the 25th minute, when David Rus- sell’s foul on James Glancy led to the Banner player’s dismissal on a yellow card and Clancy’s point from

the free.

A chink of light shone two minutes later when a second Leitrim player, Gary McCloskey, was given his marching orders for a foul.

Once more, though, the home team upped the ante for their opponents, Shane Canning firing home a second goal in the 28th minute after latching onto a free that came in over the top of the Clare defence.

It looked bleak for Clare as Leitrim led by 2-5 to O-3 at the break, and the situation worsened when Dermot Reynolds increased that advantage within 30 seconds of the restart with a point.

However, Clare signalled that a fightback could be on the cards over the next seven minutes as Timmy Ryan and Michael O’Shea notched a point each.

seroma nee VUN am encKenoemmmatsns lead to nine points by the 47th minute, James Glancy pointing after a pass from Dermot Reynolds and then turning provider for sub Declan Maxwell to do likewise.

But Clare then dominated the ex- changes for the remainder of the game.

A well-taken Garry Brennan goal in the 49th minute, after he eluded his marker Tomas Beirne, had the

Banner’s spirited comeback really motoring.

Over the next 14 minutes Clare bossed the match and closed the gap on their opponents to just three points after Timmy Ryan, Enda Coughlan and Brennan fired over in turn.

With just five minutes on the clock James Glancy pointed a free after be- ing fouled himself, for Leitrim’s first score in 18 minutes.

That steadied the nerves of a home crowd which had been displaying signs of anxiety for a considerable length of time.

Clare hit back within the space of a minute when David Tubridy split the Leitrim posts with a well-struck free from the 45 metre line.

Sadly, neither side managed to score in the five further minutes of play, and Clare were still a goal adrift as referee Declan Corcoran blew the final whistle, leaving Frank Doher- ty’s team mired near the bottom of Division 4.

A CONFIDENT Clare minor foot- ball side travel to Dungarvan to- morrow in the hopes of getting their Munster championship campaign off to a good start when they take on Waterford.

Should they advance this week, they will play the winners of Tipper- ary and Kerry in the provincial final on May.

A loss would see the Banner out later this month against another first round loser.

With a handful of last year’s panel still available, manager Colm Col- lins believes that Clare will enter Wednesday’s game with nothing but win on their minds.

“We’ve got our work done, so it’s just about transferring that and fol- lowing through on the day,’ he told

THE area around the west Clare par- ish of Cooraclare was in shock this bank holiday weekend, as a third life was lost at a notorious accident blackspot.

Jim Ahearn was less than three miles from his new home in Dan- ganallen, Cooraclare, when his 4×4 Discovery Jeep struck a ditch and overturned at approximately 5pm on Saturday evening.

The 54-year-old died in the single- vehicle collision at Tullabrack East.

Mr Ahearn, a native of County Limerick, was new to the area, hav- ing moved to west Clare after return- ing from England.

The accident victim was alone in the jeep with his dog at the time of the accident.

The dog warden removed the dog KO) TOM NO oMeo Io

THE Health Information and Qual- ity Authority found that services at Ennis General Hospital were unsafe.

In its 13l-page report following an investigation into the quality and safety of services and supporting ar- rangements provided by the Health Service Executive at the Mid-West- ern Regional Hospital Ennis, the au- thority found it was unsafe to keep the service configuration at the hos- pital as it currently was.

However, according to the report there were significant opportunities for high quality, appropriate services to be provided at Ennis General in the future but these must be safe for the benefit of the public.

According to HIQA, the investiga- tion found examples of good non- acute care being provided at the Clare hospital and a committed ethos from Hospital staff. It also identified a range of services which could be greatly expanded and enhanced at the hospital in the future, including diagnostic services, outpatients, day procedures, appropriate medical care, minor injuries and rehabilita- tion as part of the Regional Hospital Weiaerae

Dr Tracey Cooper, Chief Execu- tive of the Health Information and Quality Authority, said, “The inves- tigation found that the hospital as it is currently configured is unsafe and will need to change the range and types of services it provides for its patients in order to build a thriving, appropriate and safer future for the community that it serves.

“Tt is therefore vitally important that the Health Service Executive sets about planning the implementation of all the recommendations contained in this report, in conjunction with staff

and local communities. Similarly, it is important to ensure that appropri- ate facilities, resources and staff are in place throughout the Mid-Western Hospital Network to effectively man- age these changes safely.”

Diane Whittingham, the chairper- son of the authority’s investigation team, said, “What has driven this investigation is a concern for safety and quality, and there are significant opportunities for high quality, ap- propriate services to be provided at MWRH Ennis in the future.

‘To ensure that these services are fit for purpose, the HSE should, as

a priority, undertake a review of the effective management, leader- ship and governance arrangements at Mid-Western Regional Hospital Limerick to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to guar- antee the effective management and safe implementation of these chang- es. However, it is clear that it is un- safe to keep the current service con- figuration at MWRH Ennis and the changes recommended in this Report must happen in a safe and effective manner.”

The Report highlighted a lack of clarity and accountability and found

that there is no single person at hospi- tal level who is fully accountable for the quality and safety of services.

Dr Cooper said, “The case for change has to be developed and com- municated clearly and effectively to patients, the public and healthcare workers. The authority will request the Health Service Executive to pro- duce an implementation plan for the efficient, safe and effective imple- mentation of the 65 recommenda- tions contained within the Report and we look forward to working with it and all other stakeholders to driver safer services.”