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AS tense and full-blooded a first round tie as you are ever likely to witness in Quilty on Friday evening as Liscannor had to utilise all of last year’s experience to carve out a point. And a draw was probably the fairest result as neither side really deserved to lose but certainly Kilrush will feel that they had enough chances to win this tie long before the final whistle.

The Shams’ superior intensity in the first half constantly disrupted Liscan- nor’s flow, especially after Liscannor talisman Brian Considine had to be withdrawn with a rerecurrance of a hamstring injury but although Kiul- rush led by O-5 to O-3 at the break, it should have been far greater. What would have frustrated Kilrush most was not the quantity of first half wides, incidentally six of those in all, but the manner of the misses as at least four of those it seemed were easier to score than miss. Consider- ing that Kilrush’s full-forward line seemed to have the edge, Liscan- nor would have felt relieved to have only gone in two points behind at the usrehe

It went blow for blow early on though. Liscannor’s Kieran Consid- ine opened the scoring with a free in the third minute that was cancelled out by Jim Young only two minutes later before Peadar McMahon con- verted a free to put Kilrush 0-2 to O-1 ahead by the seventh minute. How-

ever, depsite their impressive open- ing, they also had kicked four wides by this stage and added to the loss of Brian Considine for Liscannor, Kilrush would have felt confident of building on that lead.

However, credit Liscannor for not panicking, and moving Niall Consid- ine to midfield, they dug deep and in- deed it was Considine who set up the equalising score for Alan Clohessy at the end of the first quarter.

Two more wides were to follow for Kilrush but they did regain the lead in the 18th minute when Patrick Mc-

Grath converted a free, this time off the ground after he had failed with a previous effort. And they doubled that advantage only three minutes later when Matthew Maloney gath- ered a kick-out and fed the onrush- ing Paddy Clancy who could have gone for goal but was content to take a point.

The tension moved up a few notches as three Kilrush players were yellow carded in quick succession for some hefty challenges but on the score- board, the Shams held firm after K1- eran Considine and Peadar McMa-

hon swapped frees before the break to earn Kilrush a O-5 to O-3 half-time advantage.

It would get better for Kilrush on the restart when Peadar McMahon pointed within a minute. However, true to form, Liscannor didn’t drop their heads and soon rallied, even- tually gaining parity by the 4lst minute with a Ronan Slattery free, a great passing move that was started and finished by Dara Blake and a huge free from Kieran Considine that brought the crowd in the stand KOM Oslo pup oom

However, Kilrush hit back in style only a minute later with a flowing passing move of their own, moving through Maloney, Young, Brendan Crowley and finally Peadar McMa- hon who struck a great leading point. Alan Daly followed up with a poor wide and Niall Considine and Chris Dixon entered the referee’s book be- fore Alan Clohessy levelled the game up with a free in the 50th minute.

With the game in the balance, Kil- rush should have done better with a counter-attack when John Kelly fed the overlapping Matthew Maloney who bore down on goal but he dillied and dallied before offloading across the box and the danger was cleared. Kilrush made amends with a superb Peadar McMahon free in the 57th minute that dissected the posts but when leaders were needed, Liscannor had them in abundance, epitomised by the equalising score that came af-

ter Ronan Slattery raided up the left and kicked a pinpoint crossfield pass to Dara Blake who dummied inside and put over the bar.

There was still time for some his- trionics and a brace of red cards for Ronan Slattery and Alan Daly who needlessly got caught up in the tense drama late on that took the sting out of the on-field action and hastened the inevitability of the spoils being shared.

ENNIS’ status as one of Ireland’s ti- diest towns was reaffirmed yesterday when the County Clare capital won a second major prize in just over a iste @

Ennis was named as Ireland’s Best Kept Large Urban Centre, at Ireland’s Best Kept Town competition.

The winning entrants were drawn from winners of the 2008 Tidy Towns competition and the Super Valu Best Kept Town Awards in Northern Ire- land.

The Department of the Environ- ment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment and the NIAC initiated the Ireland’s Best Kept Towns competi- tion in 1995 to help raise the profile of both the Tidy Towns and Northern Ireland’s “Best Kept” competitions, and so help to improve the standard of towns and villages across the 1s- land of Ireland.

Ennis was marked against strict adjudication criteria that included cleanliness, the outward appear- ance of buildings, the presentation of roads and public facilities and the natural environment.

Minister of State Tony Killeen commented that Ennis’ award suc- cess could not have been accom- plished without the support of the wider community.

The Junior Agriculture Minister said, “Ireland’s Best Kept Town com- petition provides members of the lo- cal community with the opportunity

to show their pride in their respective towns and villages. It is evident from Ennis’ outstanding success in this year’s competition that the spirit of volunteerism and pride of place is very much alive in the county capi- tal’.

“Despite the huge volumes of peo- ple that live in and visit Ennis, it has successfully managed to retain its unique heritage, charm and tidy ap- pearance,’ he added.

Miss Doreen Muskett MBE, Presi- dent of the Northern Ireland Amen- ity Council said, “We are delighted for Newcastle in taking the overall title, and well done to Loughgall, Ennis and Glenties for their success

in this year’s competition. Judging is never an easy task when you are comparing the best towns and vil- lages across Ireland, but there is a very healthy and good natured spirit of competition among the entrants.”

This is the second time in over a week Ennis has been recognized as one of Ireland’s best-kept towns.

Last week, Ennis was named as the second cleanest town in Ireland in the latest Irish Anti Business Against Litter IBAL) survey.

THIS was a game of two keepers. Outstanding performance by Pe- ter O’Dwyer and Breckan’s Daniel Collins was all that illuminated an otherwise dull opening to this year’s intermediate championship in En- nistymon on Saturday evening.

As the twilight began to close in from Lahinch, both men remained eagle-eyed and produced a string of outstanding saves. In truth the match was a fairly one sided affair with Breckan’s having much the better of the proceedings until a last gasp comeback from Kilmurry put some respectability on the score.

Breckan’s raced into a comfort- able lead with points from Denis O’ Driscoll, Conor Cormican and two from Pat Nagle putting some clear breathing space between the sides. But Kilmurry struck back, with Paul O’Dwyer breaking a ball to the on- rushing Thomas O’Connor who go- aled to put the westerners right back in contention.

Seamus Lynch and Pat Nagle traded points before Peter O’ Dwyer stepped up with two saves to keep Ibrickane in touching distance.

The first was right out of the top drawer. O’Driscoll found Darragh Considine whose curling shot looked a certain goal until O’Dwyer some- how got a finger to it. On the stroke of half time he saved well again at the feet of the onrushing Mikey Keating.

Breckan’s stole ahead in the open- ing minutes of the second half with points O’Driscoll and Greg O’Leary before Nagle converted a penalty when the impressive Cormican was hauled down in the box.

The match looked all but over as

a contest, and when Paul O’Dwyer crashed a penalty onto the post after 15 minutes the writing was on the wall. Points from Stephen Tierney and Nagle stretch Breckan’s lead Stephen Lynch got Kilmurry moving eNeee DOE

But the last 10 minutes would be- long to Collins. First he tipped a rasping goal bound shot from Tho- mas O’Connor over the bar before producing the save of the match to deny substitute Barry Lynch what looked a certain goal.

A goal then would have leveled the match as points from O’Connor, Sea- mus Murphy and Lynch had put Kil- murry within touching distance of the north Clare men. But that would have been rough justice for St Breck- an’s, who looked the stronger outfit throughout and capped the match with a last minute point from the free scoring Pat Nagle.

A JUDGE left his bench after a pris- oner lashed out during a district court sitting in Ennis on Thursday. Several prison officers and gardai restrained the young man, who lashed out af- ter a young woman approached him from the body of the court, at Shan- non District Court, sitting in Ennis courthouse.

As he was being restrained, the young man in his 20s — with an ad- dress in Shannon — screamed at gardai, while the girl also lashed out and roared, “Get off my brother.” The young woman was immediately taken from the courtroom by gardai, while the man — who was in court, charged with motoring offences — was taken back to the cell by prison eno ne

Judge Joseph Mangan left the bench while the incident was taking place and returned to the courtroom after calm had been restored. A short time later, Inspector Tom Kennedy, pros- ecuting, asked that the young man’s

case be adjourned for a month. The defendant’s solicitor said his client was involved in the fracas and was “in a very highly elated and aggres- sive state’. Judge Mangan adjourned the case until July 16 next.

This was the second time that the same courtroom was the scene of chaos in recent weeks. Five weeks ago, three prison officers ended up in hospital with injuries after a prisoner lashed out and attacked them, also during a Shannon District Court sit- ting in Ennis.

One officer sustained a broken arm and was bitten, another received head and shoulder injuries and was detained overnight in hospital, while a third sustained a badly swollen wrist. The incident occurred after a 30-year-old prisoner – in custody at Limerick prison – became irate.

It took several prison officers and gardai to control the man, who was handcuffed, as he lashed out both physically and verbally outside the courtroom and later in the holding AI eCey ace b race

A MASTERFUL display from Ger- ry Kelly inspired Kildysart to victory over Michael Cusacks on Saturday.

Kelly kicked six terrific points from play as Kildysart edged past Cusacks in a closely contested and high qual- ity encounter at Clareabbey. Kelly also played the crucial role in the goal that ultimately proved the dif- ference between the sides.

Just two points separated the teams when Kelly curled a free that dropped below the posts, and, with assistance from Brian Sullivan’s waving arm, travelled to the back of the net.

Christy Clancy’s point a minute later gave Kildysart a six point cush- ion and it looked like they had finally broke clear from a determined and impressively mobile Cusacks side. fel aey

Cusacks, like they had done throughout, stuck doggedly to the task at hand. Urged on by Pat Hynes and Niall Hehir, the north Clare side pared Kildysart’s lead back to three points.

But despite the threat posed by the pacy Neil Quinn, who contrib- uted a sparkling O-6 over the hour, Kildysart finished strongly enough to take all two points.

A brisk and entertaining first half offered convincing evidence of both side’s championship — credentilas. Barely 30 seconds had elapsed when Kelly stroked over his first point of the day. Micheal Jordan replied with a point for Cusacks three minutes ltoe

The blueprint of the game was set. Kildysart edging ahead. Cusacks reeling them back in. The sides were level on seven occasions in the first eee

Playing with the wind, Kildysart’s forwards won plenty of possession. Points followed from Christy Clancy, Noel O’Grady and another sweet strike from Kelly. But Cusack’s dy- namic full forward line was causing problems for Kildysart. Jordan point- ed before Neil Quinn converted two frees to tie the game O-4 O-4 in the 15th minute.

Quinn waltzed through for a great point in the 21st minute but two points from Kelly and a rousing effort from Eoin Kelly ensured Kildysart led 0-8 Q-7 at half time.

Kildysart made an excellent start to the second half with Shane McNeelis storming through for a point. Jordan replied with a fine left foot point for Cusacks. Kelly rounded off a patient build up with a point as Kildysart

edged 0-10 0-8 clear.

The crucial goal arrived in the 42nd minute and was swiftly followed by a point from Christy Clancy. That put Kildysart 1-12 0-9 ahead but Cusacks weren’t about to give up. Hynes and Hehir pointed before Quinn struck his sixth point of the day. Hynes’ free cut Kildysart’s lead to two but Kelly had the last say to see his side home.

Blues beaten twice in the same week

2006 GRAND National winning trainer Martin Brassil has led the tributes to Tom Costelloe, the legen- dary Clare horse trainer and dealer who died on Sunday. In a remark- able career in the horse racing indus- try Costelloe put six winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup through his Newmarket-on-Fergus stable as well as training the winner of the Irish Grand National.

“He had the biggest supply of horses going into England for a long number of years,” Brassil told

a | wouldn’t be surprised if 10-year-olds were involved (in drug abuse).”

He said that drugs are widely avail-

able.

“In the past, it was always thought that heroin was available just in the larger cities but there is no such place as a quiet place any more,” he said.

“Drugs are available in the most ru- ral parts of Clare as much as in Lim- erick city,’ he said.

‘The big need in the mid-west is to have a drug detox service based in all the main centres – Limerick, Ennis, Nenagh.

“The Health Service Executive (HSE) has plans for it, but in the cur- rent economic climate, it may be put on the long finger,’ he said.

Mr Duffy said that the spread of drugs is linked to the increased de- mand.

“It’s a supply and demand issue. If there was no demand, there wouldn’t be need for supply. It’s the people who create demand who create the supply,” he said.

“l’m concerned there are people out there who should know better, who are stoking up the demand side which leads to misery,’ he added.

‘People who dabble in recreational drugs think that a let-off at weekends is to dabble in drugs. They have to bear in mind that the consequences

of that leads to problems,” he added.

“We have a very high tolerance of drugs. Social acceptability doesn’t allow it,” he said.

While gardai in Clare have repeat- edly expressed concern about the increased availability of heroin and cocaine, Mr Duffy said, “I couldn’t say it’s one or the other. Someone who starts on soft drugs graduates up along.”

Services, like Bushypark addiction treatment centre in Ennis, have been provided in an effort to help people get off drugs, such has been the spi- raling use.

Mature art students prove a dab hand

YOUNGSTERS at Meelick National School would do a lot of things to get a half-day but their forebears were given time off to go and work in the ueb Oke

That is just one of the little gems of information contained in a school roll book which has been kept at the school since 1874.

The unique roll book was one of the items being exhibited as part of the school’s celebrations of 50 years of learning at the ‘new’ school.

‘This was the roll book for the old school, which opened in 1874. It 1s a lovely piece of work, with beauti- ful writing. The names of the 150 pupils are all recorded along with people’s jobs, who the landlord was and lots of details like that. It noted the names of children who worked as mill-hands and that they were to be given time off for that. It’s a so- cial history of the area,’ said school principal Dan Graham.

“I found the book in the school’s strong room and I’ve had it rebound to pass it on to whoever takes over from me here.”

Friday’s celebrations began with a Mass and later, parents, teachers, past pupils and priests who had been connected with the parish over the years moved to the hall where there was an exhibition of old school pho- tos and other memorabilia.

On the day, it was recalled that the original school opened it’s doors on May 11, 1874 and the first principal, Thomas Barry had an annual salary of £24.

The new school was opened on May 12, 1959 and cost £13,500 to

build.

The staff and pupils planted a tree and buried a ‘time capsule’ contain- ing a list of the childrens’ names, their photos and other item like cal- culators, biros and the school jour- nal.

Then a commemorative plaque was

unveiled before a trip down memory lane in which past pupils and teach- ers recalled their days at Meelick school.

The plaque was unveiled by former school teacher, Kitty Garvey, who taught at the school for 40 years.

The day was rounded off with a

dance in the Greenhills which was attended by pupils and staff.