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“This one is for Michael Mahoney”

“HE might go for Dail Eireann yet,” mused one Fine Gael supporter in the West County Hotel on Saturday afternoon. “With a vote like that in Killaloe he deserves his shot at it,” said another member of the consid- erable Fine Gael crew that had gath- ered around Cooney.

And, there were no dissenting voic- es, especially when the tallies turned into official votes and saw Cooney hoover up an amazing tally of 2780 first preferences — the figure was the stuff of Clare electoral history.

“I’m told it’s the highest vote ever in Clare,” reflected an elated Cooney after being declared elected with a surplus of 1154. “I never in my wild- est dreams expected to get such a vote, but all I can say is that I’m truly honoured that the people of this Kil- laloe electoral area put such faith in my by giving me such a vote. It’s a proud day for to be elected with such a huge vote.”

All that after Cllr Cooney was wor- ried about how the cards would fall in what is a new electoral area fol- lowing the merger of the old Killaloe and East Clare areas into a new super constituency in which there were six seats up for grabs.

“A big portion of my parish in Kil- kishen went into the Shannon area as did Kilmurry where I polled very well in 2004. I was worried once Kil- kishen was gone out of my area, but I worked hard over the last five years and I think the people supported me in a big way for the work that I did.

“In a way it was crazy they way they changed the electoral area. I

started canvassing back in March for this election, but I didn’t canvass all the area. I didn’t go into Clonlara, Shanonbanks or Westbury, there were Other candidates down there.

‘However, in the other parts of the constituency, if I’m really honest I started canvassing them five years ago when I started working for peo- ple in my area. I also worked for peo- ple outside my area. As a councillor, if I could help them, I would.”

The work done was reflected in his

record breaking vote, while one tally from the ballot boxes that came out of Ogonnelle really hammered home his remarkable showing. In 2004 he got 27 votes in Ogonnelloe, five years on the tallies showed him get- Wb OTearL a Roe

With such a ringing endorsement, it was no wonder that a party at- mosphere was building around Cllr Cooney from early Saturday after- noon, but all the while he was think- ing his next council term.

“IT want to do something for this people and the work starts now with being elected to represent the people of the Killaloe electoral area for the next five years.”

Cllr Cooney didn’t mention a shot at Dail Eireann — he left that to oth- ace

DIGNIFIED and generous in defeat but obviously gutted, Fianna Fail’s Tony O’Brien could not believe that his years of hard work had not borne fruit.

“I worked hard for the last five years and I thought it would stand to me but it didn’t.

‘I had hoped that my personal ef- forts would have overcome any anti -party swing but they didn’t. I had a great team and we did a great can- vass but the electorate have decided and there’s nothing to do about it.”

Speaking at the count on Sunday, he said he knew from the tally that the game was up but that didn’t make it any easier, although his local vote was something to take comfort in. “T’m very proud that my vote in my own area, Killaoe, O’Brien’s Bridge – all around there – that held up.” he said.

John ‘Mashen’ McInerney, who also lost out in the vote, adopted a more stoic view, having accepted from the day before that he was well out of the race.

“Begley is a good man but he took a good few of my votes. I’m delight- ed for Burke and Joe Cooney – Joe particularly got a tremendous vote. I congratulate them all.”

Like other candidates, McInerney and O’Brien were warm in their praise for the teams of people who supported them and canvassed over what is now a huge electoral area.

Cllr Cathal Crowe escaped the bloodshed after a tense night and day when the last seat was far from certain.

He has said publicly that he believes there was a smear campaign.

“Other candidates had to contend with the other names on the ballot pa- per but I had to contend with outside influences. I’m upset for my party colleagues and friends who have lost their seats. Even though you’re very aware it can happen, it’s always per- sonally very difficult when it does.”

Pat Hayes, who took the highest FF vote in the county – was “delighted”’ with his personal endorsement but saddened to lose fellow councillors. He believes the Killaloe councillors “paid the price for Fianna Fail’s na- nCOyereD im ore) n(eavae

IT’S unlikely that you will see a more entertaining game this year as this battle of the amalgamations re- ally had everything. A seesaw strug- gle that saw the lead change hands on five occasions, with eight goals, some outstanding performances and even a dramatic injury-time equalis- ing goal thrown in for good meas- ure to enthral the large support that manned the famous hill in Tulla on Friday evening.

As the game entered it’s third minute of injury time, Feakle/Kil- lanena thought they had done enough to finally fend off Scariff/Ogonnel- loe but there was an air of inevitabil- ity about the equalising score as John Scanlon picked up a break to strike to the net. And really while Feakle/Kil- lanena will feel disappointed to have let that advantage slip at the death, a draw was really the fairest result possible for two sides who had given everything over the hour.

It started tamely enough with Feak- le/Killanena holding a slender 0-2 to Q-1 advantage by the tenth minute be-

fore Scariff/Ogonnelloe sparked the first purple patch of the game, blitz- ing their opponents with a huge haul of 3-1 in eight minutes. The damage came from the full-forward line of John Scanlon, Cian Fitzgerald Bra- dley and James Kiely who grabbed a goal each in quick succession to turn the game on it’s head and power Scariff/Ogonnelloe into a command- ing nine point lead.

That significant blow would have finished most sides but not Feakle/ Killanena who were determined to finally get their hands on the crown after falling at the same hurdle last year. Midfielder Eoin Tuohy started the fightback with three placed balls in as many minutes before they sliced the deficit to three in the 27th minute after a good passing move involving Todd Kelsey and Diarmuid Bane end- ed with Stephen Conway who drove the ball to the net. By the break, their momentum had got them to within a point at 3-2 to 1-7 and they continued that surge on the restart, grabbing a second goal in the 34th minute. Barry Nash had just stopped the rot with a free for Scariff/Ogonnelloe

but Feakle/Killanena’s reply was swift when Todd Kelsey gathered the puck-out and bore down on goal and when his shot was stopped by goal- keeper Ricky Bolton, Con Smythe was on hand to acrobatically flick the dropping ball to the net.

Incredibly, Scariff/Ogonnelloe mustered another scoring spree, with a John Scanlon free levelling up the game once more before Cian Fitzger- ald Bradley doubled his goal tally in the 41st minute to push his side three points clear. By the 49th minute, they were four points in front but Feakle/ Killanena refused to lie down, hitting 1-4 without reply, with Kelsey secur- ing the goal to take a three point lead into injury-time. However, Scanlon’s 63rd minute goal ensured that the sides will have to do it all again this week but the supporters will hardly erumble after this white knuckle ride. The only downside is that one of these sides eventually has to lose.

Cooney proves he’s no ordinary Joe

WHILE election fever swept through the county on Saturday, this crunch tie had a fever of it’s own, namely the fight to avoid the drop from the top division.

The polls weren’t favourable for e1- ther candidate entering this game. St Joseph’s had only one win from their four outings while Inagh/Kilnamona were turned away from every door, not having tasted a competitive vic- tory in nine months but with only half the Clare Cup campaign com- pleted, there was still ample time to canvas for points.

Like a bloody battle for the final Seat, it was aclose run affair and even ended in controversy as St Joseph’s had a last minute goal ruled out for a square ball, a score that would have handed them both crucial points.

Both sides were without key mem- bers of their squad, with the home side shy of seven of the team that started against Clonlara in the cham- pionship the previous weekend along with county senior Tony Carmody who didn’t play that game while St

Joseph’s were missing eight from their win over Sixmilebridge. As a result, the quality suffered in what was a scrappy seesaw affair before Inagh/Kilnamona eventually edged the contest with a superior finale to top the poll.

At 0-2 to 0-2 after eleven minutes, contrasting finishing finally sparked the game into life, with St Joseph’s goalkeeper Paul Madden produc- ing a excellent diving save to deny Shane Griffin while down the other end only three minutes later, full-for- ward Seanie McMahon was more ef- ficient, latching on to a Colm Mullen pass to pull past the onrushing Ea- mon Scanlon to give his side an early advantage.

Inagh/Kilnamona_ didn’t panic however, and even though a plethora of wides followed for the remain- ing 18 minutes of the half, the home side still managed to come within a point of St Joseph’s by the break with points from David Hegarty and Shane Griffin.

Inagh/Kilnamona built on that re- newed confidence on the resumption, grabbing a crucial goal after only two

minutes when Joe Griffin shrugged off two challenges before slamming the ball to the net from close range.

However, within ten minutes, that advantage had been overturned, this time with Mullen the finisher, gather- ing a Paul Morrissey ball inside to hit to the net from close range, putting his side 2-4 to 1-5 ahead.

It should have inspired St Joseph’s but similar to the first half, they were not to score for the final 18 minutes of the half and while they tallied up the wides, Inagh/Kilnamona slowly chipped away at their two point lead. They cancelled it out by the turn of the final quarter through substitute Sean Arthur and Joe Griffin be- fore taking up the ascendency with a Gannon Free in the 50th minute and an Eugene Cullinan point only a minute short of the hour.

It looked to have secured Inagh/Ki- namona the seat but like any good election battle, there was almost a twist in the tale when St Joseph’s produced one final attack up the right, going from Mullen, through Mike Cullian to Damien Kennedy in the corner and when he flashed

his shot across the square, substitute Shane O’Grady dived in at the back post to flick it over the line. However, the celebrations were short lived as the presiding officer Tom Stackpool deemed it to be a square ball. St Joseph’s appealed for a recount, how- ever, the returning officer’s decision was final as Inagh/Kilnamona were deemed elected on the final count.

FIANNA FAIL must pay closer at- tention to the concerns and views of grassroots members if they are avoid future election disasters.

That was the view of PJ Ryan on Sunday after his election in the Shan- non Electoral Area. An independent candidate, Mr Ryan was elected on the final count of the afternoon with a total of 1524 votes after transfers – his first preference vote increased from 700 last time out to 1013.

A long serving member of Fianna Fail, Cllr Ryan stood as a party can- didate in the 2004 local elections.

However after he was passed over by headquarters as a candidate this time around, Cllr Ryan opted to run as an independent.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by many unhappy Fianna Fail coun- cillors at the count centre in the West County Hotel, Cllr Ryan said,

“That’s the major problem, that headquarters haven’t listened to the grassroots. They’ve made a lot of mistakes in this election” said Cllr RAEN

He continued, “They had no can- didate in Shannon and they’ve ended up on Shannon Town Council with- out any Fianna Fail candidate. That’s the major problem there. Headquar- ters need to listen to members on the eround. They know whats happening locally. They should have listened to the people on the ground. They might get the message now”.

Despite his strong Fianna Fail links, Cllr Ryan said he would remain an independent voice in the Council

chamber. “I’m elected independent and [ll be independent when I’m elected, simple as that”.

A relieved Cllr Ryan admitted it had been a difficult decision to run as an independent candidate.

He said, “Oh I’m delighted. I’m ab- solutely delighted. The thing was I had to keep battling away. It’s been

a very long haul but the result was good”

Cllr Ryan added, “I was an awful long time with the Fianna Fail or- ganisation. It was a long time to be involved with the party. It was a big step to break, a big decision to break. But I suppose at the end of the day it paid off. I still would say that at the

end of the day that it’s about people. It’s not about parties.”

Clir Ryan said he was looking for- ward to working for the people of the Shannon electoral area.

He said, “Ah yeah, the hard work Starts now. Ah, I’m well used to working in the community and [ll battle away. We’ve got a playground

to build in Cratloe. We’ve got a day- care centre for the elderly to build in Sixmulebridge and a playground to build in Kilkishen”’.

FOR Donie Buckley Sunday after- noon on Ennis’ Causeway wasn’t about the past – the way that Clare football had let go a man who had given so much voluntary work for club and county for nearly two dec- AYalohe

It wasn’t about Donie Buckley v Clare – that’s in the past, this was the present and it was all about trying to do his bit to guide Limerick into a provincial decider.

What’s done was done, but Buckley was quick to admit that manning the line on this day was different than another day during his year and a bit with the Shannonsiders.

“It was very difficult for me today,’ he revealed. “I know a lot of these Clare players and they are great play- ers – the service the likes of Conor Whelan, David Russell and Mike O’Shea have given Clare, they’ve been great servants.

‘When I was involved with Michael

Brennan in Clare, we introduced a number of those players. They’re fantastic footballers and Clare will bounce back. I know that.

“We got the rub of the green today. We got a great start but Clare came back very well at us. I think at the end of the day I think our experi- ence from Division 3 where we lost a number of games by a point gave us the determination to get through,” he added.

The former Clare manager was the most energetic of all the mentors manning the sideline – kicking every ball with his players, roaring instruc- tions from start to finish, making regular excursions over the white line with new instructions for battle.

He was most active after Clare had reeled in Limerick in the first half, while he admitted that the half-time break gave his side the chance to gather their thoughts and take up the battle anew.

‘We put our shoulder to the wheel in the second half. It’s all about at-

titude,’ he revealed.

“Clare came out with all guns blaz- ing – they were a very well prepared team under Frank Doherty, James Hanrahan and Kieran Kelleher. We were just lucky that we got it right in tom ntee

“The turning point of the game was where Dermot O’Brien made a great catch but coming out we turned it over and got a crucial point.

“We came up here today as favour- ites but Clare gave us a great game. We’re looking at a Munster final now and it’s going to be Cork or Kerry. That was our target at the start of the year.”

Beating Clare was also a target and it was mission accomplished for Do- nie Buckley.

Clare’s loss has definitely been Limerick’s gain.

MICHAEL Hillery cut an emotional figure in the West County Hotel on Saturday night.

It was for himself after five years out of elected office in a place called the political wilderness; it was for his family that’s steeped in this game of chance called politics like no other clan in Clare; it was for his late uncle Paddy who was his guiding light, in life, in death and always.

No wonder there was more than a hint of a tear or two, or maybe more as he passed the winning post just before 10pm when returning officer Michael McNamara uttered the words he had waited five years to hear: “As Michael Hillery has exceeded the quota, I deem him elected”.

Hillery knew many hours before that he was on the way back to elected politics, and to say he was glad was an understatement, but it wasn’t the Hillery way to be demonstrative and jump around, even if he was jumping around inside as he took a few sec- onds out from the maelstrom around him to explain the meaning of it all.

“It means an awful to me. For myself and being part of a political family. Trying to make sure that the Hillery name continued to have a role in politics meant a huge amount to me. I was desperate to keep the Hillery name up there and to the forefront of the political system,’ he said.

“Thad 19 years done before I lost my seat in 2004. After thinking about it for a while I decided I’d have another go and I started working towards that by doing a lot of community work. I

worked my way back — that work has paid off for me in this election.

“There was always Hillery in poli- tics, whether in the Dail, the Sen- ate, the presidency or in local coun- cils. I wanted to make sure that that still was the case after this election. Keeping on the Hillery political dy- nasty was huge for me.

“There was great goodwill on the doorstep — that feeling from people

that they owed it to the Hillery name to have a Hillery elected. I am grate- ful for that and very proud of that and the place that the Hillery name has in politics.

“Paddy Hillery was my idol — I looked up to him and what he had achieved. I felt that if I could get back in a year after he passed away it would be further recognition of what he had done in the county and

the country. I’d say that he gave me a helping hand from above,” he added.

Of that Cllr Michael Hillery was convinced.

THEY say you’ve got to buy a ticket if you want to have a chance. Well, Clare bought a ticket on Sunday but didn’t take their chance. No surpris- es then to find the subject of missed frees occupying the mind of Frank Doherty in the aftermath of Clare’s defeat to Limerick in the Munster semi-final.

Level at half time after a massively encouraging finish to the first half, Clare dropped off after the break and let Limerick creep three points clear. Clare compounded their poor start by missing kickable frees.

Needless to say, the Clare manager looked a frustrated man, standing outside the dressing rooms in Cusack Park.

‘Frees cost you games. It cost us today. We missed three or four frees and we lost by four points in the end,” stated Doherty afterwards.

He continued, “You’ve got to put frees from 45 yards in over the bar. That was a factor obviously. They got the start we didn’t want them to get

in the second half. They got two or three points. They did basically the same to us in the first half. We had to make sure that wasn’t going to hap- pen in the second half and it didn’t. It was more a case of us making slop- py balls ourselves rather than them working great scores, or anything like that. That was disappointing as well. But look it we tried as hard as we could. That’s really it”.

Doherty was full of praise for his team’s attitude, particularly that of Timmy Ryan, but added that the ex- ertions of the first half had maybe left his side a little short on energy after the break.

He said, “He tried his dannest. He was outstanding. I dunno, maybe ye guys know Timmy a lot longer than I do. People are saying, why would you go with Timmy Ryan. But other people haven’t seen him over the last five or six weeks. People criticize players and selections and so on and so forth in relation to who should be out there. But people don’t see what goes on behind closed doors. Gor- don Kelly and Graham Kelly drove

us on. Maybe they got a little tired. Dean was caught early on. He’s an- other lad who was absolutely flying DOM ORDO ODEN Toaee

Over the past 12 months Doherty’s public comments have often been fla- voured with references to the limited amount of players available to him and his selectors.

Injuries and the issue of players declining to link up with the county team were subjects again touched on by Doherty on Sunday.

“You have to remember today that were missing a couple of serious players in my opinion like John Hay- es and David Connolle. They’re lads who will drive you on from there. And if the whole county was availa- ble to the management team it might have been a different ball game to- day altogether. What you have, you work with and you do your best with. And I believe we’ve got as much as we possibly can out of them.”