The Clare People Archive

Kilmihil 6-14 – Cooraclare 3-09 at Labasheeda

THREE POINTS from play inside the opening five minutes for Kilmihil from Eimear Considine (2) and Orla Keane set the tone in this high scoring senior championship Round 3 encounter on Saturday evening. In a match that produced nine goals, Kilmihil were deserving winners over the hour.

Credit to Cooraclare though as once Roisin O’Looney equalised with a fine goal in the seventh minute, they really impressed in the opening half against their more expierenced opponents. At half-time, Cooraclare, who were forced to line out without the injured Monica Lillis and Anne Marie Callinan, trailed by 3-6 to 2-4 while Kilmihil’s third goal from the impressive Ailish Considine came late in the half.

Senior Championship debutant Laura Egan was Kilmihil’s first goal scorer and by the quarter stage, her side led by four points at 1-5 to 1-1. Cooraclare then hit a purple patch with points from Patricia Callinan, Niamh Chambers and Aoife O’Gorman before corner-forward Ciara Golden put the blues ahead when she rattled the net. Their lead was short lived however as Kilmihil through Ellie O’Gorman responded with a goal.

Early second half goals from Becky Mahon who lined out at wing back but was moved to attack and Eimear Considine stretched Kilmihil’s lead to 11 points and while Niamh Chambers added a goal and three points for Cooraclare as well as a points from team captain Noreen McGuane and substitute Lourda Lillis, it wasn’t to be their day. Another Kilmihil goal from Ellie O’Gorman as well as points from Ailish Considine, O’Gorman and Orla Keane sealed a fine win.

In addition to the scorers, Rosie Currane, Una Downes and Dympna Walsh were very impressive for the winners while Bernie Kelly, Roisin O’Looney, Noreen McGuane, Patricia Callinan, Niamh Chambers and Aoife O’Gorman performed well for Cooraclare. A feature of this game was a number of long range points, two from Kilmihil’s Ailish Consid- ine and score of the match from Patricia Callinan from all of 45 metres.

Kilmihil
Sharon O’Gorman, Elaine O’Halloran, Edel McMahon, Niamh Keane, Becky Mahon (1-1), Rosie Currane (capt), Una Downes, Dympna Walsh, Maria Keane (0-1), Laura Egan (1-0), Ellie O’Gorman (2-2), Orla Keane (0-3),Ailish Considine (1-5), Eimear Considine (1-2), Denise O’Halloran

Sub
Moriah Lineen for M. Keane

Cooraclare
Mairead Griffin, Fiona McMahon, Louise Murrihy, Orla Reidy, Danielle Dillon, Bernie Kelly, Sherena Clarke, Dympna O’Dwyer, Roisin O’Looney (1-0), Noreen McGuane (capt) (0-2), Patricia Callinan (0-1), Rachel Garry, Ciara Golden (1-0), Niamh Chambers (1-4),Aoife O’Gorman (0-1)

Sub
Lourda Lillis (0-1) for D. Dillon

Referee
Michael Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

WHILE Clare’s early Munster 60×30 Championship fixtures have seen defeats in most grades, the tide was turned by Declan Frawley who had an emphatic

Intermediate Singles semi-final win over Tipp’s Adrian Supple. There was also Golden Masters A Singles victory for Mike Kelly, while Pat Donellan is also still in the Golden Masters B Singles race after receiving a walkover from his Cork opponent. This week is again choc-full of fixtures involving Clare players including Declan Frawley’s Munster Final in Cashel on Thursday night against either Cork or Waterford opposition (see full fixtures below).

Meanwhile, the TG4 Irish OneWall Handball Nationals were held recently at the Breaffy House resort in Castlebar. One-wall handball is growing in popularity in a big way and a number of Banner County competitors, young and not so young, travelled to Mayo. The Open events were dominated by the visiting American and Puerto Rican players but there were Plate Final victories for Clare payers John Cawley (Golden Masters A Plate), Ciaran Malone (18-&-Under Plate) and Niall Malone (Mens Open Plate), who defeated fellow Clareman Jamie Lynch in the decider. Diarmaid Nash reached the Mens Open quarter-final while Fergal Coughlan and Tiernan Agnew made it to the finals of the Boys 14-&-under and 12-&-under events respectively. Ella Donellan won the Girls 12-&-under competition.

Finally, Tuamgraney Handball Club’s Centenary Celebrations take place this weekend. GAA Handball President Walter O’Connor will be on hand to oficially re-open the club’s refurbished 60×30 court and also unveil a commemorative monument. There wil be a number of exhibition handball games on the Saturday while at Saturday night’s ‘Centenary Gala Dinner’, special guests Pat Kirby, Duxie Walsh and Walter O’Connor will join Guest of Honour Micheal O’Muircheartaigh in celebrating 100 years of Tuamgraney handball in style.

Munster 60×30 Championships
(Clare fixtures) Tuesday July 12, Cullen (Cork) – Junior Doubles: Niall Malone & Darragh Kirby v. Cork. Ruby Masters Singles: Jimmy Walsh v. Cork Wednesday July 13, Broadford (Limerick) – Golden Masters B Doubles: Pat Donellan & Stephen McInerney v. Cork Thursday July 14, Cashel – Intermediate Singles Munster Final: Declan Frawley v. Philip Butler (Waterford) or ColmJordan (Cork) Friday, July 15, Bohermore – Ruby Masters Doubles: John Kirby & JimmyWalsh v. Cork

TUAMGRANEY Handball Club this year celebrates 100 years in existence and to mark the occasion, the club are hosting a Centenary Celebration Weekend on July 15 to 17.

The East Clare village has always been synonymous with handball and through the success of so many great players, has become one of the most famous and well-renowned handball clubs in Ireland.

From the days of the Kirby brothers, Haulie Hogan and Pakie Ryan right up to the present day acheivements of the Nash and Malone brothers and so many greats in between, Tuamgraney has always been punching above its weight in the ball alleys all over the country.

The Centenary Celebration Weekend kicks off on Friday night July 15 with music (by Rosanna Egan) in the specially constructed marquee to the rear of Teach Ui Bhriain in the village (admission free).

The Saturday afternoon will see juvenile tournament finals and exhibition games of 40×20, 60×30 and One-Wall handball (featuring some of Ireland’s top players such as Duxie Walsh, Robbie McCarthy, Ger Coonan and Fergal Collins as well as lo- cal stars) as well as the much-anticipated ‘Lucky Square Challenge’.

There will then be a mass for deceased members at 6.30pm in Tuamgraney church. Following an after-mass procession from the church to the handball club grounds led by the Tulla Pipe Band, GAA Handball Ireland President Walter O’Connor will unveil a comemorative monument marking 100 years of handball in Tuamgraney.

The monument depicts Tuamgraney legend and former World Champion Pat Kirby. Pat is currently on a visit from Arizona where he now resides and will be present at the unveiling and will also be a special guest at the Centenary Gala Dinner, place in the marquee after the momument unveilling and the re-opening of the refurbished 60×30 court.

Another all-time hadball great, Duxie Walsh of Kilkenny, will also be a special guest while the special guest speaker on the night will be none other than gaelic games broadcasting legend Micheal O’Muircheartaigh.

At time of writing, tickets for the Gala Dinner (€ 25) are almost completely sold out but some ‘afters’ tickets (€ 10) are still available. Enquiries to Conor Daly (086-8541464). Music is by Gearoid Devanney and band.

On Sunday 17, Duxie Walsh will hold an informal juvenile handball coaching session at 12.00pm. Later in the afternoon, Tuamgraney Develoment Association host a ‘Family Day on the Green’ with a Monster BBQ, face-painting, bouncy castles, slides, DJ and HB Ice Cream (all proceeds from ice-cream sales to Down Syndrome Ireland).

The party starts at 4.00pm in the Memorial Park, Tuamgraney. The weekend winds down with a Ceili Night (9.30pm) in the Teach Ui Bhriain Marquee with music by Seamus Bugler, Pat O’Connor and friends (admission € 5), plus the ‘Centenary Prize Draw’. Over the weekend, East Clare Heritage will be hosting an exhibition of old handball photos and anyone who has photos that they feel might be of interest are asked to contact Conor Daly. All photos will be returned.

July 15-17 promises to be a great weekend to mark a century of ‘the ancient game’ in Tuamgraney and the surrounding areas.

EVENTS WILL take place throughout the week as Clare becomes the soccer capital of Ireland. The FAI road show began yesterday with visits to Connolly Celtic, Corofin Harps, Moher Celtic, Burren Utd and Sporting Ennistymon.

Under the FAI’s grant scheme, 26 Clare clubs will recevie funding as follows: St Pats AFC (€ 3000); Corfin Harps (€ 2000); Connolly Celtic (€ 3000); Tulla United (€ 10,000); Hermitage FC (€ 1000); Bridge Celtic (€ 1000 and training equip ment); Mountshannon Celtic(€ 1000 and training equipment); Bunratty (€ 2500); Lifford AFC (€ 2250); Kilrush Rangers (€ 1250); Burren United (€ 3250); Bridge United (€ 3250); Lough Derg (€ 5000); Rhine Rovers (€ 1000 and training equipment); Newmarket Celtic (€ 3250); Sporting Ennistymon (€ 1000 and goal posts) Avenue United (€ 2250); Park United (€ 1000); Kilmaley Fern Celtic (€ 3250); Coole Park (small side goals); Shannon Olympic (€ 2250); Moher Celtic (€ 1250); Moneypoint (€ 3250); Ennis Town FC (€ 2000 and small sided goals); Shannon Hibernian (€ 3250 and small sided goals). The Clare schoolboys soccer league is to receive 10 sets of small sided goals plus coaching education concessions while the Clare DSoccer League has been granted € 10,000.

AGM.

Mayor of Clare Pay Hayes (FF) said, “This injection of funds will provide a huge boost to the continued development of the game in County Clare.

AN Ennis man who is bringing the stars of world soccer to Ireland at the end of the month says he is proud that Clare is hosting the FAI’s Festival of Football.

Damien O’Brien, who is originally from McNamara Park in the Turnpike area of Ennis, will return home later this week to promote the Dublin Super Cup.

O’Brien’s Iconic company, in association with Endemol Sport has signed a 10 year deal partnership with the FAI to bring world class soccer teams to the Aviva Stadium.

The inaugural event takes place in Dublin on July 30-31 when the stars of Inter Milan, Celtic, an Eirtricity League X1 and Manchester City, clash in a pre-season tournament.

A student from Kilmaley National School will lead out one of the teams on the first day of games. O’Brien explains, “My parents are back living in Inch. Kilmaley national school were doing a fundraiser so we gave a prize that one of the kids could be a mascot for one of the teams. The tournament will be screened to something like 150 territories around the world, everywhere under the sun”.

The tournament represents O’Brien’s latest venture in the world of high level sports promotion. Five years ago he devised the format for Football’s Next Star – a reality TV show that offers young footballers the chance to earn a professional contract with clubs such as Inter Milan and Chelsea. In 2009, Tulla United teenager Sunny Jay qualified for the final 40 of the competition.

O’Brien says the competition has helped young Irish footballers secure professional contracts with clubs in England. He adds, “We’ve had three Irish boys finish in the top four. We’re coming to Ireland next year with it. It’s gone global. We have shows in the US, China, Africa. The kid who won the competition in the first year is now captain of the Chelsea reserves…Its for kids that maybe have slipped though the net”.

Through Iconic, the 38 year old is also involved in sponsoring the FAI’s Emerging Talent Programme.

A former pupil of Ennis National School, O’Brien played schoolboys soccer with Turnpike Rovers. He moved to London after studying at St Flannan’s College and became involved in sports promotion through an association with Chelsea FC. He says he is looking forward to coming to Clare for the Festival of Soccer.

WEEK 7 of the ITRA Tag Rugby League resulted in Division 1 being closer than ever with current leaders Tag Her & Try Her being beaten by a renewed team of Lucas’ Legends. Tag Her & Try Her were never really a threat to the Legends and the game finished 7-2 in favour of Lucas’ Legends, a win they badly needed.

In second place on the Divison 1 League Table was Deep Heat who were looking to gain some extra points to catch Tag Her & Try Her. However Scrum N Coke proved stiff competition. The game was tied 0-0 at half time before Deep Heat had a quick succession of tries giving them a lead of 5-1. Mary O’Connor for Scrum N Coke got a majestic try to bring her team within one point and a last minute try saw the teams level at the final whistle with 5 points a piece.

Elsewhere, MurtysMen had too much for The Try Hards and their fast paced game saw them getting 12 tries to The Try Hards 3. The game finished up 12 points to 9 in MurtysMen favour, giving them their first win of this division.

In Division 2 Ennis Randomers finally got their first win of the season defeating DBOCS. The Randomers looked like winners from the off and certainly grew in confidence as the match progressed and the scores increased. The game ended with Ennis Randomers on 14 and DBOCS on 3.

First place, The Shades took on second place, On Wing With Prayer in what was being pipped as the Division 2 decider. On Wing With Prayer fought hard and fast and took the game 18 points to the Shades 9. Meanwhile Munstergroup and TTM Tryers faced off with both teams wanting to build on their wins from last week. TTM were the better team and won the match by a convincing 13 points to 4.

The competition now goes into the final week of the league with all teams eager to give one last push before finals night.

Week 7 Results
Division 1 TheTry Hards 9 – 12 MurtysMen Tag Her &Try Her 2- 7 Lucas’ Legends Deep Heat 5 – 5 ScrumN Coke

Division 2
Munstergroup 4 – 13 TTMTryers Ennis Randomers 14 – 3 DBOCS The Shades 9 – 18 OnWing With Prayer