The Clare People Archive

BEATING Kilkenny at any level is a memorable feat. Beating the cur- rent All-Ireland intermediate cham- pions Kilkenny in only their second game therefore has to go down as a momentous achievement and finally gives the management, players and even the county board justification for their forward planning of enter- ing a second team.

This was as good and surprisingly comfortable as it 1s every going to get for Clare’s second string. Last time out, they perhaps lacked some leadership as Tipperary eased to a seven point victory but that fraility was rectified on Sunday with the in- troduction of six new starters. Carol O’Leary, Aiveen O’Shea, Niamh Corry, Louise Hayes, Aine O’Brien, Chloe Morey and Roisin O’Brien were all brought in to add more ex- perience and balance to the side and it certainly had the desired effect as Clare were far superior and sharp- er than their Leinster opponents throughout.

Chloe Morey, who was playing her second game in as many days, was utilised as a third midfielder and along with partners Louise Hayes

and Niamh Corry, Clare really con- trolled this tie. Another highlight was the performance of Carol Kaiser who really began to come into her own when switched to centre-back to curtail Kilkenny’s playmaker Eileen Fitzpatrick, who had got Kilkenny’s only score of the game in the 34th minute.

Aside from that scare, it was a straightforward stroll to victory as Kilkenny’s expected fightback never really materialised. Clare can only beat what’s put in front of them though and really that fear of a Kil- kenny recovery benfitted Clare who remained focused right up to the fi- nal whistle.

Clare were 0-6 to 0-0 ahead at the break, taking advantage of a slight breeze that blew towards Limerick. Danielle Sheedy opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a free and inadvertently turned provider for the second, sending in another long free that was batted by goalkeeper Siob- han Murphy to Roisin O’Brien who continued her impressive scoring run with a point. In all, the Ogonnelloe player hit four points of Clare’s to- tal, making her Clare’s only scorer from play in the league so far with Six points.

Danielle Sheedy almost secured a goal for her side in the 10th minute when she caught a Niamh Corry pass over the top of the Kilkenny defence and took on her marker before un- leashing a shot but it was saved by Murphy for a *45 that Chloe Morey converted.

Kilkenny did have their fair share of possession but a lack of a reliable freetaker and some aimless shooting frustrated them in their endeavours. Instead, Clare kept plugging away and frees from Morey, Sheedy and an injury time point from O’Brien eased Clare to a six point half-time lead.

The only real tension for Clare came four minutes after half-time when a revitalised Kilkenny attempted to grab a lifeline. Three early wides were eventually made up for when Niamh Byrne’s shot was saved by Denise Lynch and Eileen Fitzpatrick was on hand to hit the rebound to the am

Fitzpatrick was by now starting to pull the strings for the Leinster side and had another shot on goal in the 38th minute but this time Lynch was equal to the effort. It caused Clare to switch Carol Kaiser to centre-back and it proved to be the turning point

of the game as the Newmarket player nullified her threat for the remain- der.

From that point on, Clare gradually regained their confidence and the trio of Chloe Morey (2), Roisin O’Brien (2) and Danielle Sheedy were again on target as Clare eased up to victo- ry. A significant result that will give Clare great confidence for the rest of the campaign.

BEFORE the game, Clare manager Bertie Sherlock probably would have gladly taken a six point reversal. Af- ter all, Kilkenny were the defending league champions and have captured three successive Minor A titles so the Toomevara native would have feared what a sizeable defeat could do to his fledging senior side.

In hindsight though, when pick- ing through the bones of the game, Clare will feel disappointed that they weren’t closer at the final whistle. For almost forty minutes, Clare more than matched the favourites and in- deed were 0-8 to O-5 ahead by the 36th minute, a healthy position that few could have predicted before the game.

However, Kilkenny’s experience fi- nally told and stretching their wings, they hit nine unanswered points in thirteen minutes to kill off any hint of an upset and although Clare brave- ly fought on, a 52nd minute Deirdre Delaney goal from distance finally put the final nail in Clare’s coffin.

It’s a shame really as for the second Successive week, Clare made their massive leap from junior to senior look relatively seamless. And also similar to the Tipperary game, they were level at O-5 to O-5 at the break and in fact, started the better with Deridre Murphy and Roisin McMa- hon putting Clare two points clear. McMahon’s unerring freetaking was the most pleasing aspect of this latest

Clare display, hitting nine points in total in an impressive performance.

Ann Dalton was equally as efficient from placed balls for Kilkenny and the two traded scores four times in the opening half to send the sides in level at the break.

Just as in the intermediate game, Clare used a third midfielder to pack up the centre and allow space inside for their two player full-forward line of Carina Roseingrave and Sharon O’Loughlin but that tactic only par- tially worked as Clare naively hit clearances straight down the centre to the unmarked Kelly Ann Cotterill at full-back. In fact, that tactic was actually to come back to haunt Clare

in the second half after Roising Mc- Mahon (2) and Ruth Kaiser had put Clare 0-8 to Q-5 in front.

Kilkenny copied Clare by bring- ing out Katie Power to the centre and with Clare unable to get the ball past half-way for the next fifteen minutes, Kilkenny overran Clare with nine consecutive scores, five from the stick of Dalton. At 0-14 to 0-8, Clare now needed a goal if they were to mount any sort of a fightback but similar to Sharon O’Loughlin’s first half ef- fort, a Deidre Muphy aerial double was not enough to beat the inspired Catriona Ryan in the Kilkenny goal. Instead it was Kilkenny who got the vital goal and it was a soft one re-

ally as Deirdre Delaney’s shot from distance was miscontrolled by goal- keeper Lynch. Roisin McMahon did reply with three frees but they were only consolation scores really and Kilkenny swiftly moved to the top of the group table with their second successive victory. Two encouraging displays for Clare but ultimately no points so far. Their game against the Dubs on the 29th will tell a lot more of what Clare have learned so far in their senior adventure.

COROFIN had a look of resignation about them as they trooped towards the sideline after 110 minutes of ac- tion in which they pummeled Her- mitage, but failed to close out the game in regulation time.

The “Tage knew they’d got out of jail, when the combination of a stout defence and the brilliance of David Phillips in goal kept the Corofin tidal wave at bay.

And, it was as if getting to a penalty shoot-out was such a relief that they were unburdened by the prospect of the Russian roulette-style end to pro- oreTere nba eace

It certainly showed in the shoot-out that followed – all four of the “Tage’s takers who stepped up to the plate drove the ball home with conviction, while Corofin could only muster one goal from three attempts.

It left the “Tage celebrating and Corofin regretting once more where it all went wrong in normal time. De- spite going behind to a Paul Dulla- ghan goal after 30 minutes, Corofin were the dominant team over the 90 minutes, pepparing shots at David Phillips’ goal from start to finish.

On another day they could have got six, but on a day that effectively signalled the end of their season the two-time champions from 2005 and ‘(06 were left to rue what could and should have been.

Credit the “Tage though – they played an enterprising game and with Gerry Dullaghan influential from the word go they weren’t afraid to take the game to their Premier Division Opponents.

Indeed it was Dullaghan who near- ly produced the opening goal in the 20th minute when his sweetly struck left-footed drive was tipped over the bar by Fergal Neylon.

However, Neylon could do little to prevent the other Dullaghan in the *Tage’s ranks, Paul, from break- ing the deadlock. Latching on to a through ball from Sean McGee, he

rounded Neylon and thumped the ball into the empty net.

It’s not that the “Tage tried to lock the shop for the remaining 60 min- utes, but such was the dominance of Corofin the visitors camped in defen- sive mode thereafter.

Jonathon Clohessy’s thundering half-volley from outside the area on 35 minutes was brilliantly touched

on to the crossbar by Phillips.

Then the real siege began in the second half. Eleven minutes in Clohessy’s free whistled over the top, while five minutes later John Keane forced another fine save out of Philips.

The equaliser came in the /7Ist minute when David O’Brien drove the ball home from eight yards after Paul Linnane’s corner. The Harps should have closed it out before full- time, but spurned half a dozen decent chances – Noel Mullane’s glancing header that just went wide in the 85th minute was the pick of them.

Then after an uneventful extra-time came penalties. Gerry Dullaghan, Thomas Leahy, Paul Dullaghan and Donal Harnett scored for the “Tage; John Keane was the Harps’ only scorer while David O’Brien and Ja- son Tierney missed.

ROCK Rovers advanced to the quar- ter finals of the Clare Cup after a penalty shoot out victory over Bridge United A on Sunday.

After defeating clubmates Bridge B on penalities in the previous round, it looked for a while on Sunday that Bridge A would prevail yet again.

Bridge goalie Paul Tuohy produced two good saves to keep out penalties from Barry Woods and Brian Fitz- patrick.

But Bridge were having troubles of their from the spot with Greg Deegan and Gary Kelly missing their efforts.

After Francis Daniels converted Rock’s seventh penalty, goalkeeper Leonard Keane saved from John Ke- ogh to ensure a sudden death victory for Rock

Premier league Bridge got of to a quicker start but it was their first di- vision opponents who made the best of the early chances.

Niall McNiven did well to hold possession on the left before a firing a dangerous cross to the back post where Roan Eade smashed a half volley against a Bridge defender.

At the other end for Bridge Derek Fahy and Trevor Maxwell linked well and provided a useful outlet on the flanks.

Rock’s spluttering first half display owed more to a lack of composure at critical moments rather than a lack of effort. With half time approach- ing, the visitors started to find some oy oTeeN ba teace

Glynn glided past two players in midfield and drilled a low shot that

Tuohy did well to hold.

Bridge came out after half time playing with renewed effort and de- termination and dominated the early

Stages.

Despite pushing Rock back inside their half, Bridge lacked the killer in- stinct near goal. Barry Downes came

closest when he drove through the

middle but had his shot blocked. With Luke Coote mopping up at

the back momentum gradually shift-

ed back in Rock’s favour. Fullbacks Greg Howard and Barry Woods ex- celled during this period.

Howard linked well with McNiven in the 72nd minute but saw his low centre cleared.

Referee Julian Stanford blew the final whistle with the sides level at 0-0. Rock had the best chance to win it in extra time when McNiven teed up Glynn who had his shot from four yards well saved by Tuohy.

It was time for penalties. Howard, Stephen Hickey, Dean Gardiner, Daniels and McNiven converted for Rock. Fahy, Gavin Downes and Billy Maxwell were equally composed for Bridge. Keane denied Kelly to keep Rock’s cup bid on track.

AVENUE United must now be won- dering what they have to do to get back on track in the league – a few short weeks ago everything looked rosy in their garden on the strength of back-to-back wins over Bunratty, but since then they’ve only picked up one point from a possible six.

That point came in this game, but it looked like being all three until Eoin Hayes struck for an equalising goal two minutes into injury time to deal Avenue’s league title hopes another big blow.

They looked to have secured all

three points when substitute Davide Ghilardi put them 2-1 ahead with six minutes remaining, but the final twist of an entertaining morning’s action between these two old rival was pro- vided by Hayes who latched on to a long ball from Mike O’Malley and lobbed Simon O’Donnell to give the champions a share of the spoils.

It should have come to this for Avenue – they had the better of this game for most of the 90 minutes, but paid the price for not taking their chances.

The first goal did come Avenue’s way in the 30th minute when Gary Flynn’s free kick from near the end-

line was met on the half-volley by Eamonn O’Reilly on the edge of the six-yard box.

Avenue were full value for the 1- Q half-time lead, but three minutes after half-time were rocked back on their heels when Newmarket levelled up proceedings.

In what can be loosely termed a goalmouth scramble, the ball was de- flected to the net by the combination of Newmarket’s Monty Mulqueen and Avenue’s Anthony Whyte.

Avenue didn’t dwell on their mis- fortune though and a bought of heavy pressure eventually reaped dividends when a great run by David Smythe down the left saw him centre the ball to Davide Ghilardi who dispatched the ball to the net from eight yards. Three minutes later Bratislav put Ghilardi in on goal, but the French- man’s effort just went over the top – a miss that came back to haunt Avenue when the impressive Hayes struck for his dramatic equaliser.

BUNRATTY were staring into some- thing of an abyss midway through the first half of this south east Clare derby in Bridgetown.

They were 2-0 down against the home side, getting anything from the game, let alone three precious points in their title charge simply didn’t look on against a well-organised Bridge Celtic defence.

However, in adversity Bunratty re- ally rolled up their sleeves and from a desperate situation turned things around dramatically over the last 60 minutes to run out convincing win- iol as

It was no wonder manager Donal Magee had a smile as broad as the River Shannon at the end of a roll- er coaster of a 90 minutes that now leaves the league leaders in full con- trol of their own league destiny.

It had looked bleak earlier on when goals by Kieran Aherne from the penalty stop in the 20th minute and

then a second five minutes later from Nickey O’Connell had Bridge Celtic firmly in the ascendency.

O’Connell’s goal came _ despite howls of protestations from the Bun- ratty defence – he beat the offside trap and in one-on-one match up with Darren Whelan slotted the ball home from ten yards.

It looked bleak for Bunratty but in the 35th minute they were thrown a lifeline when Trevor Howard was ad- judged to have handled in the area, allowing Terry Duggan step up and drive home the penalty.

Then five minutes before half-time, Bridge Cetlic keeper Sean Fleming failed to deal with Peter Balough’s cross and Shane O’Connor nipped in to slot home the equaliser from close range.

Bunratty were back in the ball game with a bang and on the turnover pro- ceeded to take a giant step towards league glory when banging home two crucial goals.

The impressive Terry Duggan struk

15 minutes in when it was his turn to beat the offside trap and slot the ball past Sean Fleming.

Ten minutes later Peter Balough completed Bunratty’s wonderful recovery and wrapped up the three points at the same time when curling a free kick from outside the area into the top left hand corner.

ENERGY Minister Eamon Ryan has called on all homeowners and con- struction workers in Clare to register their interest in the Government’s National Insulation Programme for Economic Recovery.

With a budget of €100 million for 2009, the programme will see in- sulation works being carried out in 50,000 homes, creating a potential 4,000 jobs for construction workers and energy assessors nationwide.

The energy efficiency and insula- tion programme will be delivered in three strands, with Minister Ryan’s department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources tak- ing a central role, responsible for two of the principle schemes — the Home Energy Saving Scheme and the Warmer Homes Scheme.

The Home Energy Saving Scheme will have a budget of €50 million and will apply to middle-income pri- vate dwellings. The Warmer Homes Scheme will have a budget of €20 million and will be available to those earning low incomes or in receipt of a fuel allowance.

Rural Resource Development is as- sisting Sustainable Energy Ireland in administering this scheme in County ETc

Announcing the programme, Min- ister Ryan said, “Insulation makes homes warmer and more comfort- able. Householders in Clare and be- yond can expect to halve their heat- ing bills with reductions of €700 per annum. This means more money in their pockets. Construction work- ers will benefit from the thousands of jobs these measures we create. These will be jobs for trades-people throughout the country.

“In our current economic climate, we need direction and radical think- ing. This insulation programme Saves energy, Saves money and cre- ates jobs. This is what our people, our homes and our economy need at WOT RmO UDO oMee

Grants to support a range of im- provements will be available.

For further information on apply- ing for the schemes, Sustainable En- ergy Ireland (SEI) can be contacted at www.sei.ie/hes or by calling the dedicated phonelines on 1850 927 O00 (HES) or 1800 250204 (WHS)

_ Which was broadcast live on RTE on Sunday night.

The Mulkerrin Brothers, who have strong family connections in Ennis, played traditional music and perform sean nos dancing at the final.

The three brothers, Padraig, Ea- monn and Sean, from Inis Mor, beat seven-year-old break-dancer Jack

Lynch in the final showdown of the Series, to claim the €50,000 first prize.

“Getting through to the final was amazing, we thought that was a big achievement, and even got through to the final we didn’t think we had a hope, so it’s massive shock. I am speechless,” said Padraig Mulkerrin following the win.

“Thanks to everyone who voted for us, because without them we wouldn’t have won.”

There was disappointment for the county’s other two acts which made it to the grand final. ;

Both Bert and Victor and Daithi O Dronai failed to make it through to the final two.

Ballyvaughan fiddler Daithi had been many peoples favourite for the competition after he became the first person to qualify for the grand final last month.

Bert and Victor, who have strong links to Kilrush, were also hotly fan- cied to make an impact in the final.

O’Brien Boys represented Dublin in the final but are grandchildren of Kilrush couple Ted and Marga- ret Wright, and the sons of Dolores O’Brien (nee Wright) who grew up in Pella Road.

The other contestants who took part in Sunday evenings final were Donna Marie Sludds and Clidna Hagan.

THE Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce mid-west re- gion said that “economic conditions will remain extremely challenging in 2009 and 2010 and that the mul- tinational community in the region, like every other business sector, will be focused on costs and productivity improvements to enhance competi- UA Nee

Speaking at a members briefing in Dromoland Castle, Mr Bill Doherty said, “In the current climate every business has to focus on the bot- tom line and on delivering value to its customers. There is pressure on all businesses to achieve improved productivity, increased efficiencies and a more prudent cost base. In the multinational environment, where individual country subsidiaries are competing against each other for in- vestment from the global parent, it is imperative that subsidiaries located here are cost competitive.

“There are challenging times ahead for the mid-west and the first priority must be to retain the strong base of existing companies in the region.”

Turn in fortunes for west Clare company