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Claremen to the fore as NUIG win

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NO fewer than 11 Clare men were in the action in Dr Cullen Park last Sunday afternoon as NUI Galway, in their first season competing in the Walsh Cup, made a winning start.

Carlow hosted the Galway university side and after a dour low-scoring first half the visitors led 1-8 to 1-4 with the goal scored by Shane Quinlan after great work by Domhnall O Donovan and Kevin Keehan (Beagh).
The students improved their workrate in the second half and added nine points to just four from the home side. John Conlon scored five points with Kevin Heagney also on target.
Nine Clare men in the starting line-up included Donal Touhy (Crusheen) in goal. The full-back trio were all from Clare, Diarmuid Nash (Scariff), Paul Nihill (Clonlara) and Noel Casey (Kilmaley). Indeed Nash and Casey stood out throughout the game. Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara) and Patrick Kelly (Clarecastle) were the two wing-backs and O’Donovan was one of NUIG’s best performers.
Kevin Heagney (Corofin, 0-1), John Conlon (Clonlara, 0-5) and David Barrett (Newmarket) were in the forward line while Niall Keane (Ballyea) and David Reidy (Wolfe Tones) were introduced in the second half.
Caimin Morey (Sixmilebridge) and Cormac O’Donovan (Clonlara) were absent due to injury while the Galway outfit was also without the services of Galway’s John Lee, Declan Connolly and Gerry Kelly.
As a result of this win, NUI, Galway will travel to play Anthony Daly’s Dublin in the quarter-final this Saturday and this should further help their preparations for the Fitzgibbon Cup, which begins for them on Wednesday February 4 when they host DIT at Dangan.
The College’s Gaelic Games officer, Michael O’Connor said after Sunday’s win that, “NUI Galway are delighted to be involved in Leinster and the opportunity provided by playing inter-county teams at this time of the season can only benefit the side ahead of the Fitzgibbon Cup”.
The Crusheen man went on to say that while Dublin will start as strong favourites on this Saturday, has confident that NUI Galway will provide them with a stiff test.

Clare players injured in Limerick derby tie
DAVY Fitzgerald’s hopes of coaching two teams to the semi-finals of the Waterford Crystal senior hurling tournament this season ended at the Limerick IT grounds on Sunday. The host college, where the Sixmilebridge man has been in charge for the past number of years, lost out to their neighbours University of Limerick after extra time. The final score was 3-22 to 2-18.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Fitzgerald had seen his Waterford senior side put Tralee IT out of the title race
There were three Clare men on the Tralee IT team, which lost out to Waterford in the quarter final on Saturday last. Éire Óg’s Stephen Guilfoyle line out at full-back while Cooraclare man Tom Downes, who plays his hurling with Éire Óg, was at midfield. Crusheen’s Fergus Kennedy was in attack and scored one of his side’s three goals.
On the day, however, Fitzgerald managed the Déise’s outfit to a 2-13 to 3-5 victory.
Seven Clare players were in the Limerick IT starting line-up on Sunday. The full-back line was made up of James Gunning (Broadford), Conor Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills) and Eamonn Glynn (Inagh-Kilnamona). Clonlara’s Nicky O’Connell filled the centre-back position with Broadford’s Cathal Chaplin at midfield. Seán Collins from Cratloe was at wing-forward with Newmarket’s Bernard Gaffney in the corner.
Newmarket’s James McInerney who has been struggling to shake off a leg injury, was introduced in place of Eamonn Glynn who suffered a shoulder injury which could put him out of the upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup. Midfielder Cathal Chaplin also suffered a shoulder injury and he was replaced by Clooney-Quin’s Martin Duggan.
Tulla’s Andrew Quinn impressed when introduced as a substitute for the winners, University of Limerick. He scored 1-1.
The highlight of this tie was another outstanding performance from Joe Canning. Lining out at full-forward, he contributed 2-10 of his team’s final tally.

Honan and Quilligan help UCC
MEANWHILE, two Clare men helped UCC to qualify for the semi-final of the Waterford Crystal tournament when they overcame Limerick at Kilmallock on Sunday. Aidan Quilligan from Sixmilebridge was at wing-back with Clonlara’s Darach Honan filling the full-forward position. The Cork side won on a 0-19 to 2-9 scoreline.

 

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