’Bridge and Éire Óg still on for the double

BOTH Sixmilebridge and Éire Óg are still in the running for an U-21 double as they both have teams in the semi-finals of the C competition where, in fact, they will be in opposition. The other semi-finalists in this thirteen-a-side competition are Ennistymon and Parteen.
Meanwhile, in the race for the B title, last year’s beaten finalists Kilmaley booked their place in the last four when they had a hard earned two-point win over Whitegate at Broadford last Saturday. They will take on Smith O’Brien’s who ousted the title holders Ballyea on Sunday.
In the other semi-final, Corofin will have to wait until Saturday to learn who their opponents will be. Wolfe Tones booked their place in the quarter-final beating Tulla-Bodyke in a replay on Sunday.

 

Smith O’Brien’s 2-13
Ballyea 0-10

HOLDERS Ballyea are out of this year’s title race as a result of this defeat at the hands of a lively Smith O’Briens side at Meelick on Sunday.
It was point for point throughout a lively first half and when the half time whistle sounded the Killaloe side led by the odd point in fifteen.
Owen Ryan struck for a goal shortly after the second half resumed and this score gave the winners an edge. Ryan followed with a second goal and the winners went on to seal victory and a semi-final date with Kilmaley.
Tony Kelly, unlucky not to have had a goal at a vital stage in the game, was one of the Ballyea stars on the day when Paul Flanagan was another to play well.
Brian and Mark McInerney, goalkeeper Mark Stritch, Owen Ryan and the impressive Liam Walsh all impressed for the winners.

Smith O’Brien’s: Mark Stritch; Noel Howard, Mark McInerney, Kevin McEvoy; Michael Ryan, Brian McInerney, Luke Hession; Pa Vaughan, Aidan McKeogh; Liam Walsh, Dean Synott, Keith Stritch, Owen Ryan, Mark O’Halloran.
Subs: Cian Moloney for O’Halloran, Ben Hynes for Synott.
Ballyea: Seamus Doohan; Alan Marrinan, Cormac Ryan, Eanna McInerney; Declan O’Loughlin, Cathal Doohan, David Sheehan; Paul Flanagan, Gearóid O’Connell; Brian Murphy, James Murphy, Tony Kelly; Martin Quigley, Paudge McMahon, Jermiah Brady.
Subs: Declan Keane for Quigley, Cathal O’Connor for O’Loughlin.
Referee: Tom Stackpool, Ennistymon.

Kilmaley 1-11
Whitegate 1-9

KILMALEY are on course to go a step further than last year following this hard earned win over Whitegate at Broadford on Saturday.
There was little between the sides throughout and it was only in the final stages that Kilmaley edged ahead.
A Dara Keane goal edged the winners ahead in the opening quarter but good scores from county U-21 panelist George Waterstone helped Whitegate get back on terms by half time when the score was 1-3 to 0-6.
The teams continued to be evenly matched in the third quarter before Kilmaley edged into a five-point lead in the final quarter only for Ian Fahy to bring his side back into contention when he crashed a free to the net.

Kilmaley: Paul Kennedy; Martin O’Connor, Noel Casey, Stephen Griffey; Colin McGuane, Stephen McNamara, Eoin Fitzgerald; Enda Finnucane, Eoin Enright; John Cabey, Jack Fitzgerald, Michael O’Neill; Dara Keane, Jason Pyne, Shane Darcy.
Subs: Cillian McNamara, Niall McGuane, Shane Culligan.
Whitegate: Andrew Fahy; David Durack, Neil Broderick, Tomas McNamara; Tomas Hanley, Ian Fahy, Michael Minogue; Killian McNamara, Michael Dooley; Alan Mulvihill, George Waterstone, Paul O’Rourke; Patrick Burke, Colin Bleach, Mark Treacy.
Sub: John Burke.
Referee: Fergie McDonagh, St Joseph’s

Wolfe Tones 2-12
Tulla-Bodyke 1-11

AT the second time of asking, Wolfe Tones overcame the stiff challenge posed by East Clare amalgamation Tulla/Bodyke to set up a clash this weekend with Banner-Ruan.
Tulla/Bodyke, who lost last season’s minor B final, were slight favourites to win this tie but an early second minute score from Gary Leahy, followed minutes later by a Kevin McCafferty goal, had the Shannon men four clear.
Four points in ten minutes from Tulla/Bodyke’s Trevor Vaughan, Alan Leamy, Colm Halpin and Vaughan once more had the sides level.
When Colm Halpin (goal) and Vaughan (point) sent Tulla/Bodyke clear in the 18th minute, it appeared the East Clare side would go on to win the tie. However, this was dispelled three minutes later when Shannon full-forward Aidan McMahon goaled from close range, quickly followed by points from Gary Leahy and Daniel Gallery, to leave Wolfe Tones 2-3 to 1-5 clear after 22 minutes.
It was 2-4 to 1-6 in favour of the Shannon men at half time and after 42 minutes, Wolfe Tones had extended their lead to two points, 2-7 to 1-8 as five points were scored in this period. Ciarán Malone and David McInerney were on target for Tulla/Bodyke early on before a hat-trick of points from Gary Leahy, John Guilfoyle and Daniel Gallery kept Tones ahead.
Best for Wolfe Tones were Joe McAuley, Stephen McInerney, Sean Condron, Gary Leahy, Aaron Cunningham and Gary Whelan. Tulla/Bodyke were well served by Sean Hogan, Manus Maguire, David McInerney, Sean McGrath, Alan Leamy and Shane McNamara.

Wolfe Tones: Paul Hogan, Gary Whelan, Joe McAuley, Niall Murphy, Stephen Simmonds, Stephen McInerney, John Madigan, Sean Condron, Russell Logan (0-1), John Guilfoyle (0-1), Daniel Gallery (0-2), Gary Leahy (0-5), Aaron Cunningham (0-3), Aidan McMahon (1-0), Kevin McCafferty (1-0).
Tulla-Bodyke: Sam Edbrooke (Bodyke), Gavin Moroney (Bodyke), Sean Hogan (Bodyke), John Fahy (Tulla), Manus Maguire (Bodyke), Sean McGrath (Bodyke), Alan Leamy (Tulla – 0-1), David McInerney (Tulla – 0-3), Danny Maguire (Bodyke), Shane McNamara (Tulla), Trevor Vaughan (Tulla – 0-3), Colm Fitzgerald (Tulla – 0-1), Ciaran Malone (Bodyke – 0-2), John Fitzgerald (Bodyke), Colm Halpin (Tulla – 1-1).
Sub: Niall Malone (Bodyke) for Fitzgerald.
Referee: Jim Hickey, Cratloe.

Ennistymon 3-13
Meelick 0-10

ENNISTYMON booked a place in the semi-final of the C championship with this comfortable win.
With the Malone brothers in sparkling form, the north Clare side held the upperhand. Tadhg Malone contributed 2-3 of his side’s final tally with Cathal chipping in with a tally of 0-8. Their third goal came from Enda Slattery.
Ennistymon will now play Parteen in next week’s semi-final.