Night of nights for Mullagh publican

Mullagh publican, Noel Moroney had plenty to celebrate with his customers last weekend after making the headlines at two venues. He recorded a fine double at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night and he also made it to winners’ list at the Galway Stadium on the same night. It was a remarkable achievement, all the moreso as all three winners were racing for the first time.
Tiermana Gene, recorded the first part of the double at an early stage of the Limerick meeting. The black son of Blakstone Gene-Droopys Sile was in the inside trap in the second race on the card, an N 1/N2-graded 525.
After breaking smartly he led over the first two bends and held out for a one length win in a time of 29.82 from Bookie Buster who met trouble over the first two bends. Third home, one length back, was Bling Bling Dana, also making her debut for John Meehan, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Tiermana Star (Droopys Scolari-Sharons Promise) clinched the second part of the double for Noel Moroney. This was in the seventh race of the night, an A6/A7-graded 525 which saw the black soar in front at the second bend. While he remained in front for the rest of the race, he was hard pressed in the closing stages by Egmont Lola who recovered well after a slow start. At the line it was Tiermana Star by a neck in 29.29. to secure the double for the West Clare publican.
And on the same night Tiermana Streak, a little sister of Tiermana Star, was doing well in Galway in a heat of the Ballyvaughan Church A5 event. She began to move through the field down the back to lead at the the third and with a strong finish, the black swept home with nearly three lengths to spare with a clock of 29.70. It was the conclusion of a night of nights for the Mullagh man who handles all his three winners.
The combination of Donie Duggan, trainer from near Tulla and Peter Russell, Shannon,owner, again came out on top in Limerick on Friday night when their Peadars Touch won for the third time on the trot and for the ninth time overall. In an all Clare finish to the A2-graded 525, Peadars Touch was moving in top gear as he challenged for the lead at the third and move in front by the fourth. He cruised home for a five lengths win. The son of Kinloch Brae- Climates Kewell had a clock of 29.10. The runner-up was Rallying Raider, trained by Denis O’Malley for Dan Flynn, Meelick, who beat Cragghill Elm, owned by Sean Stack, Sixmilebridge, and John Healy, Killaloe, by a neck into third place.
It was also a rewarding trip from O’Briensbridge for Mrs.Mary Crotty whose Inislosky Swift (Kinloch Brae-Turbo Flight) was first home in an A3-graded 525. Showing good early pace, the black bitch was in front all the way for her impressive length and a half win in 29.18.
A newcomer to the winner’s prade ring was Mrs. Kim Knell with an address in Mountshannon. In the final race of the night her Canvas Star (Droopys Scolari-Herbs Best) led the way from trap five to score another trap-to-line win.
Her time for the trip was 29.02 when beating Rudi Blue, trained by Darryl Hopper, for Cheryl Hopper, Liscannor by five lengths. Beaten a length into third place was Portdrine Dodo owned in Cratloe by Meia and Ben Carroll.
Mary Crotty’s Inislosky Pinny finished third in an A1-graded-525 won by Barrack Ruso in a good 28.72, the fastest clock of the night.

Late charge wins for Take

Clare owners had a total of eight wins from the three nights of racing at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium.
Caherea owner Martin Griffin won the final race on the card on Friday night, an A3-graded 525 with Take in trap four. French Blaze in trap five looked the likely winner as they headed for the line but Take came storming through to win by a neck. The daughter of College Causeway-Nebraska West had a clock of 29.69.
Cooraclare owner-trainer, Ann Carey, also had a winner at the same meeting with Saucy Rascal in an A7-graded 525. Although baulked at the opening bend, the even money favourite recovered well and was full of running as she headed for the line to deny Clonusk Spice (Liam Shannon, The Burren) by a neck. The son of Shaneboy Lee-Lovely Jewel clocked 29.84 for the trip.
The third Clare winner of the night was Pat Madigan from the Killimer parish. Enjoying a run of good luck at this venue of late, the West Clare man won with Clune Topps in an S4-graded sprint race.
Already a winner of three races at this venue, the son of Astronomic-Derrylough Topps came out best in the run up to lead at the opening bend and draw clear for a four-lengths win in 19.13 from Ebony Blitz owned by another Killimer native, Frank Browne, now based in Quin.
Always in second place, Pinnacle Share owned by Pat O’Connor and Douglas Culligan, Ballyvaughan,was runner up in an A9-graded 525 won by Some Choice who clocked 29.60 for his eight lengths win.
Clune Girl, also owned by Pat Madigan, led at the second bend in an an A6-graded 525. However, Ballycrisane Boyo was the new leader at the third bend and he stayed in front for his two and a half lengths win in 29.47 from Clune Girl.
There were four winners from Clare at the Friday night meeting in Galway.
First in line was Michael O’ Donovan, Killaloe,whose Cotton Mill came out best ina n A6-graded 525.The money on favourite got off to a good start from trap two to lead at the opening bend. The son of Head Bound- Lake Lodge remained the front runner to register half a length win in 29.33 from Bumblebee Skippy.
Moyasta owner-trainer, TJ McMahon won the following race, an opening round heat of the Ballyvaughan Church A5 stakeover 525 yards. Out in front from the second bend, the son of Bodyshop Spiral-Greygrove Legacy, followed through for a three lengths win from Ballaugh Gift. Third home was Moneypoint Ray owned in Gort by Madeleine Walsh, The winner’s clock was 29.54.
Then came Noel Moroney’s (Mullagh) win with Tiermana Streak in heat four of the same stake. The black bitch was followed home by Hugs For Heather (Ann McMahon, Kilrush) and Donie Duggan’s Knoppogue Storm.
The fourth and final Clare win of the night came in an A4-graded 525 and the winning owner on this occasion was Don Gallery, Shannon with Ballycasey Star in trap one. Trained by Leo Kelly, the son of Hondo Black-Money Go Lucky was always second to Garryfine Ben but came through at the home bend to win by half a length in 29.22. Runner-up was Garryfine Ben owned by David Browne from Leiitrim, Kilmihil while Pat Be Slick took third place for Cooraclare’s Tommie Gallagher.
Kay Lynch’s Cragataska Flash was runner up in a heat of the Ballyvaughan Church stake: TJ McMahon’s Roo Story was third in an A3-graded 525 while Dicks Worldbound wasa similarly placed in an A2-graded 550.
Steragel Mine clocked 29.36 when recording the only Clare win of the night in Galway on Saturday night. Owned in Newmarket-on-Fergus by Brendan Carroll, the black son of Westmead Hawk-Sarges Beauty was the new front runner from the home bend and he drew clear to win by five and a half lengths.
The Stephen Murray trained Jasons Canty was runner up in a sprint race as was Monnmore Clare (Clare Purtill) in an A8/A9-graded 525.
Mad For Money, trained by Bernard Coffey for John Whelan, Sixmilebridge, challenged in the run home in an A4-graded 525 but failed to catch the 29.36 winner, Harbour Duchess, by half a length.
Whatwillyiudo was the best finisher in in an A3-graded 525 to get the better of the placed Knoggopoue Green (Donie Duggan) and Consequential (Tom Flanagan, Ennistymon). The time was 28.97 and the winning distance was four and a quarter lengths.
Donal Cooney’s Killuran May was third home in sprint race while his Killuran Tornado was also third in another sprint race.
Breda be Slick was also third placed forTommie Gallagher in an A4-graded 525.

Ocean Crash triumphs for Coffey family

The attractive card in Limerick on Saturday night featured seven finals, one of which went to the Coffey family from near Sixmilebridge.
Trained by Bernard Coffey, Oatfield, for his wife, Helen Coffey, O’Garney Rock had a fast 28.89 clock for his success in the Ocean Crash Stakes A2 final over 525 yards. Crowded in the run up from trap four, the brindled son of Ballymac Maeve-O’Garney Pearl managed to lead over the opening two bends on his way to a three-and-a-half-lengths win over New Route.
Leading from the second corner, the Kilmallock owned Shaneboy Spencer powered home for a one length win in 28.86 in the Scoil Rince Ui Nuallain A0 525 final. The runner-up was Donie Duggan’s Knoppogue Mate and third place was filled by the Dunmore-owned and Maurice Mullaney (Gort)-trained Avocan.
Slow away and impeded at the second bend, Lismadine Jack (Pat Troy, Kilkee and Conor McInerney, Clarecastle) finished third in the Ocean Crash Stakes and Limerick and Clare GOBA A2 Consolation final over 525 yards. The 28.94 winner was Hidden Jester.
A strong finish after a slow start was not good enough for Snuggie Boy in the Ocean Crash Stakes A5 final over 525 yards. Owned by Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus, the white and black finished in runner-up spot, four lengths behind Saucy Grow, the 29.17 winner.
Also a runner-up was Rallying Rumble ,owned by Dan Flynn, Meelick in the opening race of the night, the Limerick and Clare GOBA A4 race over 525 yards. Bumped at the second bend, Rallying Rumble finished well, three lengths behind Bohereen Dale, the 29.38 winner.

Thurles qualifier

A fast break and a strong finish earned runner-up spot for the Ennis owned Bunnow Glory in an opening round heat of the JJ McGrath Memorial €5,000 stake at the Thurles track on Saturday night.
A recent winner at this venue for Sean Heeney and  Patrick Cronin, the son of Loyal Honcho- Sully Glory was beaten a length-and-a-half by Donals Ace, the 29.75 winner.

Galway traffic arrangements
There will be special traffic arrangements in place at College Road, Galway on Saturday for the Galway- Cardiff Blues rugby game at 5pm.
After the game greyhound racing will commence at 8.15pm and dog owners and trainers will be allowed access at the main gate near the reception office from 7.15-7.45pm to weigh their dogs.