Snowdrop best in Phone final

Clare trainer Donie Duggan and owner Siofra McInerney from Manus, Clarecastle, were the headline makers in the Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night when their Manus Snowdrop won the big race of the night, the Fonez-Sim Free Phones A6 final over 525 yards and worth €1,800 to the winner.
Manus Snowdrop in trap three and Nodandawink in the outside trap were best away and as they rounded the opening bend they went on by a few lengths from Windfield Lass in trap five. Passing the halfway mark, Manus Snowdrop began to take control and the daughter of Crash-Baby Jean gradually pulled away to score a five and three parts of a length win from Longstone Hawk. Nodandawink was back three parts of a length for third place. The time for the race was 29.42.
There was also a Clare winner in the chief supporting race, the Fonez-Sim Frerer Phones over 525 yards. Noel Hehir’s Cool Ivy Hill went off the even-money favourite from trap six but it was the trap five occupant, Mays Dazzler,who set the pace to lead to the opening bend where another Inagh owned runner, Pal Duke (Colman O’Loughlin) slipped through to lead down the far side.
Challenging for the lead as they came from the back, Cragbrien Hondo was well placed to become the new leader as they turned for home. Despite a great, late challenge from Mays Dazzler, Cragbrien Hondo (Hondo Black-Rachels Picture) held out to win by three parts of a length in a time of 29.37 to register a good win for Ennis owners Martin Cronin and Jack Markham.
Noel Hehir from Inagh fared better in the opening race, an A8- graded affair over 525 yards, with his Shift Ivy Hill winning what was just her second outing. The money-on favourite was smartly away from trap one to lead by two lengths in the run to the opening bend. She was still in front down the back and the daughter of Head Bound- Barntick Live stayed in prime position to win by two and a half lengths in 29.42 from Faithful Lillie.
Miltown Malbay owner Michael O’Brien kept the Banner flag flying when taking the third race on the card with Knockdine Black. This was an A5-graded 525 and in front by a length when rounding the opening bend, Knockdine Black was joined by the even-money favourite, Outback Major (trap one). Between the last two bends Jules Flyer and Outback Major had spells in front but Knockdine Black (Hondo Black-Fastaway Baby) came again as they headed home and went on to win by a length and a half in 30.17 from Outback Major.
Alice Rumble, trained by Michael Downes, came third in a 700-yard race won by Dukes Bonnie in 40.36.
Also placed third in an S3-graded 350 yards race was Manus Hero (John McInerney, Manus). The race went to Set For Glory (19.32).
There was a very close finish to an A4-graded 525 yard race which saw Snuggie Bear and Tyrur Paudi go clear of the field racing down the back straight. Rounding the third bend Snuggie Bear went on by two lengths but he was joined on either side off the home bend by Tyrur Paudi and Tiermana Vieri. However, in the tight finish it was the Simon McDonagh-owned Tyrur Paudi that prevailed, winning by a short head from Snuggie Bear (Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus) in a time of 30.26. Beaten a neck in third place was Tiermani Vieri (Frank Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus).
Another Newmarket-on-Fergus trainer and owner, Myles Cummins, ended the meeting in fine style for the Banner contingent when taking the bumper A3-graded affair over 525 yards with the reserve runner, Snugborough Gent. This was a fairly open race with Borris Sox setting the pace from trap three.
At the opening bend she led from Tommy Tippy, Snugborough Gent and Cragbrien Black and down the back the Quin-owned Carhugar Bonsie challenged for the lead. However, when turning for home it was Snugboroigh Gent who was the one to watch.
The son of Group Rooster- Christians Lady came with a great run to take control and win the race by three lengths from Carhugar Bobsie, who is trained by Michael Downes for the Clare Connection syndicate from the South East Clare village. Beaten half a length into third place was Cragbrien Black (Martin Cronin, Ennis and Robbie Markham). The winner’s clock was 29.52.

Two Clare dogs make it into Castlegar final

There were two Clare qualifiers from three semi-final heats of the Castlegar Hurling Club A4-graded 525 in Galway last Thursday night.
The opening heat went to Shyan Patchjoe, owned in Kilmihil by Monica Callinan and Mick Enright.
The son of Shelbourne Aston-Shyan Princess broke well to lead from TJ McMahon’s Bodyshop Legacy. They avoided trouble at the rear and as they raced along the back, the winner was in front by two lengths.
However, as they turned for home, Mine Chariot was putting in a big challenge in the inside and after a great battle between the pair, Shyan Patchwork held out to win by a neck in a time of 29.56.
Mine Chariot, the runner-up, is owned and trained by Frank Browne, Quin. In third place and outside the qualifiers was Bodyshop Legacy.
Heat two was won in 29.56 by the Strokestown-owned Bocks First Blue, who beat Phils Boy by three and a half lengths.
The final heat was won in 29.85 by the reserve runner Korkhina, who got the better of Dusty Magpie by nearly two lengths.
The most impressive winner of the night was the Paddy Burke-owned Bumblebee Bingo in an A3-graded 525.
The daughter of Ballymac Maeve-Hidleberg won the race by five and a quarter lengths in 29.10 from So They Say. Third home was Coolready Shaun, owned by Billy Murphy, O’Briensbridge.
The Hughie Keleghan-owned Linger Awhile (Ballymac Maeve-Montevani) showed plenty of improvement from her debut outing to win the second race on the card, an S9-graded 350. She won by two lengths from Mary Browne’s Burnpark Nani in 19.48.
Third placed was Killuran Blonde (Ciaran Cooney, Broadford).
Viper Jack (Michael Clancy, Kilrush) was third home in an S8-graded sprint race won in 19.42 by the locally owned Willrose Jack.
It was also a good night for the Quin contingent when members of the Malachys Bar syndicate saw their first-time runner, Hurry Back, prevail in an S6-graded sprint.
Coolarne Billy in trap three was first to show but as they came to the opening bend he was joined by Hurry Back in trap five.
The Quin-owned son of Head Bound-Janaan then shot into the lead in the inside lane and from here on was in control of the race, winning by six lengths in19.29 to make it a fine debut performance.
The runner-up was ­Coolarne Billy and third home was Fernpark Phanter (Anna Carey, Cooraclare).
There was another Clare win in the following race, which was the an A6-graded 525.
The money-on favourite was the Kieran Browne-trained Burnpark Royal in trap one and he made no mistake with a lively break to lead with the first few strides from Confused Maeve and market rival Tyrur Lorraine.
Down the far side the son of Royal Impact-Burnpark Cuckoo extended his lead and at the line had five lengths on Tyrur Lorraine. The time was 29.65. Third place was filled by Aulton Percy, owned by Pat Hogan from Ennis.
The pace-setting Gleannrue Eddie was caught on the the home bend by the Aidan Mannion-owned Ballyboro Boy, who deprived Quin of another win on the night.
He survived the late challenge from the Frank Browne-owned and trained Chrisola to win by two and a quarter lengths lengths in 29.52.

Spotlight turns on Gort owners

The spotlight was on Gort owner-trainer Jennie Griffin and Nick Bailey at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on Friday night when their Jennick won the feature race of the night, the James Lally Memorial 550, which doubled up with the Kilbeacanty National School Buster Race.
From the start, Tintreach Tully in trap three just led from Snuggie Belle in four but as they approached the bend Jennick (Hondo Black-Soviet Victoria) in trap two got a great inside run to take control of matters going down the back. Jennick raced on to win the race by three and a quarter lengths in 30.57 from the staying on Wood Crash, owned in Kilrush by Carl Maguire and Adrian Ennis. Third spot went to Snuggie Babe, owned by Breda Casey, Newmarket-on-Fergus.
The top-graded race of the night was the open 525, which was won by the favourite Tyrur Gasco in 29.04 from Crafty Fandango and Snuggie Babe (Breda Casey).
Michael McGuane from Inagh also had a nice win when his Inagh Heineken returned to winning ways to take a very exciting A2-graded 575. When the traps lifted the Martin Keane-owned Ad Lib and Kilcornan Kanu disputed the lead from Inagh Heineken on the run to the opening bend. As they came to the halfway stake Ad Lib was out in front by two lengths but the field tightened considerably approaching the home turn. It was at this stage that Inagh Heineken, the 5/4 favourite, got a fine run on the inside and at the line the son of Brett Lee-Inagh Spice held out to win by a neck from Kilcornan Manu (Master Conor Cleary, Miltown Malbay). The time here was 32.23.
West Clare owners were on top in the opening race of the night, an A9-graded 525. It was won by the Tommie Gallagher-owned Good Slick, trained by Seamus Fahy. The son of Ballymac Maeve-Bling Bling Flo was drawn in trap two and rounding the opening bend led by a length from Headofthebank. Extending his lead down the back, Good Slick was now well in control and came home an easy winner by nearly four lengths in 29.47 for his maiden success. The runner-up was Tromora Devil (David Hogan, Quilty) and five lengths back for third spot was In Bound (Eimear Lillis).
This was the first part of a double for Tommie Gallagher, whose Master Slick, owned and trained by the Cooraclare native, won an A5-graded 525. Setting the pace from trap five, the son of Slick Leo-Bodyshop Flight was three lengths in front after the opening bend, where Ballyer Bullet slipped through to go second. However, there was no catching Master Slick, who stayed in front to win by five and a quarter lengths in a time of 29.72 to record his 12th win.
The Monivea-owned Found in Oola won an S7-graded sprint in 19.70 from Lowland Deuce with Aristo Duchess (Diarmaid and Eoin Garrahy, Clonlara) taking third spot.
Hitting the front coming from the back straight, Winter Dream won an S8-graded 525 yards race in 29.86. The winning distance was two and a half lengths from Tromora Hawk, who was making his debut for Quilty owner Pat Hohan. Michael McGuane’s Newcomer, Inagh Hydrogen, was third.
Ballyea-based owner-trainer John Browne had the winner of the fourth race on the card, Rathnmeehan Yaiza, with a time of 19.81 This was a sprint for S5 graders and Rathmeehan Yaiza beat Georgias Girl by one and a quarter lengths. There was a crowded field as they approached the first bend, where Wilbrook Dame just shaded it from Rinwood Val. With trouble among the rest of the field as they made their way to the home turn, Rathmeehan Yaiza (Balltmac Maeve-Rathmeehan Mauirta) came storming through the front runners to take first spot from Georgias Girl. Wilbrook Dame, the favourite and owned by Michael Davoren, Ennistymon, was third home.
Wilbrook Fawn, also owned by the Ennistymon man, was third in an S4-graded sprint race in which Scotchrathrocket made all the running to win by two lengths in 19.50.
Frank Browne from Quin won the last race on the card, an A2-graded 525, with his Mine Echo ( Hades Rocket-Jumeiran Jess). Bellaghy Twink and Kenny Be Slick set the pace but they got in each other’s way rounding the opening bend where Mine Echo in trap four slipped through along the inside. Passing halfway, Mine Echo led by three lengths and railing tightly around the final two bends she stayed on well to defeat Bellaghy Twink by four lengths in 29.46.

Coursing loses a great friend and supporter

Coursing lost a great friend and supporter through the death last week of Noel Murphy, Cappa South, Sixmilebridge. Aged 71 years, he was a native of Kiltannon, Tulla and his death at his home on May 18 came after a short illness.
He was married to Ann Reddan, a member of the widely known Sixmilebridge family whose name is synonymous with greyhounds and coursing. His late father-in-law, Mickey Reddan, was the legendary greyhound trainer and his brother-in-law, Tony Reddan, is the well-known coursing judge.
With this background, it was only a matter of time before Noel involved himself in the sport. He set up kennels at his own home and while he did not achieve any outstanding success over the years, it was a proud occasion for him  when his fawn bitch, Starfromscratch, gave him his first qualifier for the national meeting in Clonmel three years ago. From the well-bred Matt Hyland- Cooga Annie litter, she won her Oaks qualifier at the Ennis- Clarecastle meeting. Trained by Noel, she was registered under the names of his wife Ann, and daughter, Emer.
A retired member of An Garda Sicohána, Noel served in Cobh for a number of years before joining the immigration staff in Shannon, where he spent most of his working career up to the time of his retirement.
There was a huge turnout of coursing people and friends from all over Clare and Ireland at the removal of his remains from McMahon’s funeral home to Sixmilebridge church last Friday evening and again at the mass and funeral to Ballysheen cemetery the following day.
A Sixmilebridge GAA jersey was placed on the coffin and a guard of honour was provided by Sixmilebridge GAA and Tradaree Coursing Club.
At the mass, tributes were paid to Noel for his community involvements, in particular the local GAA club. As an officer and member, he gave outstanding help to the club in various projects.
He is survived by his wife, Ann; son Declan; daughters, Aideen (Nagle) and Emer (Considine); sons-in-law, Cathal and Brian; daughter-in-law, Orla; grand-children Cillian, Evan and Aisling, sisters Ena and Chrissie; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends.

No local winners

Clare owners drew a blank over the two nights of racing at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium.
Two semi-final heats of the Liberty Landscaping Ltd Mike Ryan Memorial A5 were decided on Friday night. Adamant Causeway was the fast 28.97 winner of heat one, winning by a big margin from Looks Like Track. Third place went to TyrapWhite (Sean McAllen, Shannon). Sun Fantasy was the 29.08 winner of heat two.
Placed in their races on Saturday night were Rathorpe Hawk (Martin Kelly, Tubber) and Middlepark Mal (Michael Marrinan, Ennistymon)
Bumped in the run up, Inislosly Magoo, owned by Mary Crotty, O’Briensbridge, finished well to take runner-up spot in the Crecora GAA A1 550 final. The winner by one and a half lengths in 30.23 was the Tarbert-owned Six Joys (Top Honcho-Gold Seacrest.