Will history be repeated 40 years on?

Forty years ago, Clare recorded their only win in the Inter-Youths League Cup when they beat Dublin AUL in the final that was played in Clare.
Victory over Kilkenny next Sunday will give Clare their first final appearance in 40 years and, should this happen, the final will also be played at a Banner county venue setting up a chance for history to be repeated.
That’s the question being asked by Clare soccer enthusiasts this week as all look ahead to Sunday’s semi-final game in Kilkenny.
In the years since Clare’s only final appearance and victory, the game has grown hugely in the county. Forty junior teams currently take part in Clare adult competition and, while officials would welcome more teams at youths level, there is no doubt that the game is in a much
firmer footing in the county in 2011 that it was back in 1971 when Ennis man Stephen Kenny captained the side to victory.
The late Noel Ryan from Ennis was one of the star performers in the 1971 team, scoring some vital goals along the way. Such was his form in that campaign that it led to him being signed by Cork Celtic with whom he went on to play in the League of Ireland for a few seasons.
En route to that final Clare played Cork at Turner’s Cross and, because of inclement weather, the game was abandoned in the middle of the second half. The re-fixture saw Clare score a 4-1 win with Ryan and Michael Kenny each scoring twice.
Clare entertained Waterford in the semi-final and here Ryan scored twice and he went on to score the team’s second in the final.
Much of the credit for Clare’s march to this stage of the inter-youths league has been heaped on FAI full-time official in the county, Denis Hynes, who has taken charge of most of the team’s coaching sessions. Together with Mike Moloney, Eoin McNulty from Bridge United and Gary Seery from Avenue, they have taken charge of this squad’s march to the last four.
Since they first came together back in November, the Clare squad have had a dozen games.
While they carry the underdog’s tag to Derdimus Park in Kilkenny this week, there is an air of confidence throughout Clare soccer that they can get a result.

Mentor confident for Kilkenny game

Clare youths team mentor Mike Moloney has no doubt that Kilkenny will be very difficult opponents on Sunday but he is quietly confident that his charges will acquit themselves well.
He commented on the quality of the Leinster outfit this week. “They are very strong. I saw them five or six weeks ago and the standard of that game was high. They move the ball quickly and they are a well-drilled outfit. We are expecting quite a game,” Mr Moloney said.
“It’s a breeding ground for a lot of the Dublin clubs. The standard there is good. They have won their four games so far in this competition and with the winners of Sunday’s game having home advantage in the final, it adds to the interest in the game.
Clare has made no secret they would love to host the final that will be against Cork, Dublin or Wicklow.
It is a huge year for the game in Clare as the county league will host the AGM of the FAI in June. This is a week-long festival during which leading officials and international players will visit the clubs of the county.
Moloney believes his charges will make a bold bid to get to the final for the first time in 40 years.
“We take confidence from the way we have played to date and from our performance against Galway,” Moloney said.

Fit-again Corry pressing for inclusion

The Clare team to play Kilkenny on Sunday will be finalised when the squad have their final workout ahead of the game at the Cragg in Tulla on this Saturday.
Avenue’s Conor Mullin is definitely out of contention.
“He picked an a serious injury prior to our semi-final and will be out for a while,” team mentor Mike Moloney confirmed this week.
However, Tulla United’s Darragh Corry is fit again and in the running for a place in the starting line-up. He failed a fitness test in the warm-up for the semi-final against Galway. The Tulla teenager will press strongly for a place in the starting line-up.
The Clare team will be chosen from the following panel: Shane Collins, Patrick McGrath, Paraic O’Malley, Niall Whelan, Thomas McKeown, Darragh Corry (Tulla United); Ciarán MacMathúna, Eoin Keenan (Ennis Town); Jack Walsh, Colin Smith, Alan Roche, Eoin O’Loughlin, Darragh Sexton, Conor Mullin, Eoin Fitzgeald, Mark Roche (Avenue United); Mark Healy (Kilmaley-Fern Celtic); Dylan Blake, Ruairi Norrby (Lifford); Darragh Fitzgerald, Darren Murphy (Bridge United).