SOME of Galway’s great gaels including Sixmilebridge native Niall McInerney were remembered at a gala fundraiser on Friday.
Friday night’s Galway card was a Gala fundraising night organised by Liam Mellows hurling and camogie club, a huge crowd descended on the Collage Road venue. Eleven exciting races took place, a number of which were run in memory of some of the great patrons of the club throughout its history Michael O’Brien, MickeyEllwood, Dermot McSweeney, Jimmy Duggan, Niall McInerney and Pat Hughes.
Racing towards the opening bend in the Niall McInerney memorial race which was an A3 graded contest Moneygall Aaron and Shanakyle Park disputed the lead with the latter holding a fractional advantage on the inner rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back the leader ran a little wide but he still led the improving Dryland Podge by two lengths at halfway.
Rounding the home turn the leader again ran wide and this gave the Johnny Burke & Noel Coote of Ennis owned Dryland Podge (Confident Rankin & Cronoly Bolt) his chance and he gradually gain the upper hand to prevail by three parts of a length in 29.57. Niall McInerney was a native of Sixmilebridge and won an All-Ireland with Galway in 1980.
As the traps rose for the A9 graded affair Swinford Mike and Malt Sally were both smartly into stride with Rathmeehan Molly and Montrore Star also close up as they approached the opening bend. Turning down the back Swinford Mike continued to show the way until the halfway mark where the John Browne of Ballyea owned and trained Rathmeehan Molly swept to the front down the wide outside. Exiting the back straight Rathmeehan Molly (Droopys Sydney & Rathmeehan Ruby) kicked right away from the rivals and raced to a five and half length success over Malt Sally in 29.57.
The top graded contest of the night was the A2 graded ninth contest over 525 yards and as the traps rose Fast Fit Pennie was just a bout best away along the inner ahead of Show No Fear with Ballygraigue Ten also prominent as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend Fast Fit Pennie tracked superbly and entering the back straight the John Quinn of Gort owned daughter of Doratos Wildcat and Fast Fit Meave led Fortune Sydney by two lengths. Racing along the back straight Fast Fit Pennie increased her advantage with every stride and she maintained the tempo all the way to the line to score by eight lengths in 29.20.
Saturday night’s Galway card featured three sets of mini stake semi-finals, the second semi-final of the A5 Dual Distance Stake produced a right ding dong battle with the John Croker owned Crokers Barky just getting the better of Fast Fit Rex by a head with Fantasy Penny two and half lengths adrift in third place in 29.76. The trio were prominent throughout with Crokers Barky just shading the issue rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back Fast Fit Rex got to the front but he was closely attended by his two rivals as they approached the third bend .Off the home bend the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Crokers Barky(Doratos Wildcat & Crokers Ruby) swung wide to challenge beef leading close home to land the prize.
The outcome of the Novice 525 yards contest was in little doubt from as early as the second bend as the Donal Duggan of Tulla trained Gob Smacked had her rivals on the stretch from an early stage. Away smartly from her trap six berth the Mary Flynn and Irene O’Sullivan owned daughter of Broadstand Bono and Blacklabel Magic disputed the lead with Positive Tom on the run towards the opening bend but grabbing the rails berth on the turn Gob Smacked set sail for home early in the back straight. Eight clear exiting the back straight she extended the advantage to ten lengths over Positive Tom at the line in 29.28.
Racing towards the opening bend in the A7 graded contest Lissatouk Suzy and Pierview Brindy disputed the lead on either side of the track but rounding the bend the former ran slightly off the rails allowing Glasheen Magic to briefly strike the front before Lissatouk Suzy regained the advantage racing passing the halfway mark. Approaching the third bend Lissatouk Suzy led on the inner as the Patrick Sheehy owned Battling Jetaway closed up behind. Off the home bend Battling Jetaway (Dromana Buck-Paradise Asia) got her gap along the rails and the Declan McDonagh of Liscannor trained lady edged on to score by a length at the line in 29.92.
There was three Clare winners at the Limerick Track on last Thursday night last, first up was Inslokey Petal for Mary Crotty from O’Briensbridge, a daughter of Grangeview Ten and Blastoff Rosinio this was career win number four in 29.15. Knoppogue Blue came up trumps for Tulla’s Donie Duggan with a 29.15 victory, a son of Magical Bale and Notimetotalk this was her sixth career success. Snuggie Archie recorded his thirteenth career win in 29.57 for Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Myles Cummins, he is a homebred son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl.
