Michael and Liam Fitzgerald being presented trophy by Dylan Brennan Galway track trainer, Colm Fitzgerald and Oran Fitzgerald.
Saturday night’s Galway card featured some race week stake semi-final action with the Final of the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust A3 Stake the feature contest of eleven.
As the traps rose for the feature contest, Menmal King was just about best away ahead of Flyers Kirsty and Tinks Abbie and rounding the opening bend he led by almost a length. Rounding the bend though the Michael Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned Flyers Kirsty railed superbly to edge into a one length lead entering the back straight. Racing down the back Flyers Kirsty led Tinks Abbie by almost two lengths and once again tracking well out of the back straight the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Arminta then dug deep in the home straight to score by a length from Tinks Abbie in 28.97.
Friday night’s card was dominated by Mini Sweepstake Semi Finals in various grades the finals of which will take place on Saturday August 5th but there was no doubting the story of the night and that was the treble landed by The Flaherty Family Syndicate with the three Rinnwood winners on the night namely Leo, Duke and Gem from the very successful Pestana-Rinnwood Pearl litter. A further backstory to the achievement was that the dam Rinnwood Pearl (Droopys Cian-Rinnwood Niamh) was part of a kennel hat-trick along with Rinnwood Mikey and Amy back in 2017. The Family Syndicate now made up of Proud Grandfather Ted his son Dessie and granddaughter Niamh who has been in charge of the current litter.
In the first semi-final of the Friends of Galway A4 Stake all six runners were in contention as they rounded the first bend, Creevy Bird took a narrow advantage along the inner from Blueway Best and Derra Dolly. Racing down the back Creevy Bird opened up a four length advantage over her rivals headed by Derra Dolly who did begin to close nearing the third bend. Rounding the home bend the leader drifted wide and this allowed the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned Derra Dolly(Droopys Sydney-Astro Abby) her chance and the Stephen Murray trained lady led close home to score by three parts of a length in 29.43.
In the Novice 525 yards contest race number two on the card Conclusion and Rosshill Daithi disputed the early lead with Andy’s Jet joining the pair rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back the trio were covered by less than a length but exiting the far side the Joe and Brendan Long of Ballyea owned Rosshill Daithi took command of the contest as the son of Good News and Magical Elsie drew clear to defeat Conclusion by four and a half lengths in 29.66.
There was an eye catching performance by De Gander Pen on last Saturday night’s Limerick Card owned by the Ore-Yont Syndicate which comprises of 18 gentlemen from the Quin area, this smashing son of Droopys Sydney and Glengar Badminton recorded a career best and seventh career win in 28.49, he is trained by Doon native Pat Buckley.
On last Thursday night of the twelve races on offer, five Clare owners were in the winner’s enclosure in Limerick.
Trembling Gloria recorded her first career success for Ennistymon’s Tom Flanagan with a 29.26 victory in an A5 graded contest, Gloria is a daughter of Romeo Recruit and Trembling Juliet.
Ryans Lemon, a son of Droopys Cain and Lemon Abigail, trained by Patreen’s Joe Collins for the Shankyle Syndiacte recorded a seventh career victory in 29.57.
Dardis Whitepaws followed up from last week’s victory with another one in 29.32 from Donal and Darren Cooney from O’Callaghan Mills, this was this son of Dorotas Wildcat and Urban Fashion, a third win on the bounce and eight in total.
Quilty Horace, a son of Droopys Cain and Klockwork Tip, recorded a sixth career win in 29.04, for Seamus Burke from Ennis, and is trained by Cooraclare’s Paddy Conlon.
The fastest performance of the evening went to Amy’s Jack for Shannon’s Peter Russell, with a 28.85 victory, leading from trap to line this was career win number 8 for this son of Skywalker Rafa and Notimetotalk who is trained by Donie Duggan,
The greyhound community lost a beloved member this week with the sad passing of Úna O’Sullivan who was based in Kildare but has very strong Clare roots and connections. Along with her husband John, Úna was a great supporter, owner, breeder, and sponsor of greyhound sport.
In recent times, she owned some hugely talented trackers including Ballymore Border,
John and Úna were the proud sponsors of the Juvenile Derby at Harold’s Cross for a number of years and their love for the sport has never wavered, while they also had a huge involvement in coursing. Also the passing of Kitty Warren of Kilmaley at Milford Hospice last weekend left her family and many friends in deep sadness.
