The winning team with the trophy

The fourth annual Iniscealtra Community Shield was a great success, with eight teams competing for the trophy. This was a charity event, and a total of €800 was raised for Ennis and Clare Samaritans to help in their invaluable work.

Group A

Group A was action packed, and saw some close matches but no draws. The shape of the group became clear after the first two rounds however, and the final two matches decided who finished as group winners, and who would prop up the table. The Babies proved too strong for the Allstars, who went through as runners up. In the final match there was not much between the teams, but The Giants gave it their all and Ardnataggle ended up bottom of the group.

Mixed Bag Allstars

Ardnataggle Athletic

Cider Babies

The Giants

Group B

Group B was an unpredictable group, and went right to the wire. Before the last round it was unclear who would go through, and it looked like Maghera had slipped up with defeat to the Patriots. However a thrilling final game saw Mixed Bag come back from behind to snatch the points from Absolute, allowing Maghera to progress.

The Complete Mixed Bag

Absolute FC

Maghera Marvels

East Clare Patriots

Knockout stages

In the first semi final Mixed Bag Allstars came up against a Patriots team who were firing on all cylinders, and had few chances to make their mark. Three clinical finishes decided the fixture and East Clare Patriots went through.

The second semi final was a cracker, and was perhaps a closer game than the score suggests. Maghera, having gone two down, battled hard and got right back into it with a second half goal. They pressed, but the Babies defended resolutely and snatched a third goal late on thus sealing victory.

Going into the final both teams had looked impressive, and the outcome seemed difficult to predict. However, East Clare Patriots, who’d had a great run, seemed to finally run out of steam and the match was dominated by a still strong Cider Babies team. The champions’ record speaks for itself, winning all five of their matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding only two.

Gerry Dobbin, director of Samaritans in Clare, presented the winners with the Iniscealtra Community Shield, which can be seen proudly displayed in Powers’ Bar in Tulla… at least until next year’s tournament!

Unfortunately Lisdoonvarna have pulled out of this year’s tournament at the last minute. Luckily a replacement team have been found, and are eager to join in the fun. ‘East Clare Patriots’ are in Group B. Full details below.

The draw has been made, and the details have been finalised for this year’s tournament.

The venue is the Scariff GAA all-weather pitch on Sat May 28th.

There will be two groups of four teams. Each team will play the other teams in their group in a league. Standard points allocation applies. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knock out stages (semi finals, final).

Registration of teams and payment in full must happen before start of play.

Registration for Group A will take place between 10am and 10.15am; Group A matches will kick off at 10.30am.

            Group A Teams:          

• Mixed Bag Allstars
• Ardnataggle Athletic
• The Giants
• Cider Babies

Registration for Group B will take place between 12pm and 12.15pm; Group B matches will kick off at 12.30pm.

Any team that delays the start of a game by 5 mins will concede that game 1-0.

           Group B Teams:  

• East Clare Patriots
• The Complete Mixed Bag
• Absolute FC
• Maghera Marvels

Rules of Competition

1. Eight-a-side matches, eighteen minutes long in group stage, 25 minutes long in knockout stage, no half-time break. Captains will toss up to choose end before match. Max 2 subs allowed – roll-on, roll-off, player coming off must leave the pitch before the sub comes on. Subs allowed on/off as many times as they wish.

2. Ball allowed to be played in the air as in normal 11-a-side game.

3. Ball kicked out over fence – play restarted by opposing team with throw in or goal kick where it left field.

4. Ball touches back of net – keeper’s ball.

5. Goalkeeper area marked on pitch, keeper can only handle ball inside this (but is free to move in and out of area, as are all players).

6. All free kicks direct, opposition must be 5 yards away. No run up is permitted for penalties.

7. Goalkeeper touches ball with hand from back pass, or keeps ball in his hands for more than 6 seconds – penalty.

8. In league stages: if two teams are level on points, goal difference will count, then goals scored, then the head to head record. If still level then a penalty shoot out will be held.

9. Knock-out stages: if teams are level- penalty shoot-out; each team takes 5 penalties, then sudden death. A sub may take a penalty. No player can take a second penalty till all team mates have taken one

10. Play will not be stopped unless: injury to goalkeepers, serious injury to outfield player, or head injury. Otherwise play will continue at all times. The ball can bounce of the fence without play stopping. Attention should be received off the field of play.

11. There will be no added time, except for stoppages mentioned above.

12. Each team is expected to bring a set of matching shirts or bibs.

13. Each team or player is advised to be covered by insurance (individual or Group) as Mixed Bag United will not accept any liability for injuries or accidents that occur on the day, nor will it accept any liability for the personal belongings of players.

14. Each team should bring water bottles. The Red Cross will be present, but you might like to bring basic first aid supplies.

Disciplinary Rules.

The referee’s decision is final. All the normal rules of soccer apply. In addition:

1. If a player receives one yellow card in a match, that caution will not be carried into the next match, and the player will be caution free for the next game.

2. If a player receives two yellow cards in the same match, he will be dismissed and will be ineligible for the next game.

3. If a player receives a straight red card he will be dismissed and ineligible for the next game.

4. If a player receives a straight red card for any of the following offences, he will be dismissed immediately and will be ineligible for the remainder of the tournament:

 Violent Conduct; Serious foul-play; Spitting

The director of the Ennis and Clare Samaritans will present the winning team with the Iniscealtra Community Shield.

Any queries contact Phil (087-2368777).

Best of luck in the tournament.

League 1 registration will begin at 10.00, and matches will commence at 10.30 sharp.

League 2 registration will begin at 12.00, and matches will commence at 12.30 sharp.

The knockout stage will commence around 14.30.

Presentation of the Shield should be around 16.00

* if teams are not ready to fulfil any fixture then the game will be awarded to the opposition *

If you would like to enter a team then contact Phil at 087 2368777. You can guarantee your place with a €50 deposit to be received before Friday 6^th May. You can have up to 10 players in your team. The cost of entry is €10 per player.

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS EVENT WILL GO TO THE CLARE BRANCH OF SAMARITANS

In Group A the teams were:

Mixed Bag Allstars

Johnny’s FC

Boru’s Titans

Fabulicious – who didn’t show up so lost their matches 1-0 as per the rules.

Scores:

and in Group B the teams were:

Clare Corinthians

Absolute FC

United Men of Tulla

Ogonneloe Soccer Appreciation Society

Scores:

The first of the two semi finals saw familiar rivals Mixed Bag Allstars take on Absolute FC. Mixed Bag started strongly, and early on took a two goal lead. In response Absolute redoubled their efforts and deservedly got back on level terms, before taking a one goal lead. They held on to this as Mixed Bag searched for the equaliser, and just before the end as the boys in tangerine pressed forward Absolute scored again to book their place in the final.

The second semi final was a tight affair, seeing Tulla take on a youthful Johnny’s FC. Goalscoring chances were few, but one such chance was converted by Tulla and this looked enough to see them progress. Johnny’s didn’t give up however, and just before the end struck an equaliser. Consequently the game was decided in a penalty shootout, where Tulla’s experience saw them confidently progress to the final.

The final, then, saw a rematch of the Group B game between Absolute FC and The United Men of Tulla. The first game had been a somewhat heated affair, but both teams showed good discipline to make for a thrilling and sporting final. Played at a fast tempo Tulla took a crucial lead, only for Absolute to score, thus making for a thrilling finale. Tulla again took the lead in the second half, and weathered the storm well as Absolute searched for a way back in to the game. In the end it was not to be, and Tulla held on to be crowned champions.

Thanks go in abundance to our referees – Owen and Declan – for their expert performances on the day. The Red Cross also deserve our gratitude for the invaluable service they provided, attending to a couple of nasty knocks during the proceedings. Thanks also go to Scariff GAA Club for the kind use of their facilities for the day, for which they took no fee. Consequently every cent raised was donated to Samaritans to help them carry out their invaluable work.

Our refs

An enjoyable family social get together after a chilly match.

John the Hammer takes his team's defeat out on Andrew the Spurs man!

To mark the festive season we played a long game in chilly weather on the astroturf, followed by a meal and family social in a nearby pub. Thirteen hardy souls braved icy roads to play, and a fast paced game was enjoyed by all. Some past members of the club turned up, which made for a great re-union meet.