CITY TRIBUNE
St Thomas’ come out on top in thriller against the ‘Bridge
St Thomas’ 1-23
Clarinbridge 2-19
(after extra-time)
WHAT an epic senior championship game this was, but at the end of it all, the 2016 county champions are still standing having been pushed to their edge by a gallant and exciting Clarinbridge side.
As good a contest as has been seen in this year’s championship, if not the best, with St Thomas’ showing why they are regarded as the favourites for the 2018 county title, taking everything the ‘Bridge could throw at them, and still finding the wherewithal to come out the right side of the result.
Leading 1-15 to 1-10, Kevin Lally’s side looked in a dominant position entering the final quarter, but 1-3 without reply by Clarinbridge rocked them to the core.
Desperate times called for cool heads and after Evan Niland pointed a controversial 65’ to hand Clarinbridge the lead, Kenneth Burke came off the bench to fire over a last-gasp equaliser from out on the sideline to force extre-time.
Clarinbridge continued to go at St Thomas’ in extra-time and looked the likely winners in the first period, leading for the entirety after influential midfielder Sean Kilduff pointed less than 10 seconds after the throw-in to make it 2-14 to 1-16.
Cooney responded for his side but two quick scores by Niland (free) and Patrick Foley, who had a major impact when introduced, put Jarlath Niland’s team two in front.
Cooney replied again for St Thomas’ before Mark Kennedy and Darragh Burke swapped scores to leave the ‘Bridge one point in front at the change of ends. It was from there that St Thomas’ took over, however, despite conceding to Sean Kilduff right from the throw-in again.
Sean Skehill replaced the injured Fintan Burke at the end of normal time and he negated the influence of Cian Salmon who had been posing problems.
Up the other end, St Thomas’ re-introduced Brendan Farrell who created havoc at the edge of the square and nailed two vital scores along with two more for Darragh Burke (one free) as St Thomas’ secured their berth in the final four after an exceptional 80 plus minutes action.
It felt like an injustice in many ways to see anyone lose this one and for Clarinbridge it will be a bitter pill to swallow following their display, to a man and in particular Alan Armstrong, Shane Bannon, Sean Kilduff, TJ Brennan, Niland, Salmon and Kennedy.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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From this week’s Galway City Tribune – More than 20 taxi drivers in the city were issued on-the-spot fines last week during an operation to nab those not accepting card payments.
The ‘sting’ was conducted by the National Transport Authority (NTA), the Taxi Regulation Office and the Gardaí over the course of several days last week.
It stemmed from complaints that several taxis in Galway City were not accepting card payments – legislation was introduced last September obliging taxi drivers to accept credit and debit cards.
Many drivers sought cash payments while telling customers that their card machines were either not working or that the terminal could not get a signal.
A senior source close to the Taxi Regulation Office told the Galway City Tribune that they had received “quite a number of complaints” from customers stating that drivers were not accepting payments by card.
The source said that members of the public were engaged to use the taxi services as part of the operation and some of them reported that the drivers had indicated from the outset that they would only accept cash payment.
“Since the beginning of the year, the taxi fares in Galway City have received an increase and the drivers are required to provide an in-car system of payment for customers.”
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the June 2 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.
From this week’s Galway City Tribune – A well-known community activist in the east of the city has appealed for reasoned discussions about plans to accommodate over 300 male asylum seekers in Ballybrit.
Former local election candidate Michael Tully, who is based in Ballybane, said the debate around the proposal to house 302 people in empty office blocks in Ballybrit Business Park was happening at two extremes, while many people living locally were “somewhere in the middle”.
“There were protests organised up there this week by radicals,” said Mr Tully of demonstrations which have been orchestrated by known members of the far right.
“But there are people that think it is unsuitable because they’re putting 300 men in basically a warehouse that’s surrounded by high fences with CCTV cameras all around it. It’s like a prison or an army barracks – where’s the humanity in that? These are people we are talking about.
“There are genuine concerns about it being 300 men, because that’s unhealthy, in the same way it would be unhealthy if it was 300 women. There will be people in there that have families and would be better off mixed with them,” he said.
Media debates about the centres rarely featured nuanced opinions that were based in genuine concern, he said, and tended to favour more radical voices.
“Listen to any of the radio debates or TV discussions and it’s always the two sides shouting each other down. On one side, they’re calling people terrorists and on the other, everyone who has any concern is labelled right wing.”
Mr Tully, who is involved with several community projects locally including the Merlin Allotments and setting up an orienteering group, said there should be a more concerted effort to integrate asylum seekers in the community ahead of moving them into an area.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the June 2 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.
From this week’s Galway City Tribune – City-wide water outages are expected next week as local authority staff down tools in a dispute over allowances.
Water Services staff in Galway City Council and Galway County Council are due to strike on Wednesday.
Trade union SIPTU predicted the industrial action will cause widespread outages and disruption to the water supply to businesses and homes across Galway. A boil water notice may also be issued.
It’s understood emergency cover and supply to hospitals may be maintained but secondary schools could be impacted on the day the Leaving Cert starts.
Union representatives met with management yesterday (Thursday) but no deal was reached. Pickets are planned for Terryland Waterworks, City Hall on College Road and the Council depot at Sandy Road.
“The City Council has no contingency plan,” said David Samuels, Assistant Industrial Organiser with SIPTU.
(Photo: Terryland waterworks)
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the June 2 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.
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