Former Offaly hurlers in greyhound winning syndicate

TWO former Offaly hurlers were part of a syndicate that had a winner at Mullingar Greyhound Stadium on Saturday evening.

In an A5 contest the aptly named Joachim won his first race in five starts for The- Faithful-Lads-Syndicate which consists of former Offaly hurlers Pat Cleary, Kevin Martin with two more Tullamore men in Sean Beatty and Ollie Ryan.

Pat Cleary, a former hurler with Ballyskenach and Tullamore and now a Ballinamere club man, was in sensational form as Offaly won the All-Ireland senior hurling title in 1985 – he scored a series of crucial goals in that campaign, including two in the All-Ireland final win over Galway.

Kevin Martin was an outstanding wing back and All-Star as Offaly won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 1994 and 1995 and managed Offaly for a couple of years near the end of the 2010s.

They are keen greyhound enthusiasts and their fellow syndicate members, Ollie Ryan and Sean Beatty are also well known locally. Kinnitty native Ollie Ryan is one of the proprietors of Midland Veterinary Supplies in Tullamore and Edenderry and has also been involved in race horse syndicates while Sean Beatty is the youngest of the quartet and hurls with Clodiagh Gaels – his late father Donal owned a very successful dog kennels near Killeigh and had a lifelong passion for greyhounds, both as an owner, breeder and trainer, and his early death from cancer a few years ago devastated his family and many friends.

The name of their dog, Joachim is also profound as Lusmagh man Joachim Kelly was a great Offaly hurler in the 1980s, winning All-Ireland medals in 1981 and 1985 – he was renowned for his fitness and powerful surges forward from midfield.

Joachim's winning time was a decent 30.01 (50 slow) by three lengths at 6/4 joint fav with David Murray training. Looks like a trip over a longer distance would suit this young bitch.

Apart from that, it was another magnificent week of racing with the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial Stake at semi-final stage in Limerick, the final of the Supersprint in Cork, the final of the Future Champion Unraced in Enniscorthy and quarter-finals of the Champion Unraced in Kilkenny was where most of the top action was. Add in the first round of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks in Shelbourne and it was an excellent week of racing around the Country. Plenty of Offaly winners in the mix once again.

SEE NEXT: Bad day at the office for Offaly as Laois saunter to easy derby win

Early Week Racing

The first valuable final of the week was in Enniscorthy with the conclusion of the Future Champion and Michael Fortune Memorial Open Unraced Stake. The €5k first prize was won by Clona Chase (Deerjet Sydney-Nice Mystery) for Pat Buckley in 29.01 by two lengths at 6/4.

Three finals Tuesday in Shelbourne. In an A6 decider Hawkfield Angel (Koblenz-Hawkfield Breeze) won the €1.5k pot, for Jamie McGee and Newbridge owner Gerry Connors, in 28.70 (20 fast) by four lengths at 6/4 co fav. In the final of the Shelbourne Regulars A4 Stake Highview Flare (Ballymac Cashout-Highview Mission) won, with a cheque for €2.5k going to Garristown trainer Liam O’Rourke, in 29.00 (20 fast) by one length at 5/2. In an A3/A9 Distance Racing Novice 750 final Nextoneout (Ballymac Cashout-Droopys Nextone) won the €1.75k purse for Rathangan trainer Frazer Black in 42.30 (40 fast) by one length at 6/4 fav.

First two Offaly winners of the week were at this meeting. In the first race on the card Coolemount Spy won an A6 contest for Croghan trainer Gerry Merriman in 28.83 (20 fast) by three lengths at 6/4 fav. In an A4 race Aussie Eagle was first back in kennels for Kinnitty owner Jeannette MacKenzie in 28.97 (20 fast) by two lengths at a big price of 8/1.

Friday Racing

First three Faithful County winners of the weekend were at the matinee SIS meeting in Mullingar who are all regulars on the winners podium. In an A5 grade Apache Gem had his  thirteenth career win for Clara owner P.J. Cleary in 30.17 (50 slow) by five lengths at 6/4 fav. Fahy Shop won his twelfth race in an A6 race for Paddy McCormack in 30.07 (50 slow) by one length at 9/2. Another prolific winner in an A7 grade as Killeshill Glam won her tenth race for Croghan trainer Vincent Lynch in 30.36 (50 slow) by four lengths at 11/8 fav.

Clonmel, first round of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A3 Stake won last year by Dangan Conor for Adam Dunford. Fastest of the sextet was Knocknadoguestar for the Don’t-know-Syndicate in 29.14 (30 slow) by four lengths at 2/1.

The best race in Galway was the final of the Paul McKenna Memorial A5 stake. The €1.7k first prize was won by Flyers Penney (Signet Ace-Pennylane Sheba) in 29.14 by one length at 6/4 for Colm Fitzgerald.

The four best races in Kilkenny were the quarter-finals of the Kilkenny Track Champion Open Unraced Stake. A double for Timahoe trainer Karol Ramsbottom with the fastest heat winner being Croydon Avenger for Patrick Barrett in 29.16 (50 slow) by seven lengths at 2/1. Also in Kilkenny the semifinals of the George Leahy Memorial A3 were held. Comer Shark won the first in 29.47 (30 slow) by one length at 4/1 for the Comer-Syndicate. The second semi-final was won by Killough Bird for Derek Loughnane in 29.53(30 slow) by five lengths at 6/1.

Newbridge had five heats in the first round of the 1XBET Tour Series A3 stake. Fastest of  the five was Glenlara Dubh for Ballinagar owner Liam Kirley in a fine 29.00 by one length at 5/4 fav.

One final in Shelbourne. In the finale of an A2 525 Stake Coolemount Fame (Orchestrate-Highview Moment) won for Man-O-War in North county Dublin owners Anthony Rooney and Owen Sweetman in 28.44 by six lengths at 6/4 with a cheque for €1.75k heading their way. Another Offaly winner on the undercard, Yacht View won an A4 575 race for Merriman again in 31.23 by five lengths at 2/1.

The two best races in Tralee were the semi-finals of the John And Mary Killeacle Dowling Memorial A1 570. Coolavanny Shona win the first for Nelius O’Connell in 31.49 by one length at 2/1. The second heat was won by Zenith Gizmo in a faster 31.28 by one length at 2/1 for Corona Ryan.

Saturday Racing

Two valuable finals in Curraheen Park in Cork. In the final of the 1XBET Supersprint Open 330, Droopys Apollo (Droopys Flytline-Droopys Meteor) won the €2k first prize for Johnny Linehan in 17.48 by four lengths at a decent 5/1. 

In the conclusion of the Dynamic Force @ Stud A2 Bitch Stake the €3k first prize was won by Danish Bubble (King Sheeran-Danish Robyn) in 28.87 by one length at 4/6 fav for champion trainer Graham Holland. 

A huge crowd in Limerick for the semi-finals of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial Open 525 with both winners going below the 28.00 mark. Ballymac Setanta won the first for Liam Dowling in 27. 97 by four lengths at 4/6 fav. The second heat was even faster as Bockos Gold crossed the finish line in 27.89 for Holland by two lengths at 5/6 fav. Holland has two in Saturday’s final with two also for Mickey O’Donovan. Paul Hennessy and Dowling have one each. Should be a cracker.

Two Offaly winners in Mullingar. Joachim was one while in an S8 350 sprint, Lahinch Cooper won by one length for PJ Cleary again in 19.49 (20 slow), at a well backed 1/2 fav.

Four heats in the first round of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks AAO 525 won last year by Shebetheone for Leo and Kate Dunphy. A double for Pat Buckley including the fastest heat winner in Glengar Echo in 28.37 by five lengths at 4/1.

Upcoming Events

Friday, quarter-finals of the Sorley O’Dornan Memorial A3 in Clonmel. Semifinals of the Champion Open  Unraced and final of the George Leahy Memorial both in Kilkenny. Semifinals of the 1XBET Tour Series A3 in Newbridge and final of the John And Mary Killeacle Dowling A1 570 in Tralee. Saturday, Shelbourne, semifinals of the Suncroft Festival Puppy Oaks Open 525 and in Limerick €80k awaits the winner in the final of the Con And Annie Kirby Memorial stake. Another top class seven days of racing to look forward to this week. 


Tribune Offaly Dog Of The Week
Glenlara Dubh gets the nod this week for being the fastest winner in the five heats in the first round of the 1XBET Tour Series in Newbridge on Friday. His 29.00 run at 5/4 fav was top drawer and he looks like the one rest will have to catch to win this valuable stake. Smart run from Liam Kirley’s young dog. 

One For The Notebook
Coolemount Spy looks a prospect for Gerry Merriman. After finishing second on his first race he made no mistake on his second run winning by three lengths in 28.83 in Shelbourne on Tuesday. Expect more improvement and could end up a player in the big competitions moving forward. Fine performance. 


Offaly Winners
Nine Offaly winners this week, well done to all concerned.