Ballyea’s Colin Barry was remembered with a minute’s silence ahead of the action at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Friday last.
On the same day as he was laid to rest, greyhound followers from the West took a moment to pay tribute to Colin. Two years ago, Newhall Missile a dog he owned alongside Noel Coote won the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Consolation Derby in 2018 having started out as a 150/1 rank outside before Round One. Named after Colin’s address, the dog grabbed the attention of the countymaking its way to the Derby.
His colleagues in the greyhound industry held a minute’s silence before race three in Galway on Friday.
In the second contest at the Galway Track on Friday Night last Cragbrien Bengie owned by Martin Cronin and Robbie Markham of Ennis made it third time lucky in the S10n graded contest as he saw off his rivals by upwards of five and a quarter lengths in 19.37. Away well on the wide outside the winner headed Kiluran Rastaman at the opening bend and clear of the home bend lengthened well to the line to defeat Kilbannon Tee readily.
Mythical Enya owned by Ennistymon’s Tommy Flanagan made a winning start for the Clare contingent in the opener. The A6 contest was a re-run of last weeks voided one. Mythical Enya headed the pace setting Burnpark Pluto leaving the back straight before holding the challenge of Rising Turbo by a length and a quarter in 29.42.
Kilfenora had reason to celebrate in the S8 graded sprint contest with Conor Davoren-Sheehan’s Willbrook Choppy coming home five and a quarter lengths clear of Derymoyle Pat in 19.48. The winner held the inside berth well on the run towards the opening bend as the runner up and Ringroe Rascal also showed pace but the winner railed well between the two bends on his way to a comfortable success.
Aulton Patsy recorded its fifth career win in the S4 graded sprint contest. Owned by Pat Hogan of Ennis and trained by Seamus Fahy, the son of Pat C Sabbath & Heathlawn Molly broke smartly and led from Ballymac Rosa on the run to the opening bend which he kicked clear to record an emphatic success.
A Ballyea owned dog had deserved success in the A1 graded contest over 525 Yards which was the feature event of the night. From the traps it quickly developed into a match as Rathmeehan May broke best in the white jacket as Moanduff Daisy in the stripes went with her and the pair rounded the opening bend four lengths clear of Cloneyogan Flash.
Racing along the back straight the leader pair battled it out hammer and tongs but the John Collins & John Browne of Ballyea owned Rathmeehan May always just held the upper hand and despite the best effort of Moanduff Daisy, Rathmeehan May deservedly prevailed by three parts of a length in 28.96
Buttsys Blackie trained by Gerry Holian for the Buttsys Buckos Syndicate of Ballycasey Shannon took the finale by eight and a half lengths from the staying on Oh My Knees in 29.10. The winner raced in second place early as Ballyvoe Ace showed pace out wide but at the opening bend the winner railed well and quickly asserted turning down the back straight. Striding out and railing well throughout he was full value for the margin of success at the line.
