*Pictured with his two winning hounds John Boy Dylan & Darris Whitepaws at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Thursday was Donal Cooney pictured with Leo McNulty. Photograph: James Treacy
A GALWAY brace was recorded by the O’Connors from Ennistymon while Donal Cooney had a double success in Limerick.
The concluding A2 Graded 525 yards contest was the feature event on Friday night’s eleven race programme at Galway Greyhound Stadium. Racing towards the opening bend in the A7 graded third contest Rathkerry Anne,Abigails Buster and Nominator disputed the lead with the Thomas and Oisin O’Connor of Ennistymon owned Nominator taking a definite advantage on the outside rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back the son of Out Of Range Ash and An Bhean Cheile opened up a four length advantage over Rathkerry Anne and although that rival kept on well in the straight the gap was still two and a half lengths at the line in 29.57.
The Kennel and Litter double was complete in the A6 graded fifth contest over 525 yards where Da Ultimate who had met trouble in running on his two most recent starts made no mistake at the fourth attempt as he made all to defeat Nivea Blue by a length and a half in 29.56. Very smartly away in the wide outside the winner led by two lengths approaching the opening bend where some crowding behind saw the lead extended to five lengths racing down the back. Striding out well Da Ultimate was always in command although Nivea Blue stayed on well in the straight.
The semi-finals of the Irish RetIred Greyhound Trust A3 525 Yards Stake were the twin features on Saturdays card at the College Road Venue with the concluding A1 graded 525 yards contest the top graded of the eleven races.
In the second semi-final of the IRGT A3 Stake Flyers Kirsty was away very smartly along the inner and racing towards the opening bend the Michael Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned lady as Balroebuck Dream and Springwell Eddy showed pace further out on the run up. Rounding the bend, the leader railed superbly and entering the back straight the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Arminta set sail for the judge. Exiting the back straight, Flyers Kirsty was in control as she stayed omen well on the run home to defeat Springwell Eddy by three and a half lengths in 29.03.
Racing towards the opening bend in the A5 graded contest less than two lengths covered the field with Hundo Max the fractional leader. At the bend though the red jacketed Derra Dolly muscled his way through along the rails to take a one length lead entering the back straight. Racing along the back the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned daughter of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby gradually extended her advantage to over six lengths as the Stephen Murray trained lady recorded her second career success by seven and a half lengths over Brickhill Buster in 29.57.
In race four, the Michael Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Layla took her career stats to three wins from just five career outings as she made virtually all the running to defeat Drombeg Diego by one length in 19.26 . The daughter of Newinn Taylor and Burnpark Leanne was very smartly into her stride and racing towards the opening bend she led from Drombeg Diego and Caislean Honcho. Despite drifting to the centre of the track rounding the bend Burnpark Layla was on control trining for home as she stayed on well to score.
On last Thursday night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, O’Callaghans Mills’ Donal Cooney kept the Clare flag flying with a double – Dardis Whitepaws, a son of Dorotas Wildcat and Urban Fashion, who Donal owns in partnership with Darren Cooney made it two wins on the trot and seven in total with a 29.40 victory in an A4 graded contest.
Their training double was completed when John Boy Dylan took the honours in 29.35 for an A5 contest, owned by young Dylan O’Donoghue from Fanore, this a fifth career success for this daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballistic Nina.
