The 1991 Irish Greyhound Derby took place during August and September with the final being held at Shelbourne Park in Dublin on 14 September 1991.
The winner Ardfert Mick (named after Ardfert local Mike Mulrennan) won £30,000 and was trained by Matt O'Donnell, owned by Noel Clifford and bred by Maurice Harty. The race was sponsored by the Kerry Group's dog food product 'Respond'.
Final result At Shelbourne, 14 September (over 550 yards): PositionWinnerBreedingTrapSPTimeTrainer1st Ardfert Mick Ardfert Sean – Boher Rita 1 11-4 30.19 Matt O'Donnell2nd Ask Clare Ardfert Sean – Boher Rita 4 7-1 30.35 Jerome Keane3rd Super Gem Summerhill Gem – Black Survivor 2 25-1 30.61 Joe Kenny4th Lyons Monks The Other Risk – Mountkeeffe Lady 5 20-1 30.62 John Coleman5th Farloe Melody Lodge Prince – Chini Chin Chin 6 6-4f 30.77 Matt O'Donnell6th Coalbrook Tiger Skelligs Tiger – Summer Flower 3 7-2 00.00 Padraig Campion
Distances 2, 3¼, short-head, 1¾, dnf (lengths)
Quarter finals
Heat 1 (Sep 3)PosNameSPTime1st Matthews Gold 7-4f 30.452nd Meet Me Halfway 5-1 30.533rd Brandy Fitz 14-1 30.714th Deenside Dasher 66-1 30.915th Haremania 5-1 30.936th Dempseys Whisper 5-2 30.95
Heat 2 (Sep 3)PosNameSPTime1st Coalbrook Tiger 8-11f 30.292nd Orlando Jack 14-1 30.853rd Parquet Pet 2-1 31.014th Derrymore Moon 7-1 31.215th South Salonica 12-1 31.236th All Jitters 14-1 31.51
Heat 3 (Sep 3)PosNameSPTime1st Terrydrum Tico 4-7f 30.402nd Summerhill Super 2-1 30.683rd Colwin 12-1 30.804th Avoid The Clash 12-1 30.845th Yale Heights 8-1 31.08N/R Itsallovernow
Heat 4 (Sep 3)PosNameSPTime1st Ask Clare 3-1 30.462nd Salisbury 6-1 30.663rd Slippys Quest 7-1 30.904th Me Know Nothing 6-1 31.145th Millers Imp 7-4f 31.176th Katies Gold 8-1 31.29
Heat 5 (Sep 3)PosNameSPTime1st Early Potter 6-1 30.452nd Super Gem 5-2 30.513rd Ballyoughter Lad 2-5f 30.544th Hazel Quest 6-1 31.18N/R The Other Night N/R Frozen Problem
Heat 6 (Sep 3)PosNameSPTime1st Farloe Melody 3-1 30.382nd Lyons Monks 8-1 30.743rd Ardfert Mick 5-4f 30.784th Odell Valley 16-1 30.845th Village Support 3-1 30.906th Forever N Ever 25-1 31.02
Semi finals
First Semi Final (Sep 7)PosName of GreyhoundSPTimeTrainer1st Farloe Melody 5-2f 30.25O'Donnell2nd Ardfert Mick11-4 30.61O'Donnell3rd Parquet Pet 10-1 30.81Hitch4th Matthews Gold 3-1 30.87 Kinane5th Ballyoughter Lad 8-1 31.07McKenna6th Salisbury 50-1 31.10Hitch
Second Semi Final (Sep 7)PosName of GreyhoundSPTimeTrainer1st Super Gem 14-1 30.51Kenny2nd Coalbrook Tiger 7-4jf30.55Campion3rd Early Potter 10-130.71Bolton4thTerrydrum Tico 7-4jf30.91Lennon5th Meet Me Halfway 7-130.946thOrlando Jack 11-131.06Hayes
Third Semi Final (Sep 7)PosName of GreyhoundSPTimeTrainer1st Ask Clare 2-1 30.26Keane2nd Lyons Monks 8-130.64Coleman3rd Colwin 16-130.88O'Connor4thBrandy Fitz 12-131.245th Slippys Quest 8-131.28McEllistrim6thSummerhill Super 11-8f31.52Enright
Competition Report Matt O'Donnell entered eleven runners in an attempt to successfully defend the Respond Irish Derby title. All twelve safely negotiated the qualifying round. Among them was Farloe Melody and Ardfert Mick the winner of the Cox Cup at Newbridge Greyhound Stadium and Febo Champion Stakes, he had posted a new track record in the Cox Cup recording 28.68.
The fastest qualifier was Tipperary Cup champion Coalbrook Tiger in 30.13, followed by the John Coleman trained £10,000 Tennents Extra champion Satharn Lady in 30.17. Terrydrum Tico, Ardfert Mick and Coalbrook Tiger all successfully won their second round heats but Satharn Lady suffered a serious injury.
The quarter finals winners were Coalbrook Tiger (30.29), Farloe Melody (30.38), Terrydrum Tico (30.40), Mathews Gold (30.45), Early Potter (30.45) and Ask Clare (30.46). The first semi-final saw Farloe Melody defeat kennelmate Ardfert Mick before Super Gem provided a shock with a success over Coalbrook Tiger. Ask Clare beat the main English challenger Lyons Monk in the final heat.
Both Coalbrook Tiger and Farloe Melody made a hash of the start when the traps lifted, leaving Ask Clare in the lead pursued by his brother Ardfert Mick. Ardfert Mick took a first bend lead and drew clear. Coalbrook Tiger was knocked over and broke a hock. The win gave Matt O'Donnell two titles in a row and it was the first time that two full litter greyhounds had taken the first two places.
See also 1992 UK & Ireland Greyhound Racing Year
References