Sports

Newmarket manager Brian Enright said his side had to fight extremely hard to book their spot in the final of the Clare Senior Camogie Championship with a win over Scariff-Ogonnelloe. Enright admitted it looked like the tie was slipping away from his side as the minutes ticked on but was proud that his players ground out a result. “We have huge respect for our opponents. They beat us well in the final last year so we were under no illusions as to how tough it would be. We knew we would have to bring our A game and we did. They really had to fight and grind it out and find something in the final few minutes. “I thought it was slipping away from us, but our attitude was that we had to acquit ourselves well today and there is no questioning their character. Thankfully, we got over the line.” Lorraine Bible’s goal in the 54th minute turned the game …

Derrick Lynch It was a weekend to remember for Ennis Track Club at the National Athletics Championships with Clare men taking both gold and silver in the final of the 3000m steeplechase. Rory Chesser continued his outstanding record in the event as he captured a seventh national title to take first place in a time of 9.39.62. The victory was made all the sweeter as his clubmate and debutante Mark Hanrahan powered home to take the silver medal. Hanrahan, who is still in the Junior age category, came home in second spot with a time of 10.04.78. Chesser was understandably in buoyant mood after the race and outlined while he felt his time could have been better, he was just glad to be taking the silverware back to the county. “The plan was to do 10k this year and move on to half marathon in a couple of weeks but training has not been going well. It is nice to …

Clare Minor A Hurling Quarter Finals Clooney-Quin 2-14 Clarecastle 0-19 An early goal blitz ultimatley proved crucial as Clooney-Quin edged out Clarecastle in this entertaining tussle in Gurteen. It was a dramatic start and a dramatic finish, with Dylan Cunningham’s late free eventually settling the contest. Clarecastle had a chance to send the game to extra-time but Cian Galvin saw his free drop just wide of the posts in the dying moments. Clooney-Quin struck for a brace of goals inside the opening quarter through Cunningham and John Conneally to lead 2-5 to 0-4 at the opening water break, and it was that strong start which would give them the cushion to eventually see out the win. Colm Cassidy and Cunningham were in fine scoring form for the winners, who built a 2-14 to 0-11 lead by half-time. Clarecastle regrouped well in the third quarter to cut that gap to four, and Conor Halpins’s trio of points in the final period …

Miltown moved within one more win of the Clare SFC semi finals with a routine victory over Cooraclare in this playoff tie. The champions were dominant throughout, and no one moreso than Cormac Murray with the county star firing 2-4 from play in an eye-catching showing. His goals came either side of the half time break, with the game played mostly in driving rain in Kilmihil. Miltown led 0-5 to 0-2 at the opening water break, firing the last four scores of the quarter having briefly trailed. The downpour led to a scrappy second quarter, with Murray’s goal and an Eoin Cleary point being the only scores as they built a 1-6 to 0-2 interval lead. A quickfire 1-1 from Murray after the restart quelled any hopes of a contest breaking out as a disappointing Cooraclare struggled for space in a resolute Miltown defence. Jack Morrisey put some semblance of respectability on the scoreline with 1-2 at the end of …

The line up for this year’s Clare senior camogie decider will be decided this weekend with a brilliant double header of semi-final action in store at Fr McNamara Park. Joint Clare junior camogie manager Ann-Marie McGann looks ahead to what will be two high quality games in the race for the McMahon Cup. Scariff-Ogonnelloe v Newmarket-On-Fergus Like true champions, Scariff-Ogonnelloe have weathered the storm they have faced since losing to Inagh-Kilnamona in the earlier rounds, and they deserve to now be back into the semi-finals. They have proven they have the ability to dig deep when it is needed and this game will be no different. There is a real sense that this game will won by sheer determination and grit and who will hold their nerve. Things can go against you in games so it could well boil down to which team is able to keep their shape and stick to the plan if something goes against them. Newmarket …

Bórd na nÓg Iomant are pleading with clubs in Clare to abide by Covid-19 guidelines in order to ensure that underage championships are completed on time. The U-14 and minor competitions are currently underway but games are being played effectively behind closed doors due to Government guidelines. Clarification has been issued that one parent per child are permitted to attend games along with a maximum of 40 people per club to include a panel of 24, team mentors, club officials and stewards. In a statement to clubs, the underage board outlined that “we understand and are fully thankful that most clubs have done their best to adhere to the guidelines to date, we are aware that some clubs have not and especially in allowing an open gate policy for underage games. This cannot be allowed to happen again under the current restrictions”. It also stated that unless all clubs comply there will be no option but to suspend fixtures while …

Clare Ladies Senior Football Championship: Cooraclare 1-9 Doora Barefield 1-6 Last year’s intermediate champions Cooraclare sealed their spot in this year’s senior semi-finals with a hard fought win over Doora Barefield on Monday evening. The Sky Blues made sure of their passage straight to the last four as group winners with a second consecutive victory in another composed showing. Keeva Corry’s first half goal proved the defining score of the game as the West Clare outfit built up a 1-4 to 0-3 interval lead. The opening quarter was keenly contested with the home side having a number of missed chances before Keeva Corry got them off the mark. Chloe Towey was prominent throughout the contest in the Doora Barefield attack, and she pointed either side of a good effort from Nicola Keating. Aisling Morrissey found the range to end the first quarter as Cooraclare led 0-3 to 0-2 at the opening water break. The second quarter was a cagey affair, …

Intermediate Championship   Tulla 4-05 Eire Og 4-14  A strong first half performance secured an intermediate semi-final place for Éire Óg when they made the short journey to Tulla on Saturday evening.   The townies raced into a 6 point lead with five of their forwards raising white flags before Tulla halved the lead with a well struck goal just before the water break.   Éire Óg worked hard to regain the momentum in the second quarter and outscored their hosts by 3-05 to 1-02, leaving the half time score at 3-11 to 2-02.  Tulla defended well in the second half and pointed after two minutes of play. An Amy Russell point restored Éire Ógs 12-point lead, while her sister Jodie stretched the lead to 15 with a superb goal. Tulla dominated the final quarter, scoring 2 goals and two points, but the comeback was too late and the final score of Éire Óg 4-14 to Tulla 4-05 means the end of the …