Sports

Derrick Lynch Clare IHC Round Two Preview Tulla v Killanena Both sides put up good scores in their opening round ties, but it is Tulla who enter this round with a victory already under their belts. They began life in the second tier with a hard fought win over East Clare neighbours Scariff, with David McInerney, Niall Bolton, Sean Torpey and Daragh Corry all playing key roles. Killanena were on the wrong side of the result in their showdown with Bodyke, where Mark Flaherty once more carried the lion’s share of the scoring burden. Tulla’s greater spread of a scoring threat coupled with a tight defence should see them through to the quarter finals. Verdict: Tulla Sixmilebridge v Clonlara Sixmilebridge are getting used to playing in dramatic games in the Clare intermediate hurling championship, as they came through a fascinating extra-time battle with Inagh-Kilnamona last time out. Their fitness told as they finished that game well, and they will carry …

Derrick Lynch Clare Camogie Round Two Preview A repeat of last year’s semi final is the highlight of this weekend’s Clare Camogie action, as title holders Scariff-Ogonnelloe take on the Inagh-Kilnamona side they dethroned 12 months ago. The reigning Munster champions were impressive winners in their opening round tie as they easily accounted for last year’s Shield winners Sixmilebridge, running up a total of 2-21 over the course of the hour. The vast majority of that scoring was done by the ever reliable duo of Mairead Scanlan and Marion Rodgers, who shared 2-12 of that total between them. A feature of their win was that all the starting six forwards got their names on the scoresheet, while holding the ‘Bridge to just 0-2 in the second period. Inagh-Kilnamona were equally impressive winners against a Truagh-Clonlara side who would have held ambitions of challenging for silverware. The Combo held their opponents to 0-3 over the course of the contest, as Amy …

Clare Pony Club will celebrate 40 years in existence in 2021, with the numbers involved with the club currently experience a steady rise. The club was first established in 1981, with its members coming from all across the county to the club’s base at the Showgrounds in Ennis. Lessons are held every Friday night from September to April, where members bring their own ponies and take part in lessons given by highly qualified instructors, all of whom were Pony Club members themselves. Club chairman Nikki Harvey outlined that the ethos of the organisation is on ensuring everyone can have access to what is on offer. “We really promote an atmosphere of inclusivity and make sure that anyone who has an interest in equine sports gets that chance to be involved. The club offers so much more in terms of further opportunities with many of our members using their time with us as a platform to build their future careers on. …

CLARE GAA chairman Joe Cooney is very disappointed that attendances at hurling and football games must be restricted to 200 for the foreseeable future but accepts the Covid-19 guidelines must be adhered to protect everybody in the grounds. “I, like everybody else involved in team sports, would love to see numbers go up to 500 but we must accept the delay on this, as part of not advancing to Phase 4 of reopening the country. We must go along with the Government’s decision in the best interest of our players, officials, groundsmen and fans. We must look after everybody from a health and safety point of view. “I’m not in favour of games being played behind closed doors but that’s how it is. The atmosphere is not there; there’s nobody there to cheer the lads on,” he said. The 200-person limit includes players, backroom teams, media, officials, stewards and the rest of the volunteers that assemble to stage matches – …

Newmarket Celtic have clinched the 2019/2020 Clare Premier Division title. Mark O’Malley’s charges made sure of the crown with a 3-2 win over Avenue United at Roslevan, with that result leaving them 11 points clear with just two games remaining in the season. Kevin Hartnett, David McCarthy and Ciaran McCoy all scored before the break to see the champions 3-1 ahead. Avenue pulled it back to the minimum in the second period but it wasn’t enough to turn the result around. It’s a 19th top flight title for the club and also marks the second time Newmarket Celtic have won three consecutive Clare Premier Division honours. The feat was last achieved in the mid-80’s. Thoughts will now turn to defending their Clare Cup title with action in that competition set to recommence in the coming weeks.

There were champions crowned in the Third Division of the Clare League this week where Connolly Celtic marked their return by clinching the title. They added that to their league cup success earlier in the season. It came after a 2-0 win over Ennis Dons with both goals coming from Brendan Dillon, and manager Ray Kennedy was delighted to get his hands on the cup. “It is a proud moment. At that start of this year our aim was to build for the years ahead and hopefully get up the divisions while building our panel. We wanted to build a squad that would not always be relying on the hurlers so we went about doing that. We got two cups at the end of it so we are happy out with that. There are a lot of players there who have played in higher divisions and we got a few new players in this year and it is good to …

A number of games were played this weekend in the opening round of the Clare Junior A Football Championship. It got underway with the meeting of a Banner GAA side that are building for their future and a Kilkee outfit that must be worried for theirs. The West Clare side are currently operating in the third tier having been relegated last year, and were taking on the team who came within touching distance of promotion 12 months ago. Young star Shane Meehan was always going to be a central figure for the Banner, and he struck for two goals as they ran out impressive 5-12 to 0-14 winners. Two more first teams met as Killimer went up against Meelick, where goals from Kevin Hassett (2) and Eoin Grogan saw the West Clare men come out on top by 3-7 to 0-7. KIlmurry Ibrickane recovered from a slow start against Cooraclare to record a 2-15 to 0-6 victory with both goals …

Clare IFC Wrap Up St Joseph’s Doora Barefield 3-17 Naomh Eoin 2-13 (AET) There is no doubting which game takes the title of being the most entertaining across all codes this weekend, as St Joseph’s eventually came out on top in a high scoring encounter. It took until the second period of extra time before the decisive score came when Kieran Thynne, who was reintroduced having been substituted earlier in the contest, batted to the net from close range to give St Joseph’s a cushion they would hold. There was drama throughout the game with the men from the peninsula looking like they had stolen a march late on as Owen Lynch’s goal saw them go four points clear with time running out. Naomh Eoin played much of the second period with 14 men after Mark McQuaid was sent off, and they eventually wilted as Parish substitute David O’Brien reeled in the deficit with a run of four unanswered scores …