Sports

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 …

Clare SFC: St Breckan’s 2-8 Cooraclare 2-6 The final Clare SFC game of the weekend proved to be one of the most entertaining as St Breckan’s began life back in the senior ranks with a win. A late goal from Jack Sheedy proved the ultimate difference as the North Clare outfit saw off a spirited display from Cooraclare, who will take plenty positives despite the result. Last year’s intermediate champions were much the better team in the opening quarter with Maccon Byrne and Dale Masterson to the fore in the middle third. Masterson opened the scoring with a tidy finish after a patient build up, but Killian Roche responded with a free after good work from Jack Morrissey. Roche was playing as almost an auxiliary defender for the West Clare men as he offered an overlap in defence when breaking out. Sustained pressure by the St Breckan’s attack forced another free which Colm O’Brien dispatched while an intelligent ball from …

Clare SFC: Ennistymon 0-11 Doonbeg 0-10 Ennistymon edged the battle of the Magpies to fly into the winners round of the Clare senior football championship. The game was slow to build any real momentum, and it took until the 10th minute before the first score arrived. Predictably for Doonbeg, it came through a David Tubridy free with the West Clare Magpies losing Paul Dillon to a black card early in the contest. Ennistymon settled and restored parity with a Cillian Rouine free but a big score almost arrived when David Fitzgerald rattled the outside of Eamon Tubridy’s post. Michael McDonagh angled over the resulting rebound and they led 0-2 to 0-1 at the opening water break. The second quarter began with another Tubridy free, but it would prove their final score of the half as four in a row for Ennistymon sent them 0-6 to 0-2 clear at the break. Kevin Hehir’s energy on the right wing was rewarded with …

Clare SFC: Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-12 Miltown 0-9 A strong closing quarter saw Kilmurry Ibrickane exact revenge on Miltown in the opening round of this year’s Clare SFC. Aidan Moloney’s side outscored the defending champions by 0-5 to 0-2 in that period to move through to the winners section of the championship and within touching distance of the last four. Kilmurry rang the changes before the throw in as regular goalkeeper Ian McInerney was deployed on the edge of the opposition square. His nephew David Sexton was handed a championship debut while veteran Michael O’Dwyer was named in the half-forward line. Miltown were without Kieran Malone and Darragh McDonagh from the side that won this fixture in last year’s county final but debutant Cian Mahoney adapted well to his first senior assignment. The champions settled best to  lead 0-4 to 0-1 at the first water break with the Cleary twins Eoin and Conor kicking some brilliant scores to put them in …

Clare SFC: Lissycasey 2-9 Cratloe 0-13 AET Penalties looked on the cards in this contest but it a penalty that ultimately decided the game as Lissycasey edged through a tight contest. The decisive score arrived in the second period of extra-time as Conor Finnucane converted a penalty that was all of Cratloe’s own making. Cratloe struggled without regular top scorer Cathal McInerney as an outlet while Sean Collins was also absent through suspension. Lissycasey’s organisation and discipline in defence was key along with a high level of work-rate. Lissycasey held a narrow lead at the break but it could have been a much different story only for a brilliant save from Killian Normoyle. He got down low to turn away a flicked effort by Conal O’Hanlon after Conor McGrath’s ball across the square. The follow up was missed by the onrushing Killian Phair, and it was compounded moments  later as Normoyle fired over a long range free to bring the …

Clare SFC: Eire Óg 2-15 Kilrush 1-6 A dominant second-half from Eire Óg saw them win the battle of the towns as they easily accounted for Kilrush in this Clare SFC opener. Kilrush failed to score for almost half an hour of the contest as Paul Madden’s outfit laid down intentions of their championship ambitions with Gavin Cooney firing 1-9 for the winners. Eire Óg were on top in the early stages as they reeled off 0-4 without reply in answer to Liam Madigan’s opener. A trio from Cooney along with one from Conal O’hAinifein saw them take a deserved lead, with the platform being built on midfield dominance from Ciaran Russell and Darren O’Neill. Kilrush were struggling to win their own kickout early on, but Stephen Ryan’s distribution was much improved in the closing stages of the half. The first big moment of the half came just after the water break when Kilrush punished a loose clearance by Ciaran …