Sports

This Scariff/Ogonnelloe team had been the main crest of the rising tide that has swept through both clubs in recent years. However, after cutting their teeth at B level up along, it was a blossoming achievement for the amalgamation to finally secure a first prestigious Under 21A title according to manager Conor McNamara. “I think Mark [Rodgers] mentioned in his speech there that this is the fruit of years and years of hard work in both clubs. There’s trojan work going on and that’s very important because at the end of the day, it’s all about preparing players for the senior grade. “Look, it’s always sweet to win a final, we don’t win too many of them so credit has to go to the players, they are a great bunch. Everyone knows the big names we have but what people don’t realise is the not so big names and the work that they did in that first half because that’s …

Under 21A Hurling Championship Final Scariff-Ogonnelloe 2-17 Corofin/Ruan 1-12 Christmas came early to Scariff-Ogonnelloe as they fired the last ten points to cement their first ever Under 21A crown in Clarecastle on Friday afternoon. 35 years after Scariff’s sole Under 21A success, their blossoming underage partnership with Ogonnelloe ensured that the current crop finally fulfilled their destiny after rising meteorically through the ranks before exacting full revenge on Corofin/Ruan who had edged them out in a five goals thriller at the penultimate stage twelve months previously. Despite soaring seven clear against the strong conditions in the opening period following quickfire goals through inside assassins Mark Rodgers and Patrick Ryan, Scariff-Ogonnelloe were still forced to demonstrate their title-winning character by the two-thirds mark as they trailed the defending champions by two points. The turning point was undoubtedly a double save from a miserly Scariff-Ogonnelloe defence at the turn of the final quarter that prevented Diarmuid Cahill as well as Jack McDonagh’s …

With currach racing fitting the category of a niche sport, the achievements of those competing can often be overlooked. However, as the year draws to a close, it is impossible not to be impressed with the medal haul that Eoin Coyle and his wife Leah racked up on the water in 2022. The pair won six All Ireland titles between them while they have experienced unprecedented levels of success at the regattas across Ireland including in Doonbeg and Querrin. Before we focus in depth on their various achievements and accomplishments, how did this come to be? Eoin states his own journey in to the currach was one which started by chance outside Comerfords Bar in Doonbeg. “I started back in 2008. I was just meeting a few lads. A cousin of mine (Jason Honan) knew a bit about it all. I tried it and I knew straight away it was a tough old sport. It is hard on your hands. …

A BELOVED sporting tradition of North Clare makes its comeback this Christmas after two years on the sidelines during the pandemic. The annual Ennistymon Christmas Day basketball game returns for the 62nd time on the 25th of the month. First played in 1958, Covid put a halt to the game so while it is 64 years since its initiation this will be only the 62nd edition. No year had been missed where possible however, and the location of the games helps to illustrate some of the history of basketball in the area and its survival, Enda Byrt told the Clare Champion. The game has been played at the Market House (The Madison Square Garden of basketball in its day!) The Town Hall, The Sluagh Hall Lahinch (now demolished) The Community Centre Ennistymon the Centre Lahinch, outdoors at the old Scout Hall court the Vocational School and once at the Pavilion Lisdoonvarna! In recent years the Inagh Community Centre has hosted …

Christmas came early to Scariff-Ogonnelloe as they fired the last ten points to take their first ever Under 21A crown on a 2-17 to 1-12 scoreline against Corofin-Ruan in Clarecastle on Friday afternoon. Thirty-five years after Scariff’s sole Under 21A success, their blossoming underage partnership with Ogonnelloe ensured that the current crop finally fulfilled their destiny after rising meteorically through the ranks before exacting full revenge on Corofin/Ruan who had edged them out in a five goals thriller at the penultimate stage twelve months previously. Despite soaring seven clear against the strong conditions in the opening period following quickfire goals through inside assassins Mark Rodgers and Patrick Ryan, Scariff-Ogonnelloe were still forced to demonstrate their title-winning character by the two-thirds mark as they trailed the defending champions by two points. The turning point was undoubtedly a double save from a miserly Scariff-Ogonnelloe defence at the turn of the final quarter that prevented Diarmuid Cahill as well as Jack McDonagh’s pulled …

The Banner edged out Clondegad on a score of 0-12 to 0-9 to win the Clare U21B football title in Cooraclare on Thursday evening A fitting finish to an ultra-competitive Under 21B football championship was enjoyed albeit in ultracold conditions in Cooraclare on Thursday evening. The fog that hides the countryside threatened to envelop the pitch whilst hiding one corner for most of the second half but rose as perhaps the temperature on the pitch rose dramatically in the final quarter. Was the Banner’s name on the cup since they sneaked past St Breckan’s at home missing Shane Meehan, Mark Cleary and Niall Walsh? The efforts of player of the championship Tomas Meeneghan proved central to the appearance in the final but as expected the onfield appearance of Meehan with 20 minutes tipped the balance the way of the Shanaway road men. From a Clondegad perspective the club competed well in senior after a forgettable 2021 season. Reaching this final …

Clare GAA PRO Anne Hayes admitted at the county convention to not having any control of up to four Clare GAA social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook. In her first report to convention as Clare GAA PRO, having been elected in April 2022, the Lissycasey native outlined, “We would have liked to be in control of Clare GAA Instagram and the numerous Clare GAA Facebook pages however we are unable to get access or to find out who is involved in these.” Highlighted by Coiste na nÓg Chairman PJ McGuane, the Cooraclare clubman enquired, “Who has control to those social media pages pertaining to Clare GAA and why isn’t it under the control of the PRO?” In response, Clare GAA Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy said that the matter “had been engaged with the various social media platforms in some cases, individuals”. Backing up her claim, PRO Hayes explained, “While we would love to have access to all the …

Under 21A Football Championship Semi-Final Corofin 1-14 Cill Cúil Gaels 1-9 Momentum trumped freshness as Corofin advanced to their second Under 21A Final in just over 50 hours when dethroning holders Cill Cúil Gaels in Gurteen on Tuesday evening. Aided by eleven of the side that lowered neighbours Inagh-Kilnamona at the penultimate stage of the Under 21A hurling Championship in Tubber on Sunday, the North Clare side were remarkably sharp as they led from start to finish to double their final appearances. Their superior scoring threat certainly provided the major platform for victory as outstanding targetman Diarmuid Cahill, Sean McNamara, Robin Mounsey and Cian Doolin combined for 1-11 from open play whereas no player scored more than once from play for the holders. Emmet McMahon did convert some excellent frees but Cill Cúil Gaels had too many handling errors and despite eleven survivors from last year’s historic triumph, never reached their 2021 heights at any stage. That said, they had …