Sports

TEN years after she claimed the Women’s Irish Open golf tournament, one of the top golfers on the circuit has returned to Clare to defend her title. Catriona Matthew has flown into Shannon Airport today ahead of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, which is being held for the first time since 2012. It will be the first time for a Ladies European Tour event to be played in Ireland since 2012. The competition will see 126 of the best professionals on the Ladies European Tour and leading Irish Amateurs take to the 18-hole Championship Course. The Shannon Airport Group CEO Mary Considine said, “It is wonderful to see Catriona and many other players arrive here at Shannon Airport this week, which is only 20 minutes from the Dromoland Castle venue. “We are delighted to be an official partner of the KPMG Women’s Irish Open which is a superb showcase for County Clare. As well as highlighting the fantastic golfing talent, …

SHANNON Golf Club was the winner of the 25th JB Carr Diamond Trophy Tournament, played recently. The over-60s Scotch foursomes took place in Wicklow with over 2,000 players competing from early April across all four provinces. Over five months, more than 4,000 rounds of golf were played, with the finalists welcomed to Woodenbridge in September after a two-year break due to the pandemic. The four provincial winners – Royal Curragh, Shannon, Castlebar and Dunmurry – were piped over the iconic bridge at the parklands course on the first evening, following their managers who were holding high their respective provincial flags. The draw took place that evening, pitting Castlebar against Shannon and Royal Curragh against Dunmurry. Castlebar was the only team to have previously reached the finals. The Saturday morning brought very wet and challenging conditions, with other courses in the locality closing. At Woodenbridge, the gladiators competed manfully, with Shannon overcoming the conditions and Castlebar 3/2 with the final match …

Eoin Brennan previews this weekend’s action in the senior, intermediate and junior football championships Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final Play-Off Clondegad v St Joseph’s D/B at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 3pm Much has changed since these sides last met in the senior championship four years ago. That 1-18 to 0-4 opening round pummelling at the hands of Clondegad was the beginning of the end for that Parish side as they subsequently fell to intermediate level. Backed by a fresh crop of young guns, Doora/Barefield soared back to senior level for the 2021 campaign and excelled by reaching the last eight at the first attempt. With any hint of relegation now extinguished, it is hoped that the kamikaze rushes of blood to the head that coughed up two goals in all three group matches can be replaced by a more composed collective unit as the Parish have simply nothing to lose. Clondegad’s development curve hasn’t exactly remained on the up either since …

Ivan Smyth rounds up the Clare soccer action across league and cup competitions BRIDGE United progressed to Round Two of the Munster Junior Cup as they saw off Newmarket Celtic B 4-3 after extra time. Paul Corry scored the decisive goal as Newmarket’s B side provided a stern test. Brendan Harkin, Damien Halpin and Conor McCarthy all found the net for Newmarket but it wasn’t enough for them to cause a major upset. Leon Daly grabbed his side’s first goal but after Bridge fell behind, substitute Ronan Tuohy put them back on level terms with U16 players Jack O’Halloran and Darragh Hayes playing pivotal roles for their third goal before Corry edged Bridge through. Tulla United produced an upset of sorts as they knocked out fellow Maloney Hardware Premier Division side Lifford AFC. Mike Moloney’s side were 2-1 winners as they gained revenge after losing to Lifford AFC in league action the weekend previous. Ian MacNamara and Daragh Corry grabbed …

THE man who managed Ireland to their first Nations Cup victory in seven years at the RDS Dublin Horse Show last month was accorded a hero’s welcome as he brought the world renowned Aga Khan trophy home to Tuamgraney on Wednesday evening. Michael Blake was lauded by senior officials from the RDS and Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) for the key role he played as Chef d’Équipe in leading Team Ireland to victory in the prestigious showjumping event. This coveted show jumping trophy was presented to, Michael, and his team, by President Michael D Higgins in August. It followed a nail-biting jump-off against France in front of a capacity audience at the RDS. This thrilling victory ensured the return of the Aga Khan Cup to Ireland after a seven-year gap. Michael was joined by two members of Team Ireland – Tipperary’s Max Wachman and Meath’s Cian O’Connor. Hundreds of spectators packed the East Clare Memorial Park, with many watching from outside …

Clooney’s Deirdre Murphy has been appointed as Head of Operations with Clare GAA. She will take up the role in the middle of October. In an interview with The Clare Champion, County Board Chairman Kieran Keating stated that Murphy’s previous experience both outside and within the county made her stand out from the rest of the field. “I suppose her experience and background makes her ideal for this type of role. Her work with the Camogie Association and UL speaks for itself while her natural ability on the field with Clare is well known. She knows Gaelic Games very well and has served a number of roles that have enhanced her knowledge of the games and business side.” There was an initial field of 16 candidates for the role which over time was whittled down to the final three. Keating insists there was strong competition for the role and candidates from a wide variety of disciplines interested in this position. …

AS someone who has been a member of Dromoland Castle Golf Club for over 30 years, Mark Reynolds is well placed to judge the significance of the club hosting the KPMG Women’s Irish Open from September 22-25. The Quin native has seen the club expand from humble beginnings in to a picturesque course that continues to be improve upon with Reynolds playing an important role in the continuous enhancing of the players’ experience. Since becoming a member in 1988, he has a keen understanding of the importance of golf as part of the overall Dromoland Castle experience as he hopes to see a large crowd turn out to watch the world’s best women’s golfers in action from September 22-25. “I was 10 years of age when I joined Dromoland Castle. I was hitting a few shots when I was approached about joining and the rest is history. I’ve been a golf member since 1988 and I joined the golf team …

It cannot be attributed to luck. Everywhere Eamonn O’Donnell goes, success follows. The Dungarvan man holds the role of Director of Golf at Dromoland Castle Golf Club as he continues to leave a lasting impression. He has spent over three and a half years in his current role, helping to plant the seeds for Dromoland Castle hosting the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, which he hopes will leave a lasting legacy behind. Despite trying to spread the praise, O’Donnell’s role in ensuring the venue will host this event, which is being held for the first time since 2012, cannot be understated. “I first met Mark Nolan (Managing Director at Dromoland Castle) three and a half years ago. Himself and the Board of Directors were eager to host a major golf event and roughly six to nine months after that I mentioned the possibility of hosting this event. “We held discussions behind the scenes and the next stop was contacting the Ladies …