Sports

AFTER a week that promised so much, Clare owners drew a complete blank at the national coursing finals in Clonmel. Even in the consolation stakes there was no joy after Uptown Abu, owned by a syndicate including former Clare All-Ireland medal winners, Anthony Daly and Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin, was beaten in the final of the Keen Laddie Stakes for dogs eliminated in the Derby.Then, the Gaisce Syndicate from Miltown Malbay were out of luck in the Kitty Butler Stake, when they were forced to withdraw Gaisce Mor (Bexhill Eoin-Rith Gan Gaisce) at the semi-final stage after the bitch was heavily coursed in the second round.Trained by Gerry Holian, for members of the Rumour Has It Syndicate from Ennis, Clarecastle and Kilmaley, Uptown Abu enjoyed another bye run on Wednesday morning, before scoring a five-lengths semi-final win over Lixnaw Eoin.In the top half of the stake, Donnellan’s Cross, owned by Mary Grace from Shannon and trained by Donie Duggan of Quin, …

  St Flannan’s College  4-12 West Clare Colleges  0-5 A 38-minute hold-up, while West Clare Gaels substitute, David Killeen lay prone on the field with a suspected broken leg, marred the all-Clare Frewan Cup (U/16½) Munster colleges first-round game in Ryan’s Field, Clarecastle on Wednesday afternoon.The St Michael’s, Kilmihil pupil sustained the injury following a clash with St Flannan’s wing-back David Clancy, who competed for a breaking ball with his opponent. Kilmurry Ibrickane referee Michael Talty immediately reached for a red card and sent the St Joseph’s, Doora-Barefield man to the line. An ambulance was called and arrived accompanied by an advanced paramedic vehicle. Unfortunately, the ambulance didn’t make it to the injured player. Shortly after entering the field on the Ennis Road sideline, the ambulance’s wheels started to spin and eventually got stuck. In a bizarre turn of events, the entire West Clare Colleges panel attempted to push the ambulance but it wouldn’t budge. Eventually, a tractor arrived on …

THERE were mixed results during the past week for Clare players in the Munster adult 40×20 handball championships, while the coming week will see plenty of action, with a number of Banner County competitors already qualified for provincial semi-finals.The U-21 and junior doubles grades will hold special interest with Clare teams in both semi-finals, while Lisa Loughnane and Anne-Marie Fitzgerald will play the Munster Ladies Intermediate Doubles Championship final.The Munster Senior Open Singles Championship was played off over the weekend and Clare’s representatives were Tuamgraney pair, Niall Malone and reigning Munster senior singles champion Diarmuid Nash. However, it wasn’t a successful outing for either, as both lost out to Cork opposition. Malone was heavily defeated by Colm Jordan in the preliminary round, while Nash went down to Killian Carroll in the third game of their quarter-final clash. Carroll went on to contest the final against eventual champion, Seamus O’Carroll (Limerick).The Banner duo will be in action again this weekend in …

Ruan minor club hosted an underage medal presentation night in Toonagh Hall on Saturday night to honour successful underage teams from 2011. Special guest on the night was Clare senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald. The winning U-14 and U-15 panels received their county medals while the U-12 panel were also honoured for their achievements in 2011. Coaches from the club who took part in a recent hurling coaching course were  werepresented with their certificates. Local musicians, including some underage hurlers, provided music on the night.  

Long time club member Colum Flynn was the special guest at Eire Og’s victory function in the clubhouse on Saturday night when he presented the intermediate championship medals to the members of the victorious team.  

THREE hundred people attended Crusheen GAA’s victory function at the West County Hotel on Friday night to celebrate the club winning the Clare Senior Hurling Championship, intermediate hurling league and the Junior Camogie Championship and league titles.Medals were presented to members of all three panels, presentations were made to the team mentors, while the identity of the hurlers of the year at minor, U-21, intermediate and senior levels were revealed.Former national school principal, Gerry Kearney, a member of the senior backroom team when the club won its first county senior title in 2010, presented the senior medals, assisted by fellow Crusheen man and club sponsor Pat O’Donnell, both of whom later received special presentations from club chairman Colm O’Connor.At the outset, O’Connor welcomed everyone to the function in the 125th year of the club, before explaining it was the unanimous decision of all that Gerry Kearney would present the medals.The intermediate league medals were presented by county board chairman Michael …

Long-term player development planning has rarely been a visible specialist subject in Clare football.  Underage development squads have been in place for several years but until now the physical advancement of players has not been to the forefront of thinking in this county. A particular management team might do an excellent job but there was no real sustainable plan in place to aid a young player’s physical development. Thankfully, that is about to change.  Micheál Cahill’s primary task is to ensure that the Clare senior football team is physically primed to achieve their maximum level in the NFL Division 4 and during this summer’s Munster Championship. He is also helping out with the U-21 and minor football panels, while plans are afoot to extend the Limerick man’s expertise to the development squads. Clare senior hurling trainer, Joe O’Connor, who lectured Cahill in the Health, Fitness and Leisure degree course at Tralee IT, is dovetailing with his former student in designing …

Members and supporters of the Banner Ladies Football Club assembled at the Woodstock Hotel last week to celebrate its most successful year since its formation in 1994. Last year was a bumper year for the Banner, as they secured top honours in every grade of the domestic scene and on one day in September, the U-14 and senior teams competed in All-Ireland seven-a-side finals simultaneously, the seniors missing out by a point. The Féile panel also progressed to the All-Ireland semi-final before exiting while the seniors fought their way to a historic first appearance in the Munster senior final. The club acknowledged the selection of Niamh O’Dea, Louise Henchy and Niamh Keane in the Division 3 team of the league along with county colleagues Eimear Considine and Lorraine Kelly. The club added nine new mentors during the year, six completing their Fundamentals coaching course recently. Former chairperson Pat O’Driscoll presented awards to 20 mentors and all the players.