IN 1963, two new churches were completed in both Kilkee and Lisdeen.

  Cork   0-23 Clare   0-15 THE worst fears of Clare hurling followers were realised at Limerick on Sunday when Cork, rated as rank outsiders, scored a comprehensive win over the Banner County who had been installed as the warm favourites for the tie. Opinions differ as to the main reason for this result, ranging from Clare’s failure to avail of goal chances to a breakdown in Clare’s short passing game but the reality is that Cork out-manoeuvred their opponents, who were seeking a fourth win over the Leesiders in the current season.Cork won the tactical battle and their decision to put Brian Murphy at centre-back, Seamus Harnedy at wing-forward and Patrick Horgan at full-forward proved key. Murphy, captain on the day in the absence of Pa Cronin, had been named at full-back with Harnedy named as leader of the attack, while Horgan appeared on the programme at corner-forward.All three played huge roles in the Leesiders’ victory and Clare failed to …

CLARE selector Louis Mulqueen didn’t hide his disappointment at the outcome on Sunday. The Ennis man never doubted Cork would be difficult to overcome and was at a loss as to how people could have written off the Leesiders’ chances.“With respect to the media, it was a joke to be reading the rubbish about Cork all week in the lead-up to the game. They were waiting in the long grass. Cork had everything in their favour, the violins were out. They were putting on the bus driver at one stage and then out comes everybody and not a bother with anybody. While it doesn’t win or lose a game, we knew that was going to happen,” said the Clare mentor. Mulqueen agreed with the view expressed by forward Podge Collins that Clare needed to score goals. “We had a strong wind in the first half and probably needed to have converted a goal or two from the chances we created …

  Inagh- Kilnamona    2-14 Doora-Barefield     0-8 Since Inagh-Kilnamona joined forces for underage hurling over a decade ago, they had, prior to this week, won every title on offer in Clare, with the exception of the U-14A crown. They put that record straight in Cusack Park on Wednesday evening when the overcame Doora-Barefield to win their first ever U-14A title.Earlier in the season this team had captured the Clare Feile na nGael title for the first time and next week they head to Limerick to compete in the National festival. They will be based in Monaleen in Limerick City and will play their first game on Friday evening.They were crowned U-14A champions last evening because they were the better balanced side but the final scoreline is flattering in their favour as Doora-Barefield were much closer than that score suggests.With 11 minutes to play just a point separated the sides but the winners put in a storming finish to claim the crown.Cillian …

COROFIN will be the venue for an All-Ireland tug-of-war event on Sunday, July 14.Gus O’Loughlin, the driving force behind the very successful Burren club who will host the upcoming event, told The Clare Champion, “This will be huge for Corofin. All of the leading clubs from across the country will be competing and this will bring big numbers to the area for the weekend.The competitions to be decided include the 640kg Division 2 and senior and the 680kg novice.“It will be a huge week for our club as, on the previous Sunday in Sligo, we will contest the 580kg senior competition. This will be our first time up against the big boys and we are looking forward to that,” Gus concluded.  

“EOIN deserved a long, full and happy life and there is no punishment sufficient to lessen the hurt that has been inflicted on us.” That was the reaction of Daniel Ryan, a brother of the 21-year-old man, in a victim impact statement, following the conviction and sentencing of Barefield farmer, Joe Heffernan, for his murder.

  Cork    2-12 Clare   1-9 A PHYSICALLY stronger Cork proved too much for a disappointing Clare in theMunster Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Sunday. While Cork were the favourites, a stronger Clare performance was expected but they failed to match Cork in a number of areas and the writing was on the wall from an early stage.Clare made three changes from the team, which started against Waterford in Round 1. Stephen O’Halloran, Alan O’Neill and Cathal O’Connell, all members of the extended senior panel over the winter months, replaced Enda Boyce, Conor Cleary and David Reidy. O’Connell was introduced during the second half of the first-round win over Waterford.Cork had the aid of a very strong breeze in the opening half and hit the front in the third minute when Peter O’Brien converted a 75m free. Mark Kennefick, a dressing-room replacement for Adrian Mannix, doubled their advantage in the sixth minute before Colm Casey …

JOINT Clare manager Donal Moloney wasn’t prepared to use Cork’s superior physicality as a reason for Clare’s defeat in Sunday’s provincial semi-final.“We knew coming down here that they were going to be a physically imposing side and I wouldn’t use that as an excuse for a second. The hurling they produced was very good and irrespective of physique, we didn’t hit the form we needed in certain areas. Unless you are really on top of your game, you are not going to win these games,” the Scariff man said after the game. Was it a big advantage for Cork to have the assistance of the strong wind in the opening half? “We elected to play against the wind,” came the reply. “Sometimes, the type of game we play, we play better against it but they got a grip on things. We held them fairly well and to go in only seven down after playing against a storm wasn’t any great …