The boys’ and girls’ ninth annual Marion Keane basketball finals concluded in Lissycasey last Thursday. Sixmilebridge National School, Annagh National School, Knockanean National School and Furglan/Clouna National School reached the boys’ semi-finals, with Annagh beating Knockanean in the final. Joe Garry, Scoil Chríost Rí, who founded the competition nine years ago, presented the shield to Annagh, while Irish basketball player of the year, Jason Killeen, presented the runners-up and winners’ with medals and trophies.Kilmurry National School, Knockanean National School, Gaelscoil Uí Choimin, Cill Ruis and Toonagh National School reached the girls’ semi-finals. Toonagh beat Gaelscoil Uí Choimin in the final.Dan and Carmel Keane were special guests and Dan presented Toonagh National School with the Marion Keane Basketball Cup. Jason Killeen again presented medals and trophies to the runners-up and winners. Forty-six schools competed in the tournament this year. Lissycasey National School will again host the tournament in 2014.

AS Spanish Point Golf Club were making plans this week ahead of the upcoming North Munster Pierce Purcell final against Charleville, they were rocked with the news that they have been disqualified from the competition.The Clare club won three matches on the Castle Course in Lahinch last weekend but following their disqualification, the three clubs they beat are now back in the race.Kilkee and Woodstock have been asked to play as soon as possible and the winners will play Ennis, who have also been contacted by the Munster branch of the GUI. It is expected these matches will be played over the coming week and whoever comes through will go on to play Charleville in the North Munster final.The weekend victory marked the first time ever in the club’s history that Spanish Point had qualified out of Clare in this competition.“We feel very aggrieved,” Spanish Point secretary Fergal Hehir told The Clare Champion on hearing the news. “All our players …

QUIN trainer, Brian Hassett registered his fifth point-to-point winner of the season when his 4/1 shot Bendala Bleu recorded a comfortable success in the winners’ race at last Sunday’s Carberry Hunt meeting held on picturesque Inchydoney Island near Clonakilty. A good winner of his maiden at Dromahane on his previous start, Bendala Bleu was sent to the front by Ciarán Fennessy with four fences to jump and, despite a hair-raising moment when he ploughed through the second-last fence, the son of Beneficial was not to be denied as he stayed on strongly to beat runner-up Fernando’s Song by two lengths.Hassett, who also owns the winner, revealed, “This horse has really come to himself over the last few months and all he needed was time to mature and fill into his frame. He travelled well today and is improving all the time. I’ll probably go to Kinsale with him next weekend and he might go the sales in Doncaster in August …

THERE was East Clare success at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night at the all-sponsored Croom Community Development fundraiser.Walkontheoutside (Royal Impact-Generosity) came in as a reserve, in trap one, for the absent Tullovin Ramble and went on to duly oblige trainer, Donal Cooney, Broadford and owner, Darren, his son. Merlin Hawk Hawk was the money-on favourite, in trap six, but was slow away and forced to check at the third. In contrast, Walkontheoutside bombed out of trap one  and his terrific early pace saw the black lead all the way for a handsome 28.65 win in the Brodericks Spar Coom A3 525 final. In the process, he beat Clounanna Pixie, the runner-up, by three lengths, for his third career win.In the following race, the Charleville Cheese A4 600, the Nicola Downes (Killaloe) trained Portroe Craic was just deprived when beaten a head by the Pa Fitzgerald-trained and Surrey-owned Kerry Gap. The time was 33.22.In an earlier A8 graded …

HOTELIERS in Clare are confident that recent lobbying of State tourism agencies will result in improvements to visitor attractions and amenities throughout the county.

Elderly care facilities in Kilrush and Ennistymon have received a major boost following official confirmation of funding totalling €1.5 million.

FOLLOWING the 7pm Clare v Galway senior football challenge game in Miltown Malbay on Saturday, a detailed GAA history of St Joseph’s, Miltown will be launched in the local community centre. The book will detail how the club won 12 senior football championships, having appeared in 27 senior finals. The club has also won 12 minor championships.

CLARE health services are not getting their fair allocation of resources per capita, compared to other counties in the west, a county councillor has claimed.