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Senior Football Championship Final Éire Óg v Kilmurry Ibrickane at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.30pm (Jim Hickey, Cratloe) When it comes to finals, Kilmurry Ibrickane’s ability to grind out victories is almost metronomic at this stage. Only that ultimate attritional derby showdown against St Joseph’s Miltown that went all the way to a replay in 2019 has blotted their copybook that now stands at seven wins in eight deciders since 2008. It’s a feat that Éire Óg can only dream about as this is only their third final since the last of their 18 titles in 2006. That is has taken so long for the Townies to even reach a first semi-final since 2014 is almost incredible considering their underage success that included four Under 21A crowns in six seasons (2013, ’14, ’15 and ’18). However, regardless of past indiscretions, now that they’re finally there, they will be determined to make the most of this golden opportunity. All because they …

They say that it takes a community to raise a child but realistically also sustain a GAA club, especially in rural settings, something that Kilmurry Ibrickane can certainly attest to as they continue to punch above their weight by remaining at the top table in Clare despite a dwindling population base. Cherishing and nurturing players from generation to generation has become a way of life around Páirc Naomh Mhuire over the past two decades, with Keelan Sexton the perfect example of this initiation to become their talismanic forward and top scorer over the past few seasons. “That’s something that the older lads have done, they’ve really put their body on the line in that sense. When I came in, it was probably the likes of Johnny Daly, Odran and Peter O’Dwyer who were literally getting the maximum out of their bodies for us. They didn’t want to go out at the one time as that could have been detrimental to …

Darren O’Neill is an example of how hard work can help a person overcome setbacks they face on the field of play. The experienced midfielder was a key part of Éire Óg’s run to the county final in 2014 but since then a bad run of luck with injuries had forced him to watch from afar. O’Neill has suffered and rehabbed the dreaded cruciate ligament injury while also requiring surgery earlier this year for a troublesome knee injury. The 30 year old insists that his body has responded well in a year which saw him start a Championship game for Clare for the first time since 2011. “I did the ACL at the end of 2018. I was able to play last year and train but when I’d be finished training my knee would be very sore afterwards. It was after training when I’d feel it. It’s a tough one because you can have negative thoughts. With the knee I …

When Kilmurry Ibrickane’s newest member Joe Campbell was born almost 18 years ago, Enda Coughlan had already garnered his first county senior medal the previous Autumn. On Sunday, he bids for a historic tenth title and in typical ageless fashion, is as influential as ever in Kilmurry Ibrickane’s engine room as the Clare selector continues to pull the strings for the defending champions. So what is it that keeps Coughlan coming back for more? “Look, as I keep saying to the younger lads, these days might’t last forever and I think definitely as you get older, you appreciate it a lot more heading into these games. “Look, if you don’t win a final, you may as well have been beaten in the first round, that’s my own opinion. I mean it’s great getting to finals but if you don’t win them, they’re a tough blow to take so with a good few younger lads coming through at the moment, hopefully …

LIDL Ireland has apologised to a Corofin father for any distress caused to his 11-year-old autistic son over its failure to turn down music in its Ennis store. Adrian Beakey has appealed to all retail outlets to show more understanding concerning the sensory needs of children and teenagers with Autism Spectrum Disorder following a recent incident in Lidl’s discount supermarket in Gort Road, Ennis. Mr Beakey recalled his son, Marcus, became distressed while they were shopping because the music in the store was loud particularly at the area near the tills where the speakers were located. “It was quite busy. I was waiting in a queue. I went up to a cashier and asked if could I speak to a manager. She put her hand up and said I am the manager. “I said my son is autistic, if you could turn down the music a small bit, I would appreciate it.” Mr Beakey recalled the manager claimed she didn’t …

THE regeneration of Ennis’ main thoroughfare is set to begin next year, a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District has heard. Members of the municipal district have given their backing for the proposed public realm works on O’Connell Street, with the part 8 plans to go before a full meeting of Clare County Council for approval next week. At the monthly meeting Ennis councillors voiced their support for the project, while a call was also made for the retention of decorative poles for hanging baskets along the street as well as the salvaging of existing paving stones to be used elsewhere in the town. The works to O’Connell Street are Project B3 in the second phase of the overall Ennis Town Centre Public, and are a continuation of Project B1, O’Connell Square, High Street and Bank Place, and Project B2, Old Barrack Street and Barrack Square. Leonore O’Neill, senior executive officer, told the monthly meeting of Ennis councillors that the …

IRELAND’S Next Top Madra hails from East Clare, The Champion can reveal. Proud owners, and Mountshannon residents, Sarah Haran and Pierce Madden are celebrating the success of their one-year-old dog, Frankie, who took the top prize in the competition organised by RSVP magazine. The cuddly Cavapoo – a cross between a poodle and a cavalier King Charles spaniel – was voted top dog by RSVP readers from all over Ireland. “We’re delighted,” Whitegate native Sarah told The Champion. “I sent in a photo a few months ago and didn’t really think any more about it until we got the call to say that Frankie had won.” After last year’s first lockdown, the couple decided to take the plunge and get a dog. “My friend Matthew Harvey has a Cavapoo who had two pups, so we got one,” Sarah explained. “She has a lovely personality. She has the run of the house. When we’re at work, my sister-in-law, Val Madden, minds …

THE introduction of a new Regularisation Scheme for Undocumented Migrants will help address the skills shortage in the medical, hospitality and construction industry, according to a local accountant. The proposed scheme, which is expected to be unveiled by the Department of Justice over the coming weeks, will give migrants unrestricted access to the labour market, and allow them to apply for citizenship later. David Williams is urging Clare employers to encourage their employees to familiarise themselves and engage with this scheme to help reduce the growing number of vacancies across a number of sectors. Of the 30 sectors analysed by the IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index in the third quarter of 2021, 24 posted quarterly increases in vacancy generation and 19 surpassed their pre-Covid rate. In tourism, travel, and airlines, a sector severely impacted by the pandemic and lockdown, vacancies increased by plus 80% quarter-on-quarter and plus 3,607% year-on-year. Vacancies in construction, architecture, and property rose plus 25% quarter-on-quarter and plus 178% …