Sports

Derrick Lynch Clare handball hero Diarmaid Nash admits his bid for a historic third successive All-Ireland doubles title alongside Colin Crehan may have to wait until 2021. Last year saw the duo emulate the famed Kirby brothers by putting All-Ireland crowns back to back, but with sport now on hold due to the Covid-19 crisis it means any future fixtures are still in doubt. Nash, who works as a financial consultant, is not confident that they will have a chance to defend their title this year. “The chances of the doubles championship being on are very slim unless something changes drastically. If we are under restrictions for another few months and the government decides it is something that we just cannot afford to continue doing with benefit payments, then people would have to go back into the workforce. That could create a herd immunity and maybe in that scenario we could go back playing because you are as likely to …

Derrick Lynch Getting through the Covid-19 crisis can often seem like climbing a mountain for some, but the Corofin GAA club have decided to turn that on its head. The North Clare club will descend on one of the most iconic landmarks in the county on Saturday June 6 for a unique fundraising event. The Solo Run Challenge will see 50 members of the club make their bid for the summit of the famed Mullaghmore in the spectacular Burren landscape, all while soloing with either a football or hurley and sliotar. The target is for the participants to reach the top having completed the combined distance it takes to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The challenge will be completed throughout the day in small groups with all participants adhering to current social distancing guidelines. All funds raised from the event will go towards Cystic Fibrosis charity TLC4CF. Among those taking on the challenge will be county star Jamie Malone, …

Derrick Lynch It is clear from just a few seconds of talking to John O’Malley that his recollection of Avenue United’s historic run to the FAI Junior Cup final is going to be an interesting one “30 years ago. You’re bringing back a lot of memories now asking about that” is the immediate response and he laughs before gathering himself to issue a “no comment” statement when asked how many of those memories are fit for publication. He says the time since that famous year has flown. “It doesn’t seem like it was 30 years ago to be honest with you. We were a really close bunch and I think that stood to us throughout the campaign. We only used about 14 players across the run and many of the lads from then are still involved today. In many respects, the time we have on our hands now with Covid-19 has been a blessing in disguise to the club. We …

Derrick Lynch The first local sporting activity since the outbreak of COVID-19 is set to get underway next week as golf courses around the county open their doors once more. A set of protocols from the Golfing Union of Ireland outline the terms and conditions under which the sport can resume, with only casual golf allowed for the moment under strict guidelines and time constraints. The protocol is aligned to the five planned phases of the Government’s Roadmap and sets out how the restrictions on golf will be eased over the coming months. From Monday May 18, all tee times must be booked in advance either online or by phone with only fully paid up members permitted out on course. 3-balls will be played at 14 minute intervals, there will be 12 minute intervals for 2-balls while individual players will be on 10 minute intervals. Clubhouses will be closed with pro shops allowed open only for the purpose of checking …

Derrick Lynch Clare Camogie manager Ger O’Connell feels club action should be prioritised ahead of county games should the opportunity to return to action arise later in the year. It comes after the Camogie Association announced it was extending its suspension of activity until Monday June 8 following the latest announcement from the Government on the pathway to reopening post COVID-19. The statement from the Association stated that “we acknowledge that this step will result in further inconvenience and disruption to members as well as the game at all levels, however we appreciate the continued co-operation and support of everyone involved at this time. The health and safety of our members is, as always, of paramount importance and these steps will assist us all in taking the necessary precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to return to full activity as early as possible”. It also says that the situation will be assessed in line with further advice from …

Derrick Lynch When the golf courses around the county reopen their doors next week, chances are Sinead Sexton will be one of the first in line to tee off. The Spanish Point native has a better excuse than most for wanting to get back onto the first tee though as she recently began her studies to become a golf professional. “I am doing it through the Ladies PGA and it allows you to do it all online through quizzes and assignments. There is also a in-person seminar in Florida in August so we will have to just wait and see if that goes ahead. If I can’t get there, it can be put off until December and that will complete Level One. There are three levels which are worked like three college semesters and the good thing about it is that you can still be working while you are doing it. It can tie in with what you are doing …

One of Clare’s top athletes is driving a fundraising initiative this weekend to raise funds for Sláinte an Chlair. Ennis Track clubman Rory Chesser is no stranger to success on the track but this weekend his focus will be on hitting the road to help out one of Clare’s main Cancer support charities. “I was thinking about how I could do something to encourage people to run with a cause in mind. I organised this fundraiser with the aim of getting €1000 for the charity. The idea I had was that I would get a group from Ennis Track to run a total of 100 miles between all of us, on an individual basis obviously. To date, there are 50 volunteers and we have raised over €2,000” he outlined. Rory admits he has been blown away with the response since the idea first came into his head. “The support I have received from the club and from people outside the …

Derrick Lynch East Clare has always been a hotbed of hurling debate and over the last few weeks that has only intensified. It is all because of an initiative from Scariff Bay Community Radio which has seen each of the ten hurling clubs in its catchment area casting their votes for the best 15 players to have ever donned their own club jersey. As with all sporting debates, there will be plenty alternatives suggested but democracy has ruled with the votes now counted and the teams revealed. It may sound like an onerous task to collate the best players to have ever represented their own clubs, but the unenviable task of distilling the 150 players already selected down to the 15 who will make the best ever East Clare team is well underway. Under the rules of the selection process, there must be at least one player on the final team from each of the ten clubs involved while votes …