Sports

Senior Championship Round 5 Group 1 Cratloe v Ennistymon at Cusack Park, Sunday 12pm The high noon throw-in couldn’t be more apt as this is the ultimate showdown for the final quarter-final place on Sunday afternoon. The scenario is simple as it’s winner-takes-all albeit that Cratloe can afford a share of the spoils to prevail. It’s only two years since the sides last knock-out meeting, a quarter-final clash that saw Cratloe eventually ease up to victory by 11 points as the wheels rather came off the Ennistymon wagon after finishing with just 13 men. After a slow start, Ennistymon have actually improved as the group has developed but the Achilles heel remains up front where they hold the unenviable record of having the lowest scoring ratio of all five teams in the group to date. The thing is that Cratloe have a particular point to prove themselves, having faltered so embarrassingly against Kilmurry Ibrickane last time out when conceding 2-6 …

CLARE’S Imogen Cotter will be completing arguably her greatest test of endurance this Saturday when the talented cyclists completed a 340km cycle in Spain, writes Ivan Smyth. Cotter, from Ruan, will aim to complete the Pirinexus Challenge as she will start her cycle in Girona with the route taking her through the Pyrenees. This is a unique event in the cycling calendar with participants given 18 hours to complete the cycle as they start at dawn and have until midnight to negotiate this difficult course. The Clare cyclist is under no illusions as to the size of the task she faces. “I have never done a challenge like this. I will be travelling on road, gravel paths and even up mountains. It is a huge challenge. I’m tripling the distance that I usually race. I have to be self sufficient on the day so if I get a puncture, I have to deal with that myself.” Cotter enters this race …

Clare’s Liam Jegou is set to race at the 2021 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships tomorrow, writes Ivan Smyth. The Ballyvaughan canoeist qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games in a condensed field although he didn’t make a splash as planned after being eliminated at the semi-final stage. However, Thursday afternoon in Slovakia, he hopes to build upon what has been a promising year thus far with another assured display. Jegou has struggled with a neck injury in recent weeks but in a post on social media, the Olympian confirmed that he intends to represent his country in Bratislava. https://twitter.com/LiamJegou/status/1439963454539014147?s=20 He lines up in a talented field as each participant will compete in two heats this afternoon as Jegou aims to reach the final this weekend. Jegou competes in the C1 discipline. In canoe C1, competitors navigate a course while trying to avoid touching a series of overhanging gates. The slightest touch adds two seconds to a canoeists’ time. Missing a …

THERE WAS double joy for Fergus Rovers recently when the club captured county championships in two under 14 divisions. First up were the U14C side who took their title with a dominant defeat of Banner Ladies. Not to be outdone, their colleagues in the A division finished strongly to defeat Kilrush Shamrocks and land the county title. U 14 A Final Fergus Rovers 3-11 Kilrush Shamrocks 2-06 In the same week that Meath caught the attention of the nation after their sensational win over 5 in a row seeking Dublin, locally the young teenagers of Fergus Rovers and Kilrush did likewise in Kilmihil on Thursday evening when they served up an intriguing contest in the U 14 A championship final played before a fine attendance. While there was never much between the sides until the closing minutes Kilrush did start the brighter and at the first water break held a three point advantage, 1-02 to 0-2 the goal coming from …

Eoin Brennan looks ahead to the senior, intermediate and junior championships, beginning this weekend SENIOR Having unceremoniously snatched back their senior crown last September, Banner Ladies are gunning for their 12th title in 14 seasons and remain still the team to beat despite an ever-evolving panel. Kilmihil were the last to lower the Banner in a near-perfect final display in 2019 in what was their fourth consecutive final appearance. That breakthrough came nine years after West Clare Gaels did likewise against the Ennis side, with last year’s welcome return to a final proving a sobering experience. 2019 Intermediate winners Cooraclare made an immediate impact in the top tier by reaching the semi-finals at the first attempt, something which newcomers Kilmurry Ibrickane will hope to emulate by becoming the dark horses for the prestigious crown. The county senior ladies football championship comprises six teams in one group, with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals (1 v 4, 2 v …

Eoin Brennan runs the rule over this weekend’s championship action Senior Championship Round 2 Group 3 Cratloe v Broadford at Shannon, Saturday It has understandably been an emotional few weeks around Broadford as they come to terms with the shock of losing one of their much-loved brethren. It’s never easy to get back on the field after such a blow but as a proud club, they will undoubtedly be channeling their emotions into getting a result for Niall this Saturday. The fact that it’s also a necessity will only heighten the mood as anything other than a positive result would end their hopes of Canon Hamilton glory. On the flip side, the element of surprise is gone, having pushed Ballyea to their optimum in their first outing five weeks ago. Consequently, Cratloe cannot say that they haven’t been forewarned or forearmed for what will undoubtedly be a major battle. A win puts Cratloe into a quarter-final with a game to …

Under 13A Shield Final – Kilmaley 6-7 Newmarket On Fergus 3-1 A good start was much more than half the battle after Kilmaley’s first quarter heroics effectively sealed the first Under 13 honours of the season in Dr. Murphy Memorial Park in Newmarket-on-Fergus on Sunday morning, writes Eoin Brennan. Having finished strongly against the ‘Bridge in extra-time a week previously, Kilmaley left nothing to chance this time around as quickfire goals through Aidan Cleary (2) and Sam Switzer aided their passage to a 3-4 to 0-0 cushion by the 15th minute. The shell-shocked hosts did manage to settle just before the water break with a timely goal from Tadgh Guinane at 3-4 to 1-0. From there it was actually a relatively evenly-matched affair, with both sides giving their all and each defence to the fore. For Kilmaley, four goal hero Aidan Cleary was a cool yet clinical finisher, helped by the work-rate of Dylan Killeen. However, it was the defensive …

Eoin Brennan previews this year’s Clare senior camogie championship, with the preliminary action taking place in two groups Group A – Kilkishen/Bodyke, Kilmaley, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Scariff-Ogonnelloe, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield With three of last year’s semi-finalists pooled together in Group A, the developmental race to take on defending champions Inagh-Kilnamona should make for an intriguing wrestle for two semi-final places. Newmarket certainly won’t require any extra motivational edge after five successive final defeats while 2019 Munster champions Scariff-Ogonnelloe also have a point to prove after their meek semi-final exit at the hands of the Blues. Kilmaley actually came closest to lowering Inagh-Kilnamona when bringing them all the way to extra-time in their derby penultimate stage clash. That’s not to rule out Kilkishen/Bodyke or St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, with the former coming agonisingly close to first reaching last year’s knock-out stages before also missing out on Senior B honours. However, when blending age profile with experience, Scariff-Ogonnelloe and the opening round winners between old …