Sports

Senior Football Championship Round 3 Group 2 St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Kilrush Shamrocks at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 4pm Bouncing back from deflating opening performances, both Doora/Barefield and Kilrush unquestionably exceeded expectations last time out albeit with contrasting results. The Parish brushed off an underwhelming eight point reverse to St Breckan’s to take their frustrations out on Kilmihil by a whopping 16 points and that will have provided a huge jolt of confidence to their young squad in what is the club’s first year back at senior level since 2018. Equally, there was much to like about Kilrush’s spirit and application to certainly make life extremely uncomfortable for a St Breckan’s side that was expected to steamroll the Shams. However, the time for moral victories and valiant performances in defeat are over as with two teams getting the chop this year from senior level, this group more than most knows the heartache of having to rebuild in the second tier, …

CLARE’S Eimear Considine has been named in Ireland’s squad for three crucial games that could see them qualify for a place at Rugby World Cup 2021, reports Ivan Smyth. Considine crossed the whitewash twice when Ireland defeated Wales 45-0 in the opening round of this year’s Six Nations campaign, cementing her place in Adam Griggs’ squad. She can play as a winger, but was used at full-back in this year’s Six Nations, starting all three games. Considine is one of six Munster women named in the 28 strong panel. Ireland are preparing to go head-to-head with hosts Italy, Spain and Scotland for a place at Rugby World Cup 2021, which will be held next year. Griggs’ side will face Spain in their opening game on Monday, September 13, (5pm Irish time) before meeting Six Nations rivals Italy in Round 2 on Sunday, September 19, (2pm Irish time) and Scotland in Round 3 on Saturday, September 25 (5pm Irish time). The …

Ruan’s Imogen Cotter says she is honoured to be a part of the Irish cycling team at Rás na mBan. “Before this year any time I’ve been selected to race I’ve suffered an injury. It was a really big goal of mine heading in to this year to wear the Irish kit so I’m delighted to do it.” Back in June 2019, she was selected to ride for Cycling Ireland at the Kreiz Breizh Elites Dames in Brittany but was unable to race after fracturing her sternum. She was asked to represent Cycling Ireland at Rás na mBan that same year but she injured her radius and another opportunity to represent her country went abegging. When the pandemic led the Rás and other events to be cancelled, it appeared that Cotter may have missed her opportunity to represent her country. She never lost faith though and finally got the opportunity to wear the green jersey in the Kreiz Breizh Elites …

Clare GAA Chairman Jack Chaplin believes “the process was pretty fast” when discussing the County Board Officers’ agreement to reappoint Brian Lohan for a three year term. Although a full meeting of the Clare County Board is needed to confirm Lohan’s appointment, Chaplin is happy with how the situation has been handled. “The process was pretty fast. We spoke with Brian a week after the last match against Cork. He had to discuss with the people around him so we understand that. We simply asked Brian would he stay on. He wanted a three year term and we are going through the process to confirm that now.” When asked by The Clare Champion when a full meeting of the County Board will be held to make the final decision on Lohan’s future, the Cratloe man stated that there is no fixed date yet for the meeting. “We will probably be meeting sometime in September. Something we are actively working on …

Kilmaley made it third time lucky when powering to the Under 15B Hurling honours in Cusack Park on Tuesday evening. Following back-to-back final defeats to Newmarket-on-Fergus (13B) and Clarecastle (14B), their persistence was finally rewarded thanks to a determined, command display. That said, it was a result that certainly didn’t seem likely when losing captain Evan Casey to a red card after only 14 minutes. At the time, they led by Jamie Healy’s ninth minute goal but saw their advantage swallowed up by a Jerry O’Connor-led resurgence from Clooney-Quin that twice regained parity. However, with the wind at their backs for the second period, Kilmaley flexed their muscles by not only negating Clooney-Quin’s numerical advantage but outscoring their opponents by 3-9 to 1-2 in a dominant half that ensured that the game was over long before the final whistle. Jamie Healy’s hat-trick of goals was a particular highlight while the threat and direct running of Joseph Clancy 0-4) and Daire …

The morning dew was still resting on the well manicured facilities of St Joseph’s GAA grounds in Gurteen on Saturday morning as Éire Óg with a positive opening ten minutes secured the Féile B title at the expense of St Joseph’s Miltown. Conor Perrill was the early hero for the Ennis side as he struck for (1-1) in the opening minutes as the skilful fast moving Charlie Doherty was the goal maker as Perrill finished off the chance. This sequence of scores hit Miltown hard as they needed a couple of plays to get settled and create their first scoring opportunity which was finished by Eoin Devanney. However, worse was to come for the West Clare side as Charlie Doherty left two markers in his wake to slot home Éire Óg’s second goal. Colin Hayes was on hand to deny Doherty a third Éire Óg goal and indeed it was an important save as it stifled Éire Óg somewhat for …

U-15C Hurling Championship Final Wolfe Tones 4-13 Crusheen/Tubber 1-11 A dream final for 3-8 hero Sean Murphy greatly aided Wolfe Tones passage to a first ever Under 15C Hurling title in Cusack Park on Monday evening, reports Eoin Brennan. The clinical full-forward was simply unstoppable as the Tones produced a 15 point turnaround over a Crusheen/Tubber side that will rue early missed opportunities and indeed their luck as the ball certainly didn’t bounce their way at key moments early on. Still, in James Costello, the amalgamation had a real leader while Joe Clancy, Oisin McNamara, Osgar Dunford, Peter Farrell and Ian Taaffe did most to stem the tide. The Shannon side’s philosophy was more ‘who dares wins’ and in Murphy, the skilful Niall Fitzgerald, Georgie Pyne, Aaron Shinners and goalkeeper Sean Guilfoyle, they ruthlessly outscored the North Clare amalgamation by 4-10 to 0-04 in the middle 30 minutes of the tie. Such a sea-change is difficult to comprehend as Crusheen/Tubber …

Revenge is a dish best served cold when a title is on the line and Lissycasey used the Under 15A final defeat as a motivator to take the Féile A title at the expense of the county final conquerors St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in perfect conditions in Clareabbey on Saturday morning. The rerouting of Darragh Culligan who was nursing a slight injury, to deep into the Barefield backs did wonders for their challenge as it took the challenge directly to their opponents. The game was in its infancy when the talented Culligan skated through the Barefield defence and notched up the game’s only goal. Diarmuid McMahon who was to the fore for the winners throughout added a well taken score in the 3rd minute before Culligan stretched his sides lead to five points as Barefield had yet to raise a flag. This was remedied following a rare upfield foray by St Joseph’s that ended with Oige Fanning converting a free before …