Sports

WITH three of the four sides emerging contently from the opening round, the stakes in the ‘Group of Death’ are upped this weekend as Ennistymon are introduced into the mix against Kilmurry Ibrickane while old rivals Miltown and Cratloe renew acquaintances. Eoin Brennan reports. Kilmurry Ibrickane v Ennistymon at Cusack Park, Saturday, 4.30pm (Referee C Maguire) While neighbours Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Miltown know each other inside out, it’s a little less familiar territory from now on for the defending champions who will be expecting an Ennistymon ambush this Saturday. The North Clare side were the only team to sit out the opening weekend of the championship so they will be extra eager to not only get their championship challenge underway but also make an immediate impact. After all, with Kilmurry Ibrickane, St Joseph’s Miltown and Cratloe strong favourites to take the three knock-out spots, Ennistymon will be determined to break up that cosy cartel, having contested at least …

Eoin Brennan focuses on this week’s U15B hurling championship QFs Under 15B Hurling Championship Quarter-Final Ballyea 0-16 O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke 0-12 BALLYEA passed a major test of character on Monday evening when belying their numerical disadvantage to finish the stronger in another inch-tight battle with O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke on home soil. With only the minimum separating the sides in the amalgamation’s favour in their group meeting, the sides would go blow-for-blow once more in a compelling tie that would see the lead change times six times and be level on nine occasions by the two-thirds mark. Ballyea proved the more efficient side in the final quarter however as O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke failed to turn their chances into scores or indeed benefit from a home dismissal entering the final ten minutes. Instead, it was the outstanding leadership of Eoin Kennedy that finally cemented Ballyea’s passage to the last four as the midfielder fired two points along with a third from younger brother Dara to …

BRÍD MacNamara and Clare Camogie’s officers clocked up one million steps between them during the month of July, writes Ivan Smyth. The fundraiser was run for Clare Camogie with PRO Brid completing over 640,000 steps during the month as she visited all 26 camogie clubs in the county. She also put her best foot forward during her lunch break and at any available opportunity. Brid admits her body is sore after completing the challenge and that it was challenging to find the time every day to clock up the steps as she averaged over 20,000 steps per day during the month of July. She believes the help of her fellow county board members was invaluable. “My body is holding up ok at this point. My legs are very sore and my feet are too. It was challenging to fit in the walking every day if you factor in inter county games on work days and then we had minor and …

Aoife Corey, Alana McInerney, Chisom Ugweru and Eilish Cahill all received call ups to the Senior Munster Women’s Rugby squad for the interprovincial series which starts at the end of August, writes Ivan Smyth. Eilish Langan manages the senior women’s rugby team with Paddy Langan, Mick Flynn and John Colleran all working as coaches. Colleran says the club is “hugely proud” of the four women who will don the red of Munster in less than a month’s time. “We are all hugely proud of what they have achieved. They’ve put the effort in and got their reward. The fact they haven’t been playing for too long speaks volumes about their work rate. “Chisom is a very well rounded athlete while the other girls are all very good GAA players. They had a good foundation in ball sports and they just seemed to enjoy rugby and they kept working at it.” After this news broke, the club discovered that Aoibheann Hahessy …

Michael O’Connor was there to witness Clarecastle trump their neighbours Éire Óg in the U15A shield on a score of 2-19 to 2-18 (AET) THERE are many club derbies in Clare GAA but none quite like when Clarecastle meet Éire Óg, with that passion evident once more on the line and the field on Monday evening for this Under 15A Shield Final in Clarecastle. A strong first half showing by the visitors, without ever dominating the scoreboard, was counteracted by Clarecastle who grew incrementally in confidence with a number of stunning personal performances that ensured extra-time and a title clincher by Harry Doherty that will be remembered for some time by all that witnessed the winning score. At the group stage the previous week, Éire Óg scored a double digit win over their hosts so the favourites tag was with the Townies from the throw-in. The game’s opening score fell to Marco Cleary while Evan Price equalised from a long …

Eoin Brennan takes a look at the junior football championship THE County Junior A Football Championship sees 15 teams, divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each advancing to the quarter-finals. As for relegation, two teams will drop down to Junior B for 2022. The bottom team in each group will will enter the relegation play-offs, with a draw to determine two matches in which the loser of both is demoted to Junior B for 2022. It’s difficult to lose a championship final at any stage but at least for Ballyvaughan, there isn’t a 12-month introspection to contend with as they have the immediate chance to redress the balance in the Junior A Football Championship Saturday’s disappointing final reverse to Banner does mean that they shouldn’t be short of motivation and crucially they also know what’s required now, something that their fellow flagship rivals St Senan’s Kilkee, Killimer, Clooney-Quin and group opponents Meelick don’t. Kilkee and Killimer …

Eoin Brennan previews the intermediate football championships TWELVE teams are divided into three groups, with the top two teams from each advancing to the quarter-finals along with the two best third placed teams based on points and then scoring difference if tied on points. Two teams will drop down to Junior A for 2022. The bottom team in each group will enter a three-way relegation play-off. The first team drawn will receive a bye. The other two teams will play off with the losing team relegated. The winning team will play the team which received the bye and the losing team from this tie will also be relegated. Group 1 – Kildysart, Liscannor, Michael Cusack’s, Kilfenora It’s not just a geographical divide as Kildysart will be favourites to top a group composed of a North Clare alliance that at underage level are partnered up as Clann Lir. Kildysart’s Cusack Cup experience should be beneficial in negating any pitfalls, especially a …

Eoin Brennan previews the county football championship action with focus on games across all divisions THE overly-familiar West Clare derby of Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Miltown represents the perfect start for this year’s race for the Jack Daly. Of course, it’s their fourth championship meeting in less than two years, with the spoils split evenly so far and what makes it even more intriguing is the fact that they have now shared the last six senior crowns evenly (Kilmurry Ibrickane 2016, ’17, ’20, St Joseph’s Miltown 2015, ’18, ’19). As defending champions, Kilmurry Ibrickane certainly had the upper hand in last year’s championship opener, but a combination of key injuries to Shane Hickey and Dermot Coughlan allied to Miltown’s Cusack Cup winning form have certainly swung this year’s momentum towards the men from Miltown Malbay. In an unforgiving group, last year’s finalists Cratloe will also be keen to keep pace at the top as they face Cooraclare this Sunday. …