Sports

Munster Minor Football Championship Phase One Round One: Clare 3-15 Limerick 0-10 A strong second quarter from Clare in which they hit 1-5 unanswered helped them overcome a stubborn Limerick challenge in the opening round of the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship. Jamie Stack’s goal mid-way through the opening half kickstarted a period of dominance for Dermot Coughlan’s side, after a slow start to the game saw them trail by 0-5 to 0-2 early on. Barely a minute had elapsed when Dara Nagle found the angled run of Shane Meehan and the Clare captain was fouled on the 20 metre line close to the sideline. He dusted himself down to arrow over a free from the left hand side to open the scoring. The home side in Newcastlewest hit back with a fine score from midfielder Matthew Southgate to level proceedings with five minutes gone. The Clare defence were under plenty pressure early on and Limerick hit the front …

On this week’s Champion Sports Chat podcast: Clare LGFA selector Enda O’Halloran joins Derrick Lynch, Peter O’Connell & Joe Garry to talk through their National League campaign, and we look back on a busy weekend of club action in Clare.

There’s good news for Clare ahead of the 2019 Munster SHC. All-Star John Conlon & Colm Galvin made their return from injury during Clonlara’s Clare Cup win over Clooney/Quin. Galvin started the game while Conlon played the last 10 minutes. Clare are due to face Waterford in Walsh Park on May 12th.

Crows are not always the most welcome sight in a rural place like West Clare, but Ailish Considine may just have changed all that. The Kilmihil native crowned an incredible journey by getting on the scoreboard as the Adelaide Crows emerged victorious in the Women’s Australian Grand Final last weekend, with Considine among the goalscorers in the 63-18 win over Carlton. It was not her first time to split the posts, with four goals to her name across a dream debut season. It has been a meteoric rise for the 26-year-old with her first taste of the sport coming when she joined up with the West Clare Waves, a women’s Australian Rules team which was set up and masterminded by fellow Kilmihil native Michael Currane. He had already built up a wealth of knowledge of the sport having spent time down under, and that experience would prove to be a crucial first step on the road to last weekend’s historic …

On this weeks podcast: Derrick Lynch, Eoghan Moloney and Peter O’Connell review the weekend action and ask what’s next for the Clare hurlers as the Munster SHC looms.

THE substantial shadow of the man who is not there will not damage the Irish Open. That’s the firm view of host Paul McGinley but he admits that Rory McIlroy is a major loss from the field at Lahinch. “I’m still very disappointed. He’s one of the top players in the world, he’s Irish and he’s chosen this year to sit out the Irish Open, which is a huge disappointment for everyone; you’ve got to be honest and open about it. But, you know what, the Irish Open isn’t going to be defined by whether Rory McIlroy plays or not. The Irish Open has been in the schedule for a great number of years, with some great champions like Seve Ballesteros, Olazábal, Bernhard Langer; Rory’s won it himself. Players come and go, eras come and go but the Irish Open will always remain.” McIlroy’s reasoning that playing Lahinch would damage his chances at the British Open doesn’t hold water, McGinley …

Clare 3-15    Tipperary 1-19 Eoghan Moloney CLARE came out the right end of an absolute classic in Semple Stadium this afternoon to retain their Division Two status in dramatic fashion. A late Keelan Sexton goal was the difference maker as momentum swung back and forth before points from Gary Brennan and Tubridy sealed the win. Tipperary started like a house on fire and had 1-1 in the first three minutes through captain Conor Sweeney. The goal coming after Philip Austin spilt the defence and rounded Robert Eyres before spying Sweeney free at the edge of the square. He had a simple fist to the net to open the scoring. Gavin Cooney opened Clare’s account after five minutes when he beat his man and popped the ball over. Five minutes later he had a goal when a Gary Brennan’s shot hit the post and fell into his arms and he had the simple task of finishing the goal. Just the slice …

AT the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, Team Ireland got off to a great start with Ennis girl Emma Barrett winning a gold for the 25m freestyle relay team. The team also featured Damien Breslin, Offaly; Chelsea Phillips, Roscommon and Edel Armstrong, Dublin. The games officially got under way at a spectacular Opening Ceremony at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium, the largest stadium in the United Arab Emirates. Team Ireland were walked out by Irish representatives including Brendan Whelan, Chairman of Special Olympics Ireland and Shane Ross, Minister of Transport, Tourism and Sport, during the celebratory parade which featured a number of international celebrities including singer and Special Olympics global ambassador, Nicole Scherzinger. This is a huge year for Special Olympics Ireland and the 91 athletes who have travelled to Abu Dhabi to compete as part of Team Ireland, with athletes having been selected after four years of training competition. Supported by a volunteer management …