Sports

Derrick Lynch In a purely sporting sense, it has been a really positive and uplifting couple of days. The prospect of live competitive action is now just days away, with the first two rounds of the O’Gorman Cup being played this weekend. The ice has already been broken with teams taking part in various challenge games across the county and beyond over the last week as that long spell without sport finally came to an end. All of it has of course to be tempered by the fact that we are by no means out of the Covid-19 shaped woods just yet, but thankfully for the first time since March we can see the track that will hopefully lead us through. The images from Dublin and the anecdotal stories from other places last weekend were not exactly encouraging, so it is vital that we do not lose sight of the fact that this is not yet over. Live sporting action …

A farmer, a father and a husband. They are the three titles that legendary Clare athlete Seamus Power uses to break down where his focus lies these days. A relatively small farmer is how he assesses himself, with the 50 cows in his dairy herd keeping his days busy. His evenings are busy too, with his three sons all having inherited the sporting gene from their father with football, hurling, soccer and inevitably, athletics, all on the agenda for the next generation. They know all about just how successful their father was from the stories they have heard of his achievements, but there is also the more tangible proof in the form of his medal haul from an outstanding career. It is fitting that the humble Power is not one for keeping his bounty on display, but yet when asked about them there is a hint of that confidence that saw him dominate the long distance athletics scene for well …

Derrick Lynch As the country moved into the latest phase of reopening this week, the fitness industry was among those that kicked back into gear. It saw gyms and fitness clubs allowed to reopen their doors having been shut since lockdown measures were introduced, with Hustle Fitness in Ennis being one of those. The gym opened in September 2017, and manager Declan Ensko has been there since that first day. The Ennis native admits it was a difficult move having to lock the doors with an uncertain future ahead when the Covid-19 crisis struck. “It was very tough to make the decision to close. We had thought about doing a few days previously but then we had our hands tied and it was the only thing we could do. It was a tough time initially but once the roadmap came that we knew when we could reopen, it made it somewhat easier.  The first few weeks, we did not know …

The Clare minor football championship will be run as an U-18 competition for 2020. It comes after a number of clubs objected to the decision to make it an U-17 championship, which would have ruled out players in their final year of the traditional minor grade. It is understood that a number of clubs objected to the move which was announced earlier this week, and an email circulated to clubs today confirmed that the decision had been reversed. The minor hurling championship had already been confirmed as being for U-18’s. Both codes will also run an U-14 competition, with the possibility of championships at other age grades later this year.

Derrick Lynch The Clare minor camogie squad have expressed their disappointment at the decision to cancel this year’s All-Ireland series. The Camogie Association confirmed last week that they would not be running the championship this year, with provincial series being run instead. That is despite the competition having already begun before the Covid-19 measures were put in place, with Clare losing out to Kilkenny in the opening round. The issue of the crossover between minor and senior squads was highlighted as an issue but that is something that those opposed to the move have disputed. The Clare management team led by Dervilla Moloney have been instrumental in leading the charge for the decision to be reversed, while some members of the squad have made their feelings known with letters to The Clare Champion. One of those came from the vice-captain of the team, Kilkishen’s Caoimhe Kelly “As a committed county player I write this statement on behalf of my teammates …

Derrick Lynch St Flannan’s Harty Cup winning coach Brendan Bugler feels more efforts could have been made to ensure the completion of this year’s All-Ireland colleges hurling championship. It is after the decision was taken not to conclude the All-Ireland series for post-primary competitions in light of the Covid-19 crisis and the packed sporting calendar over the next few months. The Ennis school followed up their provincial success by taking down defending champions St Kieran’s of Kilkenny, and were due to face St Raphael’s in a last four tie just days before lockdown measures were introduced. It had been hoped that some solution could be found to see the Croke Cup competition finished in 2020, but last week’s decision saw the campaign brought to a close. Whitegate clubman Bugler says recent easing of restrictions led to renewed hopes the competition would be concluded, and feels there were options available to be explored. “Initially we thought the chances of playing the …

Derrick Lynch The sporting landscape around the country might have been at a standstill for the last few months, but behind the scenes, one West Clare club was putting plans in place to take their development to the next level. Kilrush Rugby Club is based in Monmore, and in recent years the influx of younger players in particular has seen the club producing some brilliant talent across the girls and boys divisions. That success has also accelerated plans to rejuvenate the adult section of the club, with recruitment currently underway for both a men’s and women’s team for the coming season. It is not just on the field that the club is looking to further their development, but they are also looking to further the development of their field with work progressing on the construction of a second pitch at their grounds. Director of rugby in Kilrush, Andy Burke, outlined where the idea for the project came from “One thing …

Last year’s senior football finalists, St Joseph’s Miltown, the winners, and neighbours and old rivals Kilmurry Ibrickane will lock horns in the opening round of this year’s championship. The repeat pairing was the notable first round draw made by county board chairman Joe Cooney at Clareabbey on Wednesday evening. It is an intriguing tie given that last year a replay was required to determine the outcome. The football championship throws in the August bank holiday weekend. In hurling, kingpins Sixmilebridge face a daunting challenge in the opening round of their title defence when they face old adversaries Éire Óg. In last year’s campaign the sides met in the quarter-final where the Bridge were hard pressed to get the better of a Shane O’Donnell inspired Ennis side and in a game which could have gone either way. No doubt the Townies will be thirsting for revenge when the championship throws in on the weekend of July 24-25-26. Broafdford, who return to …