Sports

Peter Duggan is a man riding on a crest of a wave and he knows it’s something to savour. The Clooney/Quin man enjoyed a stellar 2018 which saw him pick up a first ever All-Star award for his performances across the season as he finished as the championship top scorer. Another award came his way this week but this one was of a much more sentimental variety. Principal of Duggan’s former stomping ground in Clooney National School, Shane Greene, presented him with a memento from the staff and students as he returned to a place that holds many fond memories for him. Students were decked out in their Clare and Clooney/Quin colours to welcome back their local hero while he also presented medals to the boy’s football team who were runners up in their final of the Cumann na mBunscoil tournament earlier this year. Duggan admits it was a special moment for him to be welcomed back in such fashion. …

Ennistymon CBS eased their way in the semi-finals of the Munster Colleges Senior C Football Championship with a dominant display against their Kerry opponents in this replayed tie. These sides couldn’t be separated after their initial clash, but 1-8 from the boot of Kealan Guyler helped ensure their passage to the last four. Playing with the aid of a considerable wind in the opening half, the North Clare side had a dream start. Dual inter-county minor star Guyler got on the end of a well-worked move to palm the ball home inside five minutes after he had opened the scoring from a free. The Kerry men responded with a point of their own but this was quickly followed by a fine long distance score from Eoin Rouine. The big midfielder then powered through the centre to hammer home a brilliant goal and establish a lead that Ennistymon CBS would never lose. Brendan Rouine added another point soon after before St …

GAA clubs and schools in Clare have received almost €177,000 from developments grants issued by Munster GAA. The money is part of a total allocation of €1.1 million across the province for capital development projects. Among the top recipients in Clare were Inagh/Kilnamona GAA club who received €27,595, with €26,128 going to Scariff GAA club and Clonlara GAA club who benefitted to the tune of €19,767. A total of 22 applications from Clare were successful for this year’s scheme with sanding grants also allocated to clubs carrying out works on their pitches. The incoming chairman of Munster GAA Liam Lenihan presented the clubs with their cheques at Clare GAA Headquarters in Clareabbey last Wednesday evening. The full list of clubs and schools who received monies is as follows:   Ballyea                                  €12,543.37 Broadford                          €1,557.38 Clonlara                               €19,767.72 Clooney Quin                    €2,400.80 Corofin                                €6,271.69 Cratloe                                €5,943.68 Doonbeg                             €1,334.00 Eire Og                                  €10,197.76 Inagh/Kilnamona             €27,595.42 Kilmurry Ibrickane           €6,271.69 …

A 94th minute goal for Galway saw them leave Frank Healy Park with a point from their Oscar Traynor clash with Clare.  It was a cruel blow for a gallant Banner side who had come from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in the closing stages in what were difficult conditions in Doora.  The visitors started the brightest and took the lead in the 12th minute as Ryan Shaugnessey slotted home to the back of the Clare net from just inside the area.  Clare goalkeeper Jason Tierney was a busy man in the opening half as he produced some outstanding saves but he could do nothing about Galway’s second goal as Shane Conconnan got on the end of a low cross from the right wing to finish from close range.  David McCarthy did force the Galway netminder into a fine save after he had a go from distance but at the break it was the Tribesmen 2-0 in front.  Shane Keegan’s …

Colin Guilfoyle’s second half goal helped Clare to a 1-19 to 2-13 win over Wexford in the Jack Lynch Memorial Challenge.  The game was held in Dr Daly Park in memory of the Tulla native who passed away from leukemia 12 months ago aged just 20.  With the famous venue living up to its windswept reputation, the sides battled through difficult conditions to produce an entertaining encounter.  They were level inside the opening quarter with the Clooney/Quin pair of Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor on target for the Banner who were playing with the aid of the elements.  Wexford struck the opening goal of the game on 18 mins when Aidan Nolan flicked a shot to the net after Ian Byrne’s free had dropped short.  Clare responded with further scores from Taylor and Duggan while Niall Deasy also got in on the action to leave Clare in front at the break by 0-10 to 1-5.  The sides traded scores once …

THREE Travellers who had stopped playing soccer for Sporting Ennistymon following incidences of racist abuse, have now returned to the club. Michael Sherlock, Patrick Sherlock and Martin Mongan all returned last week, as the club’s B side were defeated by Rineanna Rovers. Speaking to The Clare Champion on Wednesday , Michael Sherlock said, “We just said we’d go back. There’s a long winter ahead.” While the matter was featured firstly in The Clare Champion and then in the national newspapers, as well as on national TV and radio, Michael said no-one from the FAI or the Clare District Soccer League had ever made contact with him. “I never heard anything from anybody,” he said. The club’s PRO Matthew Crowe said they are glad to have the players back. “It’s brilliant. It’s a great boost to the club. They’re great players and they’ve been involved since they were 13 or 14.” Michael and Patrick Sherlock are brothers and another brother of …

THE Clare hurlers will play Cork in Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday December 29 at 2pm in their opening group game in the Munster Senior Hurling League. They will play Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Sunday January 6 at 3pm in their second group two game. The opening round of the Co-Op Superstores Munster league will feature All-Ireland champions, Limerick playing Tipperary in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Friday, December 14 in group one. The league final will be played on Sunday January 13 with the venue and time to be confirmed. “The Munster Council is pleased to facilitate this competition for our counties as it provides participating teams with a great opportunity to prepare for the very competitive Allianz League,” Munster Council chairman, Jerry O’Sullivan said at the launch this week.

COLÁISTE Muire, Ennis have qualified for the All-Ireland senior A volleyball final, which will be played in UCD on Wednesday December 12. Members of the current team won the Junior schools shield in 2013, the Junior schools Cup in 2014 and the Cadette A in 2016. This is the second time the school will contest the senior A final, having lost out to Naas two years ago while the schools second senior team won the B final last year. They defeated Holy Family Newbridge, three sets to one, in the semi-final, which was played in UL Arena on Tuesday. Colàiste Muire lost the schools senior cup final in a five set match against Newbridge last April in Kilkenny so it was a sweet victory. The squad has trained really well and are determined to bring the senior A title to Ennis for the first time. Their opponents will be decided on Friday when St Mary’s Naas play St Raphael’s Loughrea. …