Sports

AN Ennis woman competing in the upcoming Ironman World Championships in Hawaii has said the reality of the situation has yet to sink in. Becky Coughlan told the Champion, “It still kind of hasn’t hit me, I don’t think it will until I’m at Shannon Airport.” Amazingly Becky, a member of West Clare Tri Club, earned her place in the world championships in Kona, Hawaii after completing her very first Ironman in Cork. The challenge saw her swim 3.8km, cycle for 180km and run 42.2km and she admits that after that event in Youghal she was thinking to herself, “Enjoy this now, because I’m never doing another one.” However that all changed when she found out she had achieved a dream of competing in the iconic world championships in Kona. “I’ll never say never again,” she laughs. “It was a really cool experience, but it was tough. When I finished the race in Cork my supporters, my mam, Dave, my …

A tribute to Frank Healy, who was a key figure in Clare soccer, before his passing in 2015 is set to be unveiled this Sunday at the home of Fern Celtic. His wife Eileen and the Healy family are installing a memorial bench for Frank at the club’s home ground in Tiermaclane on Sunday afternoon. Frank was instrumental in the purchasing of the grounds as he spent countless hours maintaining the facility to a high standard. There is no doubt that the former Chairman of the Clare District Soccer League would be delighted to see the continued development of the grounds with children and adults alike both benefitting from Frank’s hard work. Frank’s son Timmy alongside Leonard Meaney helped to establish the club in 2001. He took a keen interest in Fern Celtic’s continued growth, which he contributed immensely towards. His daughter in law Catherine Healy told The Clare Champion that Frank held a strong passion for soccer within the …

Senior Football Championship Round 3 Group 1 Éire Óg v Corofin at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 6.30pm With three quarter-final places on offer from Group 1, most eyes will be fixated on the other group tie in Ennistymon as a St Breckan’s victory would automatically see Corofin join Éire Óg in the quarter-finals regardless of the result between these neighbours. The thing is that the defending champions still require something out of this game in order to confirm top spot and fundamentally will be determined to maintain their perfect title defence thus far. Corofin arguably require a result more though as first and foremost, they can’t simply depend on their North Clare brethren to do them a favour and essentially require a positive result following contrasting performances so far. Off the back of a lacklustre display against St Breckan’s, expect Corofin to throw everything at the Ennis side on the welcome return to Cusack Park. However, with Éire Óg seeking …

THE WORLD famous Aga Khan trophy could be making its way to Clare next month to mark the role of a Tuamgraney man in Team Ireland’s victory in the Nations Cup last week. The glittering prize is one of the most sought-after in international equestrian sport and was donated by Aga Khan III in 1926. Chef d’Équipe, Tuamgraney’s Michael Blake, ensured that Ireland took back the coveted cup for the first time since 2015 in after a tense, but thrilling, jump-off against France. An elated Michael, who is also celebrating early qualification for the Olympics in 2024, told The Champion the nail-biting finish was a little tighter than he would have liked. “We did take our foot off the gas at point, but when it came down to the penalty shoot-out, we showed we could put the ball in the back of the net,” he said. On returning to Clare last Monday, one of the first things Michael did was …

THERE was more success for Clare at the presitigious Dublin Horse Show this Sunday. Following his brother Coen’s victory in the U-16 148cm final at the main RDS arena on Friday, Rhys Williams won the International 7 & 8-year-old competition. The PARC Stables rider took victory this afternoon aboard the 7-year-old Playboy JT Z (Presley Boy x Plot Blue). Last year, the Ennis brothers made showjumping history by becoming the first pair of siblings to be crowned leading international horse rider and leading International pony rider at the FEI International Jumping Nations Cup Youth Finals.

Michael O’Connor watched Newmarket on Fergus take the Under 13B academy final from Cratloe on a score of 3-3 to 1-7 As the Under 13 season winds down with the school season lurking ominously on the horizon next week the academy finals at under 13 and under 15 are providing great entertainment for club supporters. In some cases, the excitement is at a greater level as seen already this season. Meelick was the latest venue on Thursday evening for two sides who have a storied history in competition an the latest chapter was his academy final. Over the course of the game the tackling was fierce with match official Joe Mullins requiring the proverbial eyes in the back of the head. There was a player sent off and a mentor asked to leave the field such was the excitement engendered. It matters little the title on offer, be it all Ireland or Under 12 because when two GAA sides go …

Eoin Brennan looks ahead to this weekend’s Intermediate Football Championship Round 2 games  Group 1 Kildysart v Naomh Eoin at Shanahan McNamara Park Doonbeg, Sunday 12.30pm Fresh from their 13 point victory over underage amalgamation partners Coolmeen, there seems to be a more ruthless streak surrounding Kildysart this year, perhaps following the major confidence boost of reaching a first Cusack Cup decider. Naomh Eoin matched Kilrush in their derby opener but Kildysart are a step up again. Verdict: Kildysart Kilrush Shamrocks v Coolmeen at Labasheeda, Sunday 2pm With the Shams getting off the mark with a gritty local victory over Naomh Eoin, they will be determined to cement a quarter-final spot in their bid for immediate senior redemption by lowering a Coolmeen side still reeling from their sizeable reverse to Kildysart. Both sides have a refreshing youthful look but Kilrush’s added sprinkling of senior experience should be decisive. Verdict: Kilrush Shamrocks Group 2 Kilfenora v Banner at Páirc Finne Corofin, …

Eoin Brennan previews this weekend’s senior football championship clashes   Group 1 Éire Óg v St Joseph’s Miltown at St Michael’s Park Kilmihil, Sunday 12.30pm Amazingly these heavyweights haven’t clashed in the senior championship since prior to St Joseph’s Miltown’s latest three crowns as one would have to rewind to the 2014 Quarter-Final, a match that the Townies shaded by three on their way to the final against Cratloe. They weren’t successful that day against a Cratloe dual wave of momentum but they did finally make up for that last November when garnering a first Jack Daly in 15 years. They have already secured a successful first defence with a gritty opening victory over St Breckan’s whereas St Joseph’s Miltown looked far from their superpower selves when ruffled by intermediate champions Corofin. The West Clare side’s overused treatment table doesn’t look to be any emptier so if the holders can improve from their cobweb-blowing first round display, they should be …