Sports

IN this third-round U-16 Championship game played in Clonlara on Sunday morning, Wolfe Tones collected their first points in the competition in a high-scoring and hugely entertaining match. At the half-time whistle, Tones led 4-7 to 2-6 after playing with a slight cross-field breeze. Three goals from full-forward Aaron Shanagher, one from a 20m free and an excellent individual effort from Brian Monaghan gave the Tones the upper hand. Clonlara replied with two superb efforts by the excellent Ian Galvin. On the turnover, both sides traded score for score and with 15 minutes left, the Tones led by nine points after Aaron Shanagher scored from a 20m free, adding their fifth goal of the afternoon. At this juncture, it looked like they would run out easy winners but the hosts staged a tremendous fightback netting three times in the second half. Wolfe Tones hung on for dear life and they were very relieved to hear the full-time whistle. For Clonlara, …

TRAINER Chris Houlihan will have two runners in this weekend’s Limerick Ladbrokes.com Irish Greyhound Derby trial stake final, Blake’s Cash and Cashen Mafuma.Cashen Mafuma, which he handles for Richard Vickers, won the second semi-final heat in Limerick last Saturday night. Leading from the first bend, Cashen Mafuma won by one length in 29.95 from the County Kerry-owned Sean Rangers. Beaten a head into third place was the Graham Holland-trained Bawna Missile.Trained by Eamon Finn for County Waterford owner, Michael O’Keeffe, Lisnakill Ross was the 29.64 winner of the first heat, beating Blake’s Cash by three and a half lengths. The Pat O’Connor-trained Saleen Islandtwo was half a length farther back for third place.Trap draw for Saturday night’s final: 1. Bawna Missile; 2. Blake’s Cash; 3. Cashen Mafuma; 4. Sean’s Rangers; 5. Saleen Islandtwo; 6. Lisnakill Ross.East Clare trainer Donal Cooney struck in the very first race of the night, Varra Polly leading all the way in an A2 graded 525. …

AT this stage of his football career some might feel David Russell should be tipping away at club level with Kilkee, his inter-county career done and dusted. They could cogently suggest that after 12 years wearing the county jersey, the now silver haired Kilkee midfielder owes his county nothing.

MICHEÁL McDermott works in the banking sector so figures shouldn’t confuse him. Still, the Clare manager had to have a bit of a think when he was asked how many years he has been involved in football management. Eventually he decided it is about 20. McDermott has managed at club and county level with Clare, Kilmurry Ibrickane, Kilfenora and Clarecastle but it was in his work environment that he took his maiden managerial plunge.

IF Clare are to compete with Cork on Sunday, mammoth displays from players with big-match temperaments and winning know-how will be paramount. Clare simply need their main men to perform in every sector of the Gaelic Grounds.

WHAT do Clare have to do to win their third Munster senior football title? First off, they should forget about speculating on the end result and concentrate on maximising what they are capable of producing in Limerick on Sunday.

Not alone does Michael Studdert clearly recall the last time Clare played Cork in a Munster senior football final, he can remember how he travelled to Limerick and what the weather was like.

Demand for tickets for Saturday’s meeting of Clare and Dublin in the senior hurling qualifier has been brisk, which suggests patrons are expecting a lively contest between sides managed by former All-Ireland winning team-mates Davy Fitzgerald and Anthony Daly.