Sports

THERE was no joy for Clare owners in the final of the Food Packages A7 525, the feature race, at Galway Greyhound Stadium on Saturday last. However, for Ballyhickey, Quin owner-trainer, Frank Browne it was a good night after scoring a nice double with his Mine Chariot and litter sister Mine Echo.The winner of the Food Packages final was the English-owned and Martin Tucker-trained Mash Mad Snowy in trap two. Summerfield Buzz in trap four went off the odds-on favourite but he was slightly hampered coming away as Tayl Bound in trap six and Nells Fantasy in trap three led on the run to the bend from Mash Mad Snowy. Tayl Bound led by a length down the back but passing halfway, Mash Mad Snowy (Droopys Maldini-Shades Of Snow) started to move. He went two lengths clear rounding the second-last bend and raced on to win by two and a half lengths in 29.24 from Tayl Bound and Summerfield Buzz. …

TONY McCoy gave Jonjo O’Neill’s Synchronised a brilliant ride to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup at Prestbury Park last Friday, handing leading Irish owner JP McManus a first-ever success in the blue riband of steeple chasing in the process. A good winner of the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas, Synchronised was under a drive from McCoy from an early stage and it looked for a long way as if the pair were not going to feature. However, the never-say-die spirit of 16-time champion McCoy was to prove otherwise and as long-time leader, 50/1 outsider The Giant Bolster rose to the final fence ahead of 7/4 favourite Long Run, McCoy was bearing down on them on the wide outside.Once safely over, Synchronised, who is an out-and-out stayer, was always going to finish strongly up the final hill and he did just that to beat the rank outsider by two lengths, with the flattering Long Run back in third.2011 winner Long …

TWO excellent goals from the skillful Cathal McInerney helped Clare to a merited win over Limerick in the opening round of the Munster U-21 Football Championship at the Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday. The win means Clare will travel to Cork to play the Leesiders in the provincial semi-final on Wednesday, March 28.

ÉIRE Óg won their first game of the U-16A championship when they comprehensively defeated Ennistymon 4-12 to 0-6 in their return game. A week earlier, Ennistymon had beaten the Ennis team.

A request from Miltown St Joseph’s GAA to be allowed host the Clare senior football final in 2012 was turned down.

JOE Hayes’ on-field input at Dr Cullen Park lasted all of 18 seconds. Carlow’s first attack culminated with corner-forward Derek Hayden contesting a dropping ball with the Lissycasey man.

Clare      0-20Antrim  0-12Having struggled to stay ahead of visitors Antrim in the first half of this Division 1B hurling tie at Cusack Park on Sunday, Clare took command of the game in the second period and emerged as deserving winners

VISITORS entering a South-East Clare village this week could be forgiven for thinking they had been transported to Kilkenny as black and amber flags are at full mast.