Sports

West Clare FC   6Tulla United B   1 WEST Clare United kept up their strong challenge for the Third Division title when they comfortably accounted for Tulla United B at Kilrush on Sunday.

Clonmel        5St Senan’s   31 St Senan’s travelled to Thurles last weekend knowing a win would secure Munster Junior League Division 1 status for next season and a bonus point win would see them finish in the top half of the league table.

Ennis                   7  UL Bohemians  7Munster youth rugby is in good shape judging by the extremely high standard of play on show in the U-13 league final between Ennis and UL Bohemians at St Senan’s grounds in Shannon last Sunday.The game was played in conditions that ranged from warm sunshine to downpours of hailstones, with a cross-field wind.

THE Munster Juvenile U-14 to U-19 Indoor Track and Field Championships were held at the Nenagh Indoor Arena on Saturday and Sunday last and Clare athletes started off in fine winning style.

Clare 2-24   Limerick 1-13   WHEN Clare trailed by five points 20 minutes into their Division 1B National Hurling League first-round game at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Saturday night, few would have predicted a 14-point victory for the visitors.Scoring 1-8 without reply in an 11-minute spell in the second quarter turned this game in Clare’s favour.Clearly the fitter side, Clare showed the greater hunger for victory and were full value for their win. However, it’s difficult to accurately assess Clare’s strengths at this stage because of the manner in which the Limerick challenge crumbled.The Shannonsiders were dealt a blow before the game when Declan Hannon was ruled out due to a groin injury. Named at wing-forward, the Adare man was a huge loss to the side, who were dealt a further blow 10 minutes into the game when midfielder James Ryan was forced out of the game after suffering what appeared to be an ankle injury. Gavin O’Mahoney …

IF Clare start thinking they are brilliant after their victory over Limerick, they will be in trouble, warned Clare hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald after his side’s 14-point win.“We can’t afford to be lackadaisical or lie down. We have to work very hard. It’s important the public don’t get carried away with that result. There will be one or two days down the line and people will be disappointed. It’s important to keep the focus. I do believe in these guys and I do believe there could be something in them,” the Sixmilebridge man said.Fitzgerald didn’t hide his delight at the victory but stressed, “It’s only the first round of the league. There is no point in Clare people getting carried away. I said from day one this will be a hard-working team and that’s all the public can expect. We will have dips but they won’t be too far away and it will take time. We are on the right …

Clare and Waterford GAA officials will ask Munster council secretary Pat Fitzgerald to back up comments made in his annual report – about how grants allocated to the counties weren’t always spent on specific projects – at this Friday’s provincial convention.In a report issued this week ahead of the convention at Lawlors Hotel in Dungarvan (7.30pm), the Munster secretary says, “Over the years this council has allocated grants to Clare and Waterford towards maintenance and upkeep of their respective county grounds. I am somehow sceptical that this funding was at all times spent on such projects and I believe that in future, before allocating such grants, we should work with these counties to decide how these monies are spent and identify what issues or work we want prioritised.”Speaking to The Clare Champion on Wednesday, the Munster official sought to clarify the statement, “we give an annual grant to Clare and Waterford in lieu of field rent. It recognises that Clare …

If ever Clare centre-forward Shane McGrath needs time to dwell on life, all he has to do is sit into his car and face west. He gets plenty of opportunity to do just that while driving from the capital for Clare training or matches. When the ball is thrown in at 2.30pm in Cusack Park on Sunday, the Thomas Davis clubman will start his third game for his adopted county. Although born and reared in Dublin, the Harcourt Terrace-based garda is as much of a Clare man as he is a Dub. His father John is from Kilmurry McMahon while his mother Mary is a native of Cranny. So when Shane opted for Clare under the parentage rule, it wasn’t as if he needed to consult Google maps for directions. “All the family are from Clare. I’d say 90% of the aunts, uncles and cousins are from the county. So I have a real affiliation with Clare,” McGrath told The …