Sports

THE committee appointed to review Clare GAA structures has concluded its regional meetings and the group is now in the process of finalising its recommendations.Meetings with club representatives took place in Kilrush, Ennistymon, Scariff and Ennis, while members of the committee also met with inter-county managements.It is understood strong opposition was voiced by club representatives against the current championship system, which sees a break after Round 1 in football and Round 2 in hurling. The view put forward by club officials is that the competition must continue at regular intervals (every two weeks) once it commences. It is believed the new format will incorporate this view and that there will be change in the competition format recommended.It has been suggested there should be a drop in the number of senior clubs in both hurling and football in the county. It is anticipated the report will go along with this recommendation and suggest a system that will apply over the next …

The recently concluded 40th season of Clare Community Games was most successful, offering a choice of over 35 sporting and cultural activities to participants from 38 areas across the county.The county athletic finals in Lees Road in June is a special day for up to 1,500 athletes,  with their sights set  on representing their community and county at the national finals. Community Games has three national final weekends in Athlone because of the vast range of events available to children.Many of those who have represented Clare at the national finals have gone on to represent their country in a variety of disciplinesNational Community Games has undertaken a rationalisation process, which will result in some new events being introduced to allow children to sample activities, rather than just providing more competitions for children already in clubs. Plans are also in motion to provide a registration number for all competitors, which in time will result in waving goodbye to chasing for birth …

Local and exiled basketball players turned out in force for the annual Christmas day basketball game at Ennistymon Community Centre.The tradition was initiated by the founding members of the club in 1958, after a number of them left the town together for employment. When they returned at Christmas, the Home V Exiles game was born. It has been played in many venues, both indoors and outside: the Market House, The Town Hall, the Sluagh Hall, the Scout Hall (outdoors) the Vocational School (outdoors) and, on one occasion, in Lisdoonvarna. It now has a permanent home at the community centre, thanks to the staff who open specially for the event.This year the game supported the HelpSergio appeal. Sergio O’Connor is a nine-month-old boy from Dublin, who among a number of other complications has an incomplete oesophagus, which means he cannot drink, eat or swallow. Sergio is a grandchild of local woman, Ann (Dillon) O’Connor. The surgical procedure is hugely expensive and …

The 15th annual Ennis Urban District Council and Marian AC Turkey Trot was held on St Stephen’s Day with over 150 competitors taking part raising funds for the RNLI Life boats and St Anne’s School.Mahor of Ennis, Michael Guilfoyle, was the official starter on a day when weather conditions were excellent. Eugene Moynihan, Marian was the first man to cross the line with Thomas Garrahy, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, second and Ambrose Heagney, Kilnaboy, third. The first lady was Crusheen girl Rachel Lenihan, Marian AC. ResultsSenior ladies: 1. Rachel Lenihan, Marian; 2. Aideen Farrell; 3. Muireann O’Shea, Marian.Senior men: 1. Eugene Moynihan, Marian; 2. Thomas Garrahy, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare; 3. Ambrose Heagney, Kilnaboy. Moy National School fun run/walk Moy National School will hold a fun run in Moy this Sunday, January 1, starting at 12 noon with all proceeds going to the school development fund.Registration will be taken at the national school from 10.30am to 12 noon. There will be a …

Pat Hanrahan overtakes the main group with his charge at the Ennis Track Athletic Club four mile run and two mile walk at Ballyea in aid of the Lily Foundation and Mid West Cancer Group. Photograph by John Kelly

Members of the Rooster Syndicate from Scariff got the Christmas holiday period off to a good start when their Noel Mullins-trained Somebody Special won the final of Western GOBA Members A4 575 final at the Galway Greyhound Racing Stadium on December 22.In a fairly open contest, the black son of Westmead Hawk-Ms Firecracker put in a storming finish to hold off the challenge of Knockdine Dazl, owned in Miltown Malbay by Helen O’Brien to win by three parts of a length in a time of 32.42.Clare owners won the first three races on the card and the fourth went to a Loughrea-owned dog trained by Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge.The first race of the night was won by Breda Be Slick, the new runner owned by Cooraclare’s Tommie Gallagher. The daughter of Hondo Black-Bling Bling Flo), who was the 5-4 favourite in trap six, held off the challenge of Lurgan Twister in the run-in to win the race by two-and-a-quarter lengths. …

Santa Claus came early for popular Quin trainer Malachy Hassett when his 4-1 shot Archie Meade ran out a good winner of the two-and-three-quarter-mile INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at Thurles three days before Christmas.Ridden by Miltown Malbay jockey Danny Howard for Spanish Point owner Ted O’Sullivan, Archie Meade had run well when fourth on his previous outing at Punchestown 10 days earlier and he built on that effort here when scoring in authoritative fashion.A full brother to Paddysparks, who won a point-to-point for Hassett at Lisronagh back in April, Archie Meade challenged for the lead two out and, having finally shaken off the attentions of long-time leader Jack Bene at the final flight, the son of Beneficial ran on best to beat that rival by two-and-a-quarter lengths with Howard even allowed the luxury of a wave to his supporters as the successful duo crossed the line.Hassett, who is one of the really colourful characters of the racing game, …

The tenth annual Burren Charity Challenge in Ballyvaughan was in aid of two charities, the Doolin Rescue and the Billy Riordan fund. Ballyvaughan was the venue for the second year-in-a-row and over 300 competitors took part in the 10km run and walk and 38km Cycle. The event lraised in the region of €7,000. The 10km fun run and walk was over a one-lap course and going through Ballyvaughan village, local athlete Kevin Darcy, who runs with Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, was setting the early pace going through the first mile in 5.30. He was closely followed by Tom Mackey, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare; Liam Glynn, Burren Cycle Club, and the leading lady athlete, Laoise Griffin. Darcy was a very comfortable winner in 36.21 and was three minutes ahead of Tom Mackey (39.45). In third spot was the main organiser, Liam Glynn, Burren Cycling Club (40.29).In the ladies’ race, Laoise Griffin led from start to finish and her time was (41.04) with Noreen …