Sports

Afterwards Na Piarsaigh manager Seán Stack dwelt upon a few positives. Chiefly that most of his side’s forwards had not performed to their optimum level. Crusheen could conceivably spin a similar tune. There are plenty hurlers in their set up who will be relieved to have a second crack at winning a Munster club title. Some of their bench men will also harbour renewed hope that they might get a run in Sunday’s replay. Crusheen’s sole substitution was made five minutes from full time when Conor O’Donnell replaced David Forde, who picked up an injury. By that stage Na Piarsaigh had already made three substitutions with David Lynch, Aidan Hennessy and John Madden all brought on. The latter scored a levelling point eight minutes from time, tying the game at 1-10 to 0-13 at that point. All of this suggests that Na Piarsaigh have more depth in their dugout and more belief that their substitutes can be trusted to immediately …

There’s a bit of tension evident around the corridors of St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon. None of this edginess is linked to any of the colleges students. It’s just that two of their teachers, David Forde (Crusheen) and Pat Gleeson (Na Piarsaigh) have had to endure an overdose of hurling talking this week and last. The Crusheen wing forward teaches PE and maths in the school, while the Na Piarsaigh midfielder and UL student will finish his nine week stint of teaching practice in Shannon on Friday. He teaches Irish and PE. An hours hurling couldn’t separate the respective clubs in Thurles last Sunday meaning they have to head back to Tipperary this week. Which has meant another week of Forde and Gleeson having to put up with their teaching colleagues attempts to rise them. “The staff room isn’t the biggest so there’s no getting away from him,” Pat Gleeson laughed. He denied though that he has been tempted …

WELL-known Clare and Irish lifeguarding competitor, Oisín McGrath, is in the running for the title of European Lifesaver of the Year.Oisín, who has been involved with water activities and water safety all his life, is the son of Clare and Brendan McGrath. He began lifeguarding at 17 years of age. He has competed for Clare and Ireland at national, European and world levels in the skills of lifesaving. He brought home three gold and a silver from the World Masters Lifesaving competitions held in Egypt in 2010. His performance at the European championships held in Alicante this year contributed to placing Irish lifesavers sixth in Europe. Oisín has been nominated by CDC Magazine (Coureurs d’Ecume, a French lifesaving magazine) for the European Lifesaver of the year 2011. This is based largely on achievements from the European championships in Alicante. Overall, six male and six female nominations have been selected from a strong European-wide field of athletes. Only one male and …

JANE Larkin (Kilkee) replaced Anne Hayes (Lissycasey) as Bord na nÓg Peil PRO at Tuesday’s AGM but the change in personnel was not without controversy.The outgoing officer claimed her successor had a pre-vote canvass conducted on her behalf, a claim strenuously denied by both Ms Larkin and Kilkee delegate, Dominic O’Shea.The position of PRO was due to be the only contest at the AGM, as all other candidates were unopposed.Initially, Ms Hayes and Ms Larkin agreed to stand and following that, county board chairman, Michael O’Neill; treasurer, Bernard Keane; Seán Chaplin (Clare games manager) and Seán Chambers (Cooraclare) were appointed as tellers. However, just as the vote was being organised, Ms Hayes withdrew, saying a canvass had been conducted on behalf of her opponent for the post.“I’ll withdraw because I haven’t been canvassing,” said the Lissycasey woman, who has served on Bord na nÓg Peil for 23 years.“If you think Kilkee have canvassed for Jane, that’s not the case,” Mr …

All of the outgoing officers will be re-appointed, without opposition, when the annual convention of Clare camogie takes place on Monday night next at the Auburn Lodge hotel (7.30pm).Orla Considine (chairperson) Bríd Canny (vice chairperson) Marie Louise Kaiser (secretary) Mary Hogan (assistant secretary), Michael Maher (treasurer), Siobhan Lafferty (assistant treasurer), Bríd McNamara (PRO), Marie McDonnell (registrar), Bridie O’Looney and Mary Hogan (delegates to Munster and to congress) are the only nominees for these posts.In her first report to convention as secretary, Marie Louise Kaiser pays tribute to Inagh on winning the All-Ireland junior title.“Two minor finals had to be played after the deadline of the November board meeting but, in general, the fixtures were played according to plan. Some were re-scheduled by agreement with the respective clubs and some needed a bit of help from the board. The age group which encountered the most difficulties was the minor grade mainly due to the new age restrictions,” the Newmarket club official …

Sixmilebridge’s Eamonn Fennessy is to be the new Clare minor hurling manager for 2012. Delegates at the upcoming Clare GAA convention will be asked to ratify the Sixmilebridge man, who is in his second season as Clare GAA coaching officer, as the new minor boss.Fennessy’s backroom team will include John O’Mara (Sixmilebridge) and Leo Doyle (Bodyke). It’s understood that at least one more will be added to this list. O’Mara was coach to the Éire Óg intermediate hurlers in 2011 and has coached a number of Sixmilebridge teams in the past, while Doyle has been involved in team management with his club and has served with county underage sides in the past.Fennessy has been part of the Clare minor management team for the past three years, during which time Clare won two provincial titles. He has been involved with a number of underage sides in Sixmilebridge, managing the club to U-13, U-14, Féile and U-15 titles.Fennessy has been part of …

WITH most clubs across the county due to hold annual general meetings in the next few weeks, many are currently searching for management teams for their senior sides.It is expected that most of the county’s senior football clubs will have new managements in 2012. County champions, Kilmurry-Ibrickane have only just finished their season but the expectation is that Kerry’s John Kennedy will continue as team coach for next season.Neighbours, Cooraclare have already got a new management team, which includes former players, Paddy Keane and Aidan Donnelly, along with former Cork selector, Dave Loughman, who is to be the team coach. Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s Aidan Moloney has been in charge of Cooraclare for the past three years.Miltown St Joseph’s, whose senior selection committee changed on a couple of occasions last year, are understood to be in discussions with former Clare player and manager, Tommy Curtin about taking charge. The St Flannan’s-based teacher has previously managed his native St Breckan’s and Liscannor to contest …

Four members of the Fightsports Clare team were in the medals at the weekend when the Brazilian jiujitsu club competed at the Kid’s First National Wrestling Tournament in the Pankration Kickboxing Academy in Limerick. The four were all competing for the first time.Aifric Ni Ogain came second in her division after having to retire undefeated after four fights due to illness. Josh Boylan came third in the same division, winning most of his fights and losing only to Aifric and the division winner.“Aifric and Josh tore through the divison,” said John Eustace, head trainer at Fightsports Clare. “Aifric has only been training for three months and Josh, at seven-years-old, was by far the youngest in the division. Both of them have really bright futures in the sport.”Nine-year-old Benza Benko put on an amazing display, winning six of seven fights coming second in his division when losing a very close fight to a 13-year-old who went on to win the division.“Ben …