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Sending off costly for Clonlara

Kilmaley 1-13 Clonlara 1-11   A STRONG closing quarter saw Kilmaley edge out Clonlara in a well-contested quarter-final at Cusack Park on Sunday evening and while Kilmaley will feel they just about merited this victory, Clonlara followers will reflect on a contest in which they had enough opportunities to win.Reduced to 14 men for the final quarter, following the sending off of Tomás O’Donovan on a second yellow card, the South-East Clare side will point to this and eight second-half wides as a major contributory factor in their defeat.It was a game they looked to have control of on a few occasions over the hour but credit must go to Kilmaley, who refused to give up. Corner-forward, Niall McGuane played a huge part in the win. He created the opening for Seamus Hurley’s goal 11 minutes into the second half, a score that levelled the tie, and he went on to put his side into the lead with an excellent …

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Magpies press home advantage in second half

Clarecastle 1-14 St Joseph’s 0-10Clarecastle progressed to the semi-final of the Senior B Hurling Championship when they proved too strong for St Joseph’s at Gurteen on Saturday.Overall, it was a poor contest and, during the first half in particular, spectators were questioning if either side wanted to win the game.The Magpies stepped up a gear in the second half and emerged as worthy winners.Jarlath Colleran gave St Joseph’s the lead after five minutes but this was quickly cancelled out by a David Greene effort for the Magpies. They were level at 0-3 each after 20 minutes and two minutes later the game’s only goal came from Derek Quinn after good work by Jonathon Clancy.The home side outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 in the last five minutes of the half but the Magpies led at the break on a score of 1-6 to 0-7. The home side closed the gap to the minimum when Ivor White landed a free early …

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Lahinch retain Clare junior title

Evidence of a bright future was seen at Lahinch Golf Club last week when the club retained the Clare Junior Cup League title. The Clare Junior Golf League, a competition organised on a team basis, has been running since 2007. Eight boys under the age of 16 represent each club. They play five outings in the year at Lahinch Castle Course, Ennis, Shannon, Dromoland and East Clare. The five best Stableford scores from each team count. After the five rounds were played this year, Lahinch had finished first and so had a home venue for the play-off with Ennis, who were in second place. The format for the final was match play-off handicap. On a very windy afternoon last Sunday, Lahinch emerged victorious by 51/2 matches to 21/2. Golf was of a very high standard considering the conditions. It is Lahinch’s third time winning the league, they previously won in 2007 and 2010. They now go on to play Castletroy, …

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Just For Joe makes a successful debut for Lee

Gort trainer Hannah Lee has a smart-looking recruit on her hands in Just For Joe, who made a successful debut over jumps when running out a facile winner of the concluding maiden hurdle at Roscommon on Monday.A wide-margin bumper winner at Cork back in April, Just For Joe went off the 8/11 favourite to account for his nine rivals on this occasion and he hinted at better things to come when comfortably landing the odds.Waterford-born rider Shay Barry settled the son of Presenting just behind the leader Dowd’s Angle for most of the way as the five-year-old took a keen hold. Approaching the turn into the home straight, Barry allowed his mount stride on and he quickly asserted when forging clear to register a four-and-three-quarter-length victory over runner-up, Charlie Swift.Mrs Lee, who trains the aptly named winner for her husband Joe at her yard on the Galway Road side of Gort, wasn’t present but her assistant trainer Kevin Foy divulged, …

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Shannon and Rynne win Lions Club 10km

KILNABOY’S Michael Shannon and Sharon Rynne, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare won the Lions Club, Shannon 10km road race and fun walk last weekend. The event had an entry of almost 120 competitors.In the first 1km, two athletes made an early break, Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy and Dermot Kearns, West Limerick, going through in 3.06. Jarlath Donnellan, Shannon, was leading the next chasing group, along with James Kenny, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare; John Hannon, Olympic Harriers and Stephan Teeling Lynch, Shannon.Michael Shannon took over at the front and pushed ahead at the 3km point in 9.44. Dermot Kearns was 20 seconds off the leader with James Kenny and John Hannon working well together over the next two kilometres.Michael Shannon went through the 5km mark in 16.16 and over the second half of the race he really drove on and came home a very comfortable winner in 32.53, with Dermot Kearns two minutes behind in 34.54 and a fine run by John Hannon to take …

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Clonlara complete the junior double

Clonlara 0-20 Kilmaley  0-5 Clonlara completed the junior double when they captured the Junior B championship crown at Clooney on Saturday evening. A few weeks earlier, they won the junior A league title when they overcame O’Callaghan’s Mills in comprehensive style at Shannon and, on this occasion, they were just as dominant when proving too strong for Kilmaley.The winners had the assistance of the wind in the opening half but they struggled to open a gap and when they went to the break 0-7 to 0-3 in front, they looked to be in a little difficulty.In the second half, however, Clonlara’s superior fitness proved the key and they were always in control and pulled away for a comprehensive victory.The experienced Barry Moloney was the game’s top scorer and he finished with a tally of 0-9. Lining out at midfield with Diarmuid O’Meara, they gave their side the upperhand in this vital area and this resulted in a plentiful supply of …

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Clare senior lifesavers bring home the gold

Clare senior lifesavers earned 11 of the 14 medals brought home from the European Senior Lifesaving Championships held in Alicante, Spain, recently.  The Irish team of 11 competitors placed sixth overall in the premier lifesaving championships in Europe. Five of the Irish Team are from Clare. The international event attracted professional athletes and high-performance competitors from France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Great Britain. The championships simulate real-life rescue situations that lifesavers can expect to encounter. Lifesaving sport is primarily intended to encourage lifesavers to develop, maintain and improve the essential physical and mental skills needed to save lives in the aquatic environment. Lifesaving competitions consist of a variety of competitions to further develop and demonstrate lifesaving skills, fitness and motivation. Undaunted by the searing Spanish temperatures, Ireland’s best ever performance is evident from the tally of medals – six gold, five silver and three bronze. The Irish team got off …

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Moneypoint pull the plug after red cards

Avenue United 2 Moneypoint 0 The U-16 cup final ended prematurely at Doora on Saturday when Moneypoint left the field of play 12 minutes into the second half.They had just been reduced to eight players and were trailing by two goals to the competition favourites.Clare Schoolboys League chairman, Ronnie Pyne confirmed “the game was not abandoned. It ended when Moneypoint left the field. I have spoken with the referee Martin O’Brien and he confirmed that he did not abandon the game”.  According to the rules, a team can play with eight players.The Clare official added, “The league will examine the referee’s report when it is submitted and all aspects of this incident will be investigated.”It’s expected Avenue will be confirmed as winners of the title, adding to their league success. Confirmation of victory in this final will extend a remarkable run of successes for this group of players, who have won the league and cup double at every level from …

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