Sports

Inagh-Kilnamona 1-16   Scariff 0-12 INAGH/KILNAMONA were worthy winners over Scariff at Sixmilebridge on Saturday, the margin of victory not fully reflecting their superiority.The East Clare side started well and led by 0-6 to 0-4 after 14 minutes but this was as good as it got for them. During the rest of the half, the winners were very much on top, outscoring Scariff by 1-7 to 0-1, their sole score coming in injury time. Inagh/Kilnamona were in little real danger for most of the second half and their winning margin could have been greater but for a few rather casual wides. The game finished very badly for Scariff, as Conor McNamara was sent off in injury time, after a foul on an Inagh/Kilnamona back.Niall Arthur had the first point for Inagh/Kilnamona in the first minute, while Shane McMahon had Scariff level on 90 seconds. Ger Arthur replied before a Ross Horan free levelled it in the fourth minute.After Horan opened his …

Clooney-Quin 3-15   Ballyea 1-14 A strong second half showing helped Clooney-Quin secure their first win of the 2011 Senior Hurling Championship when they overcame the challenge of Ballyea at Clarecastle on Tuesday evening.In what was a crucial tie for both sides who had lost in their opening round outings, the winners came from behind to beat a Ballyea side that will rue missed chances in the opening half when they ran up a tally of 11 wides.Ballyea held the upperhand in the first half but a two-point advantage at the break didn’t reflect that dominance. Helped by a goal from a 20m free by Tony Kelly, they were four ahead as half time approached, and this was a more accurate reflection on the game at this time.In the final minute of the half Clooney-Quin’s Michael Daffy burst through to strike home a powerful goal and his team found themselves just two points adrift at the halfway stage. It was a …

Clonlara 2-19   Killanena 1-6 THE final scoreline shows a win for Clonlara by 16 points but, for 40 minutes of their senior hurling championship game at O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge on Wednesday evening, they struggled to get the upperhand on a dogged, if very understrength, Killanena outfit.Clonlara were just two points in front, 0-7 to 0-5, at the halfway point after playing against the breeze on a wet and dull evening. They scored the first three points of the second half in the space of three minutes but a Killanena goal from substitute Eoin McMahon had the margin back to two five minutes after the resumption of play and it looked like last year’s intermediate champions would make the hot favourites battle all the way for victory.From when Cormac O’Donovan raced through for his side’s first goal, 13 minutes into the second half, there really was only one team in the contest. From here on the South-East Clare outfit dictated …

O’Callaghan’s Mills 3-14   Wolfe Tones 0-15 THE ability of the Mills to find the net proved the difference between the sides at Cusack Park on Tuesday night.In terms of possession, territory and even point-scoring capability there wasn’t very much in it but on only one occasion did Wolfe Tones really test John Cooney, while the forwards at the other end raised three green flags.The sides were level at half time, 1-5 to 0-8 and it was a fair reflection of the play. But in the second half the Mills outshone a Tones side that has been ravaged by emigration and retirements to take their first points of the campaign.Wolfe Tones will be able to take positives from the evening. They had several good individual displays but they are still pointless after two rounds and now their priority will be to avoid a relegation battle.The Mills started quite well and had the first point through Adrian Flaherty. However, they had four …

Crusheen 3-10   Newmarket 1-11 A STORMING finish, which yielded two goals inside the last five minutes helped defending champions Crusheen to this victory over Newmarket at Cusack Park on Saturday evening.The result keeps Crusheen in line to retain a title they won for the first time last year and it leaves Newmarket depending on other results to keep their hopes of getting to the play-offs alive.It was a result that didn’t seem likely at the mid-point of the second half at which stage, Newmarket had moved three points clear and were enjoying their best spell. However, their full-back line was always struggling in this tie and Crusheen capitalised with Pat Vaughan, Gerry O’Grady and substitute Paddy Meaney causing them serious problems.Early points from midfielders Colin Ryan and Martin O’Hanlon had the winners two clear before Joe Meaney broke past a couple of defenders to score the game’s first goal in the 10th minute. At the other end, a timely interception …

Broadford 2-15   Smith O’Brien’s 1-14 NINE points down early in the second half, a spirited rally from Smith O’Brien’s brought them level with 11 minutes to go but a strong finish from Broadford got them a deserved two points.The losers were at a disadvantage before a ball was struck, as Shane O’Brien couldn’t start, his flight from England having been delayed. O’Brien had actually been home for training recently but on Saturday, he only made the closing minutes.The winners settled the better, taking a lead of 0-5 to 0-1 by the 11th minute and they were looking far more comfortable. However, Smith O’Brien’s came into it a little, Dwayne Sheedy, who started instead of Shane O’Brien, doubling their tally, while Broadford keeper Cian O’Brien was forced to make two smart saves in the 13th minute. The outstanding Micheál Ryan pointed a sideline for Smith O’Brien’s to reduce the deficit to two.  Two pointed frees by Pádraig Hickey stretched the Broadford …

Group 1 Following Round 3 of the intermediate hurling championship, there are now just four teams with maximum points and they must be strongly fancied to make it through to the semi-finals. They are Parteen, Ruan, Éire Óg and Corofin.Feakle, who suffered their first defeat on Monday evening, cannot be ruled out of making it to the play-offs. They play unbeaten Corofin next time out and this is a vital tie.Bodyke, who have a win and a draw from their three outings must also feel that they have a chance. Ruan 2-21   Crusheen 2-11 LAST year’s beaten finalists, Ruan, kept up their strong challenge for a return to the final this year when they accounted for Crusheen on Monday evening in Éire Óg.The winners had much the better of the first half and led at the interval on a score of 2-11 to 0-5, with their goals coming from Brendan Lyons.Two goals from Patrick O’Grady brought Crusheen back into contention …

Miltown 4-8   Newmarket 3-11 Despite a draw in a most entertaining senior championship contest at Kilmihil on Sunday evening, Miltown advance as the top team from the B group to play Liscannor in play-off for the fourth semi-final spot in the senior championship. When Miltown led by eight points at the interval they seemed to be heading for victory but credit to a fit Newmarket team. They played a blistering second half and it took two pointed frees from Karen Galvin to earn Miltown a share of the spoils. Miltown started well and inside five minutes had opened up a five-point lead. Full-forward Sinéad Sexton pointed them ahead and soon after came their first goal when Laura Rynne finished to the net having being well placed from a quick free. Niamh Pender stretched that lead to five before Newmarket, through the impressive Niki Kaiser, replied with two points. Carol O’Leary had an opportunity to level matters but a fine save …