Sports

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 …

The Regional Surf Lifesaving Nipper Championships were held in Tramore last Saturday. Over 70 young surf lifesavers represented Clare and competed in open water (sea) events against teams from Cork and Waterford. The competitors ranged in age from eight to 14. Individual events included 200m swim, board race and fin swim parallel to the shore. The water taplin relay consists of four people who swim, board race, swim and run. Beach events included beach flags, 50m beach sprint and beach relay with teams of four. The Clare team already represented the county at the National Nipper Stillwater Lifesaving Championships in Kilkenny last April and brought home the overall trophy on the day.Winning at surf lifesaving competition is based on achieving points in pool events and sea events initially at regional level and then to national level. The National Nipper Open Water Championships are being hosted by Clare Water Safety this year on August 27 at Spanish Point. Celtic Cup Challenge …

The inaugural Hugh Kelly Memorial tournament will commence next week when Rhine Rovers will play Bridge United at the County Grounds. This game will be played on Tuesday next, August 16, with the winners going on to play Shannon Olympic on the following Saturday at the same venue in the first of the semi-finals. On Wednesday evening next Coole FC will play Avenue United and the winners of this tie will play Newmarket Celtic on August 21.The final is set for Sixmilebridge on August 27 New seasonThe new season will kick off on August 31 with a full round of matches in the Premier, First, Second and Third Division League cups.DrawsPremier Division Group AAvenue Utd A, Burren Utd, Rineanna Rovers, Ennis Town Rock and Hermitage A.Premier Division Group BMountshannon Celtic, Lifford A, Newmarket Celtic A, Shannon Olympic A and Tulla Utd A.The FAI have agreed to sponsor 25 match tickets for the winners to attend an international match at the …

Clare Community Games will be well represented at the national finals in Athlone IT over the next two weekends, August 12-15 and August 19-22.Clare has 201 participants over the two weekends, 100 of whom will compete this coming weekend in swimming, cycling, gymnastics, judo, pitch and putt boys and girls, boys’ soccer U-12, girls’ volleyball U-16 and variety.  In volleyball, the Doora-Barefield team will be representing Clare in the finals for the first time. This is in sharp contrast to the variety competition, where Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry will represent Clare for the 28th time.In swimming, a large number of the children have attended the finals in previous years. Aoife Floyd from Tulla will be hoping to win gold in the U-12 breastroke to add to the gold she won last year as a member of the Tulla draughts team.Ennis St John’s has an excellent record when representing Clare in the soccer finals and hopes are high that they will add to the …