Sports

WHILE Clare’s early Munster 60×30 championship fixtures have seen defeats in most grades, the tide was turned by Declan Frawley, who had an emphatic intermediate singles semi-final win over Tipp’s Adrian Supple recently.There was also Golden Masters A Singles victory for Mike Kelly, while Pat Donnellan is also still in the Golden Masters B Singles race after receiving a walkover from his Cork opponent.This week is again full of fixtures involving Clare players, including Declan Frawley’s Munster final in Cashel on Thursday night against either Cork or Waterford opposition, while Anne Marie Fitzgerald is in the ladies’ intermediate final.Meanwhile, the TG4 Irish One-Wall Handball Nationals were held recently at the Breaffy House resort in Castlebar. One-wall handball is growing in popularity in a big way and a number of Banner County competitors travelled to Mayo.The open events were dominated by the visiting American and Puerto Rican players but there were plate final victories for Clare payers John Cawley (Golden Masters …

CLARE pony riders showed how dominant they are in the international showjumping circuit at the Cavan Home Pony International European Show held at Cavan Equestrian Centre last week.On Thursday, in the 1.30cm-148cm pony class, Eoin McMahon, Cratloe, took first place on Westside Ranger and Tom Foley, Tulla, took second and third place on Crown Jewel and Another Destiny respectfully. Patrick McNamara from Lisdoonvarna took fourth place riding Glenford Scott in the 1.10cm-148cm class.On Saturday, Hannah Power from Ballyea, riding Coomlagene Kojak took second place in the 1.10cm-138cm class. Also placing on Saturday was Patrick McNamara, winning the 1.10cm-148cm class on Glenford Scott.On Sunday, all the top Grand Prix Finals were held. Robbie Clancy, Sixmilebridge riding Kilcreene Apollo was fifth in the 1.10cm-128cm class. Patrick McNamara, riding Glenford Scott, won the 1.10cm-148cm class, Tom Foley riding Crown Jewel won the 148cm-1.30cm class, with Eoin McMahon riding Westside Ranger taking fifth place.Tenners LeagueTHE Clare Tenners Pony League continued at Clonshire in Adare …

FIFTEEN swimmers from the Ennis Swimming and Lifesaving Club recently competed at the Irish Age Groups Division 2 competition, which was held at the University of Limerick Sports Arena.  It was the swimming of Ciara Ryan and Patrick Hogan that will be remembered as the highlight of this competition. Ciara, swimming in the girls’ 15 age group, qualified in five events and came away with five medals while Patrick, swimming in the boys’ 16 age group, qualified for six events and came away with six medals. For their efforts, both were awarded with a trophy representing the best female and best male swimmer in their respective age groups. The medal winners were: Girls’ 11-12: Róisín Cahill- silver medal in the 800m freestyle and a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle. Girls’ 15 age group: Ciara Ryan – three gold medals in the 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke and the 200m individual medley. One silver medal in the 100m backstroke and a …

Banner Ladies 4-10 Liscannor 2-8 COMFORTABLE winners in the end, the outcome did not look good for most of the opening half for the Banner, who trailed at one stage by six points and played half the match with 14 players in Round 3 of the Senior Ladies Football Championship at Kilfenora last Friday evening.Full-forward Áine Burke was first of the mark for the North Clare side with a nice point from play. Niamh O’Dea, whose younger sister Eva also lined out, kicked two points for Banner Ladies. Further points from Burke (two), as well as Aisling Torpey and the lively Marie Considine had Liscannor three ahead. Then midfielder Carmel Considine soloed through the Banner defence and banged home a fine goal to put her side 1-5 to 0-2 in front. It took the Ennis side a while to get into their stride but when they did, they were not long whittling down the lead. A goal and a point …

TWO teams, U-13 and U-16 took part in the Munster Community Games in UL last Saturday.A very young team with some playing competitively for the first time played some wonderful tennis in the U-13. Although they didn’t get through to the final, they are likely to be strong contenders for next year’s Community Games. The U-16s had some very tough games and got through to the final, where they played a very strong Cork side, and narrowly lost out to them. The panel of players who competed included Stephen Keane, Nathan D’Arcy, Olena Ochinnova, Jummy Akintol, Ciarán O’Brien and Niamh O’Shea. Their coach is Danny Comerford.Summer campTHE summer camp is fully subscribed with over 120 children, many for the first time, receiving tennis tuition. Amongst the coaches are Daniel and Caroline Foran, Grace and Tara D’Arcy and Jason Comerford.Success for CarkillROBERT Carkhill is flying the Ennis flag with distinction on the Summer Open Tennis circuit. Robert recently won the Open …

THE Clare cricket team scored a superb six-wicket win over Kerry in last Saturday’s Munster Cup semi-final. The match was played in Kerry and was Clare’s second match against Kerry inside three weeks.Kerry won the toss and elected to bat first in excellent weather conditions. The home county made 81 runs in 23 overs, while Clare’s Rajwinder Singh took six wickets in a man-of-the-match display.Conor Mullin caught three of the wickets bowled by Singh. Clare then successfully chased 81 runs in 20 overs with six wickets to spare. Kashif was Clare’s highest scoring batsman with 18 runs not out.Clare have now qualified for their first Munster Junior Cup final.

THE Munster Intermediate Girls Cross-Country Shield is back in Kilmihil after a lapse of several years.Twins, Jean and Niamh Clancy and Laura Egan of St Michael’s Community College took the trophy as overall team in the Provincial Schools Athletics finals before going on to compete in the All-Ireland finals, where the Kilmihil team came in third.Jean was third individual home in that event run in Antrim and Niamh finished in seventh place.Teacher Joe Griffin is the athletics coach at the West Clare college, which has a proud history of achievements in that discipline.

CLARE owners, Noel Coote, Ennis and Ciara Burke, Miltown Malbay, were among the winners when first-round heats of the Flaherty Markets Corrib Plate were decided at Galway Greyhound Stadium last Thursday night.The A7 graded stakecarrying a winner’s prize of €4,500, is now in its 27th year and is sponsored by Jimmy Flaherty of Flaherty Markets.Headford-based handler Seamus Leahy had a great night with success in three of the heats.The opening heat was won in 29.78 by the Mountnugent-owned Electro Rocket. Third home was Chance Ivy Hill (Noel Hehir, Inagh).Seamus Leahy’s Clydagh Blue won heat two in 29.15 while the County Kilkenny-owned Tunes Song was the 29.10 and easy winner of heat three from Fast Fit Liar (John Quinn, Gort).Trainer Owen McKenna won heat four with Loughteen Comet (29.52), while Noel Coote came through with Drimeen Brownie (Catunda Harry-Rathmeehan Angel) in the following heat. All six runners headed for the inside lane after the traps lifted but after a few strides, …