Sports

Throughout the past decade, expectations amongst Galway hurling supporters have been very high at championship time but it’s been quite a while since there has been such a focus on the Connacht county.

Clare   3-13   Tipperary  1-13TITLE-holders, Clare moved to within one game of retaining the Munster minor hurling title when they deservedly defeated Tipperary in the first of the 2011 semi-finals, which was played at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Friday evening.

Clare were both unlucky and lucky in Cusack Park last Saturday afternoon. Unlucky in that Down corner-forward Conor Laverty cleared off his own line a minute into injury time. If Laurence Healy had managed to bundle the dropping ball over the line, Clare would have pulled off the biggest shock in the history of All-Ireland qualifiers.

CLARE senior camogie side continued on their upward curve when they had an impressive win over Tipperary in the All-Ireland senior championship at Clarecastle on Saturday.

West Clare Gaels   2-7   Cooraclare   1-8HOLDERS, West Clare Gaels showed six changes in their starting line-up from the team that started in last September’s county final but still came away with two points to spare over a competitive Cooraclare in Coolmeen on Saturday evening in the opening round of the ladies senior championship.

Champions Ennistymon take on Wolfe Tones at Éire Óg on Sunday at 1pm in the U-21A Football Championship.

The senior hurlers of Clare and Galway temporarily put their rivalries to one side ahead of this week’s All-Ireland Championship qualifier to pledge their support for the Cliffs of Moher’s bid to be named one of the ‘New7Wonders of Nature’.

The 2011 adult 60×30 handball championships are now up and running with a number of Clare players in action this week. The ongoing renovation of the Tuamgraney 60×30 court has already revived local interest in the big alley game and the Banner County will have more players in championship action this summer than for some years.