Sports

CRATLOE trainer Declan McNamara continued his recent rich vein of form at Down Royal last Friday evening where his smart mare, Miss Mary Mac, made a winning debut over fences when registering an impressive victory in the two-and-a-half-mile Beginners’ Chase.A dual point-to-point winner, Miss Mary Mac, who also won two bumpers, a maiden hurdle and a handicap hurdle prior to Friday, found favour at 10/1 in the morning before going off at an SP of 7/1 and she justified that support when making no mistake with a promising display.Wexford jockey, John Cullen was on board the daughter of Dushyantor, who hit the front two out with the seven-year-old running on best in the closing stages to beat runner-up Hazeymm by 13 lengths.Commenting on his mare’s success, a delighted McNamara said, “She’s a very good mare and the fact that she’s owned by my father, Sean, made it all the sweeter. Having won two point-to-points we knew she jumped well and …

CLARE athletes were in good form at the Munster Juvenile U-14 to U-19 Track and Field Championships at the Ríocht Track Castleisland on Saturday and Sunday.Saturday’s events were run off in very blustery weather conditions, in sharp contrast to Sunday when there was bright sunshine. Clare athletes came away with eight gold medals, 10 silver and four bronze medals.They produced outstanding performances with Alice Akres (Marian) taking gold in the girls’ U-16’s hammer with Eoin Hanrahan (Ennis Track) also taking gold in the boys’ U-16 discus. Niamh Markham (Ennis Track) recorded a very big win in the girls’ U-17 300m on day one and she returned on day two to take the 800 metres. There was a surprise on day one in the boys’ U-18 when Cormac Lynch (Marian) captured the Munster 200m title and on Sunday, he captured the 100m title.William Flynn (Shannon) captured the boys’ U-18 800m and Seamus McMahon (Shannon) took the boys’ U-16 3,000m walk.The girls’ …

THE Clare Community Games athletic finals will be held on Sunday on the athletic track at Lees Road. Representatives of 35 areas will battle it out for county honours and qualification for the national finals in August. On arrival, area officials are asked to have the athletes’ numbers collected, from the county treasurer/secretary. Athletes must wear their official numbers, as shown on the souvenir programme, on the back and front of their vests for their event.Prior to the finals, there will be a parade of all the athletes, who are to assemble in the vicinity of the all-weather pitches at Lees Road by 11.30am. The parade will move off at 12 noon and proceed around the perimeter of the soccer pitch to the dressing rooms where the official opening ceremony will take place. All areas are urged to participate in the parade and should have a suitable banner denoting their area, which afterwards can be placed in their designated area …

THE Ennis-owned What a Tornado was one of the stars of the quarter-final heats of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger at the Limerick Greyhound Racing Stadium last Saturday night. He was a very exciting 29.59 winner of the final heat and joins the other Clare contender, Inislosky Magoo in the semi-finals next Saturday night.The Pat Buckley-trained Paradise Casino (Ace Hi Rumble-Dalcash Diva) is still going strong. He registered his fifth straight win last Saturday night and in the process set a new record of 29.51, an improvement of three spots on the time set by Definate Opinion in the first round of the classic. Owned in Kildare by Tony Howard, Paradise Casino had a terrific start from trap four in the opening heat to set up an early lead. He was in front all the  way for his record win, beating Carrowkeal Rocket by three and a half lengths Two lengths further back for third spot was Shelbourne Geoff.Drawn …

THE McDonagh family from Kinvara won the top-graded race in Galway on Friday night with Glenfort Lee. This was the concluding A3 graded 525 in which Dan the Navigator went off the 7/4 favourite from trap four. There was a pretty even break but Glenfort Lee showed good early speed to snatch the lead at the first bend from Smooth Deano. Dominating matters down the far side, Glenfort Lee (Hades Rocket-Glenfort Rumble) raced on for a comfortable six-and-a-quarter-length win in 29.27 for owner, Gina McDonagh and her father and trainer, John McDonagh. The best clock of the night went to Glitter Freeze in an A4 graded 525. Trained by Pat Curtin of Monard and owned by him and Johnathan Miles from Warwick, Glitter Freeze (Scarty Lad-Ham Ram) was the market leader at 5/4 with Rebellious Diva also well supported at 6/4. As it turned out, the market leaders were first to the bend with Glitter Freeze in front by half …

THE Limerick-Clare branch of Showjumping Ireland held the second leg of their Tenners League last Sunday in beautiful sunshine. The results arePony 128 70cm, double clears: Redzer, Alex Steward; Bellfield Irish Blue, Tara Diggins; Mill Road Butterfly, John Gallagher; Dreamer, Aoibh O’Sullivan; My little Cocopop, John Gallagher.Pony 128 80cm double clears: Bellfield Irish Blue, John Gallagher; Mill Road Butterfly, John Gallagher; Redzer, Alex Steward.Pony 128 90cm, placed: 1. Little Orchard Melody, Naoimi Rafferty.Pony 128 meter, placed: 1. Little Orchard Melody, Naoimi Rafferty.Pony 138 meter, placed: 1. Maidstown Silver Shadow, Danielle Collins; 2. Cragroe Timothy, Mark Doyle.Pony 148 90cm double clears: Ballykenry Smudge, Danielle Collins Stonehall Hero, Selina Braddish.Pony 148 metre, double clears; Lady Spot, Sarah Mangan; Horses 80cm, double clears: Cedarwood Star, Laura Barry; Ballyengland Starluck, Thomas Enright; Ballykenry Riely, Danielle Collins.Horses 90cm, double clears: Emo, Katie O’Dea; Fire of Quantum, Claire Woulfe; Always the optimist, Colin Ryan; Horse meter, double clears: Madam Grey, Eugene O’Doherty; Ballyengland Regal, Andrew Hodgins; …

IT’S been quite a while since a Clare team went into the Munster Senior Hurling Championship as such rank outsiders. On Sunday, they will face the All-Ireland champions and favourites to retain the title in the provincial semi-final and it is expected the Premier outfit will win comfortably.This is based on the fact that, for the second year in succession, Clare failed to win promotion from Division 2 of the national league. Their form in that campaign wasn’t impressive and, in fact, they struggled to win a lot of their games.Since the league final, the loss of Domhnaill O’Donovan due to injury has been a blow. The Clonlara man was one of Clare’s best players on that occasion and facing into a game against a forward line that includes such as Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett, his presence will be missed.Following on from their hugely impressive All-Ireland final win last September, Tipperary oozed confidence when they beat Cork in the …