Sports

Ennistymon CBS 0-8 Heywood CS 2-7 By Ivan Smyth At Duggan Park CBS Ennistymon’s dreams of a potential double are over as they suffered a five point defeat to Laois side Heywood CS. Two goals in a six minute spell from former Laois minor Shaun Fitzpatrick propelled Heywood CS to All Ireland glory. There was controversy surrounding the first goal as Fitzpatrick appeared to be inside the square when scoring his first goal of the game. A miscued shot from Heywood CS’ Brian Duggan fell short with Fitzpatrick on hand to punch to the net. There was no doubting the legitimacy of Fitzpatrick’s second strike as he scorched through the Ennistymon CBS before finishing to the bottom corner of the net. CBS Ennistymon summoned Brendy Rouine from the bench early in the second half as he made his presence felt at full forward. The nephew of Joe Joe Rouine saw a late 20m free blocked on the line by Heywood …

Eoin Brennan looks ahead to Clare’s National Football League Division 2 Round 5 clash away to Galway in Tuam Stadium tomorrow at 2pm IF Clare are to have any hope of reaching the promised land of promotion to the top tier, they need to take down neighbours Galway on on Sunday. While meetings with the Tribesmen have been rare, anything less than a victory would put an end to the Banner’s aspirations upwards and would leave them having to look over their shoulders for the final two basement scraps with current strugglers Meath and Down. Padraic Joyce’s Galway have enjoyed a perfect start to life back in Division 2 alongside Derry but with Roscommon poised to pounce upon any slip-ups, their Connacht derby final round meeting could well be a winner-takes-all promotion decider. Clare should be in the mix too after their best start to Division 2 under Colm Collins. However, following encouraging displays against Offaly and away draws with …

Despite the relatively small numbers attending the school, CBS Ennistymon have punched above their weight both academically and on the GAA field, writes Ivan Smyth. Michael Clohessy spent 40 years in the school, serving the final years as Deputy Principal before retiring in December 2020. The former Maths and Business Studies teacher was delighted to be asked by Tara Rynne and Jason Daffy to help with their senior hurling and football squads before their respective campaigns commenced. Clohessy managed St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield to the All Ireland Club Hurling Championship in 1999 while he took them back to the showpiece event one year later as they lost out to Athenry. The 64-year-old hopes these talented bunch of players can create lasting memories just like he and those Doora-Barefield players did back in their pomp. “I have great memories and I’ll take them to the grave. These lads will keep these memories long after leaving the school. They will recall these great …

Eoin Brennan previews Clare’s National Camogie League Division 1 Round 3 clash away to Limerick in TUS Gaelic Grounds this afternoon ULTIMATELY, John Carmody and Conor Dolan’s aim is to bridge the gap to the big three of Galway, Cork and Kilkenny. However, Clare’s real litmus test of where they currently lie comes this Saturday when facing neighbours Limerick in their own home patch. Moral victories with a young side against Cork and Kilkenny were decent indicators of developmental improvement but it’s how Clare fare against the best of the rest such as Limerick, Dublin, Waterford and Tipperary that will be seen as the essential battleground. Being a derby should be motivation enough but add in last year’s humbling reverses to their Shannonside neighbours that first put Clare into a Division 1 relegation play-off with Dublin before Limerick also subsequently knocked the same opponents out of the Munster Championship and it’s essentially must-win for the Banner. Being effectively a relegation …

Scariff’s Junior B hurlers will be hoping to keep the feelgood factor going in East Clare, writes Ivan Smyth The first quarter of this year certainly belongs to East Clare. St. Joseph’s heroic Harty Cup triumph brought nationwide attention East of the county while on the camogie front Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s unforgettable Munster final win only served to increase the feel good factor. Scariff’s Junior B side will be hoping to maintain that momentum when they face in to their Munster final showdown with Tipperary’s Clonoulty-Rossmore this Saturday in Killeedy. The East Clare outfit will be hoping to claim their first ever provincial crown at any grade with their intermediate team robbed of the opportunity to pursue Munster glory in 2020 due to COVID. Manager Brian Harte states there is one key ingredient behind the recent success; hard work. “A lot of it is down to the trojan work behind the scenes and the amount of people willing to volunteer. Ger Rodgers …

It’s rare to meet a woman at a schools game, Ennistymon CBS coach Tara Rynne tells Ivan Smyth ahead of the school’s All-Ireland final this weekend Tara Rynne’s Ennistymon CBS side travel to Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, this Saturday (throw in 2pm) as the school goes in search of a first ever Senior All Ireland title while she is part of the hurling management team that are also gunning to lift national honours in the same grade. She admits this is a unique situation for any school to find themselves in and one that has come about due to hard work and careful planning. “We couldn’t ask for it to go any better. It is hurling one week and football another with us. The lads take it all in their stride. Between the Dome and Dublin it was a very busy week for everyone but we are delighted to have come through both games.” Rynne has no shortage of final experience …

Scariff’s Patrick Crotty captained UL to a 1-20 to 0-11 victory over DCU in the All Ireland fresher Division 1 hurling final, writes Michael O Connor. AN expected Fresher A hurling title when the way of recently crowned Fitzgibbon champions UL at NUIGalway GAA grounds as DCU who had edged past MTUC were no match for the Joe McGrath managed side. Rarely at third level GAA did a side commence the season as nigh on impossible to overcome in the eyes of the fans and pundits. The UL fresher team with three members of the Limerick Senior panel and emerging talent such as Clare’s Pat Crotty increased the aura of invincibility. UL accounted for UCD in the semi final by 37 points with key players being replaced early in the second half. A dozen points separated the sides at the final whistle, yet it was a contest that was effectively over by the end of the first quarter as the …

AN ENNIS Track runner is among 19 athletes that will represent Ireland at the World Indoor Championships next week. Cathal Crosbie is part of the squad named by Athletics Ireland for the Championships taking place from March 18 to 20 in Belgrade, Serbia. The Clare man takes his place alongside Chris O’Donnell, Brian Gregan, Robert McDonnell, Cillin Greeneawdsley and Mark English Molly Scott (St. Laurence O’Toole’s AC) is set take the World Indoor Championships by storm after her incredible record breaking 60m performance at the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships in February, retaking the Irish Record with a time of 7.19. Phil Healy (Bandon AC) has been a strong feature of the Irish indoor season, after winning the Irish life Health National Senior Indoor Championships Healy went on to set a new 400m PB, 51.66, at the World Indoor Tour in Madrid last week (2nd March). Mark English (Finn Valley AC) takes to the 800m and the Men’s …