Sports

Three-hundred people attended a gala function at the Auburn Lodge Hotel last Sunday night when the members of the Clare minor hurling team that won the provincial title last July were presented with their medals.Clare GAA chairman Michael O’Neill told the players that they, combined with the U-21s of last year “are the future of Clare hurling”.“We are not too far away from a senior All-Ireland title. We will win one in the not-too-distant future. There is a lot of work going in at development level, in the game and in facilities, which will bring success at different levels.  We have the management and the clubs and I have no doubt that we will have senior wins,” he said.Sean Walsh, chairman of the Munster GAA Council, said, “This is a special night for Clare and particularly for the players.” A Kerry minor selector for five years, the provincial council official told the players that the friendships they made this year …

Galway 3 Clare 1 CLARE’S Oscar Traynor outfit travelled to Terryland Park in Galway last Thursday knowing that they had to beat the home side to have any chance of remaining in the race for this year’s Inter League Junior Cup title. A goal ahead early in the final quarter, things looked good for the visitors, last year’s beaten finalists but it wasn’t to be and this defeat means that Clare are out of this year’s Oscar Traynor Cup title race.Having lost to Limerick in their first match at the County Grounds in Doora, Clare needed to beat Galway to remain in the competition and the importance of victory was evident in their play from the outset.When Clare officials sit down to review this tie, they will point to some decisions by the home county officials as being amongst the reasons for their defeat. They had two penalty claims waved away in the opening half while a dubious free kick …

QUIN trainer Donie Hassett enjoyed the best possible start to 2011 when his improving chaser Droim Toll landed the featured €28,500 Porterstown Handicap (Grade C) Chase at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. A dual point-to-point winner, Droim Toll went off at odds of 10/1 in this three-mile, five-furlong test and was given a smashing ride by the talented Paul Townend. Held up for the most of this marathon trip, Droim Toll began to make eye-catching progress as the 15-runner field turned into the home straight. Jumping two out, Droim Toll was really motoring on the stand side, finally putting his head in front when Edward O’Grady’s 6/1 joint-favourite Rocco’s Hall blundered badly at the last, unseating Andrew McNamara, allowing Droim Toll to freewheel home for a facile seven-length success over runner-up Lios Na Bearnaí. While the winner’s task was eased by the final fence fall of Rocco’s Hall, it appeared as if Droim Toll was travelling much the better in …

The South Clare coursing meeting at Cooraclare turned out to be a rewarding one for the Clare connections of Windfarm Eiscir and Atlantic Ashmore, who won the all-age cups and collected more valuable wins in their quest for Clonmel glory.While the Pat Curtin-trained Windfarm Eiscir (Bexhill Eoin-Windfarm Lady) owned in Ennis by Clare Eustace, was a decisive winner of the South Clare Cup for 16 all-age dogs, there was huge controversy surrounding the final of the all-age bitch final when the judge waived the flag in favour of the Paddy Marrinan, Miltown Malbay, owned and trained Atlantic Ashmore (Ardmore View-Atlantic Beauty) against a very unlucky Summerfield Bex, owned by Jean Carr, Claregalway.Already a cup winner at the East Donegal fixture and beaten in the Doon final, Windfarm Eiscir rubber-stamped his Clonmel qualification with his victory at the South Clare meeting, which was held on Thursday and Friday last after being postponed on St Stephen’s Day because of the frost.Gerry Meehan’s …

KILMALEY Senior GAA Club held their annual meeting at the clubhouse last week, when Conor Clancy, Steven Clancy and Bernie Burke were returned as chairman, secretary and treasurer respectively, while Gerry Kennedy was appointed as U-21 team manager for 2011.David Dillon was commended on his outstanding efforts on the yearly publication of the club GAA magazine in chronicling the activities of the Kilmaley club.Detailed financial reports were delivered by the club treasurer, Bernie Burke and her hard work along with Marie Lynch, assistant treasurer, was recognised by the large attendance.The fantastic success of the U-14A and U-15B hurlers in bringing silverware to the club was highlighted, along with the involvement of a large number of players with county squads, in particular Daire Keane and Michael O’Neill’s achievement with the Clare minors in reaching the All-Ireland minor final.The secretary also paid tribute to all involved in helping the club win the Bord na nÓg club of the year award. However, he …

Captains Michael and Phil Butler drove in to office at Ennis on Saturday last before a big attendance of members.In conjunction with the drive-in, there was a three-person team competition, which was won by Ned Ryan, Tim Kelly and Seamus Hanrahan with 36 points from Tommy Clancy, Brian O’Gorman and Richard Keane.During the months of January and February, the men’s committee at Ennis Golf Club will be promoting fourball and singles competitions on alternate weekends.Each weekend the competition will be run over three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In the fourball, re-entry will be allowed with a different partner. Portumna After a month of frost and ice Portumna’s golf course re-opened last week under the leadership of captain Christy O’Rourke, lady captain Lilian Austin and president John Harte. In an open 11-hole competition last week, Ollie Glynn (13) was the winner with 27 points from Graham Carty (15) on 26 points. Sunday’s three-ball competition winners were Ollie Flanagan, Pat Quinlan …

ENNIS Track’s Rory Chesser and Veronica Colleran both won well at the Clare Sports Partnership and Clare Athletics Association 5km frost bite road race series race 2, which was held in Mullagh with a fine turnout of competitors.Irish international Chesser set a very hot pace and went through the 1km in 2.56. He had Sean Hehir from Kilkishen and Rathfarnham AC, Dublin right on his shoulder, along with Brian McGinley and, Brian Murphy both Ennis Track and Michael Shannon, Kilnaboy.Chesser crossed the finish line in a time of 14.54 and Sean Hehir worked hard over the next 2km to take the second spot in 15.31, with Brian McGinley third in 15.54, followed by Brian Murphy, Michael Shannon and Micheal Keane, Ennis Track.In the ladies race, Eimear Power, Sportsworld, winner of the first leg was not in the starting line-up.Veronica Colleran, Ennis Track, set the pace from the start and she was always in control up front and was a very …

ENNIS native Sean Malone senior was inducted to the boxing hall of fame in Connecticut recently.Born in Ennis, seventy-one-year-old Malone emigrated to the US when he was just 16. He settled in Wallingford in 1970 where he helped to start a police athletic league boxing programme and several of the members figured prominently.Sean’s father hailed from Barntick, Clarecastle, while his mother was a native of Ashline in Ennis. His cousin, Martha McEnery lives in Ennis and is in regular contact with Sean.His son, Sean junior, was a New England lightweight champion in the early ’90s.