Sports

Newmarket Celtic 3 Tulla United A 1 MORE than just the three league points were on offer in this Premier League clash at McDonough Park on Sunday. Also with the victory came the assurance of top spot in the league table.It was Newmarket Celtic who were left sitting at the summit thanks to their ability to press home the territorial advantage which they enjoyed throughout the opening half. During that period, Newmarket were very much on the offensive and such was their stranglehold on proceedings that it was only a matter of time before they made the breakthrough. The opening goal duly arrived but not from an expected source. With just 10 minutes gone, Tulla left-full, Niall Whelan, had the misfortune of putting through his own net as he attempted to clear a Paudie Hayes cross.Shortly afterwards, Paudie Hayes was the creator once more. He skipped down the wing and when he delivered a dangerous ball into the goalmouth, Davy …

Ennis-Clarecastle Club members and supporters are keeping their fingers crossed that their annual fixture at Manus next Saturday and Sunday will not fall victim to the weather conditions experienced during the week. This would be a pity, as all their presentations to date at their relatively new headquarters at Manus have been outstanding.However, everything going to plan, there should be another exciting meeting at this well-appointed venue placed at the disposal of the club by the McInerney family.Brazing Serpent, trained by Jerry Griffin for the English-based Pistol Knight syndicate, has the credentials to go all the way in the HJ Murphy Memorial All Age Dog Stake (16). He already has a cup under his belt, having come through the Galway-Oranmore fixture, where he also won a trial stake last season.He should qualify from the top half while Him Over There, a trial stake winner last year for enthusiastic members of the Hey You Sir syndicate from Ennis, is favouite to …

The Larry Dunne-trained Slippery Bob was the star of the show when second-round heats of the Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger were decided in Limerick last Saturday night.After the Dolores Ruth-trained Makeshift was withdrawn from trap two, Slippery Bob got a dream start from trap four. He controlled matters from the start and ran out a six-length winner in a superb 29.60 from Jeddies Star, trained in Gort by Maurice Muillanney.Next best on the clock was Judicial Academy (29.68) trained by Michael O’Donovan for Pat Daly, Ballyhassig.Clare-owned runner Ballyhannon, trained by Denis O’Malley for Seamus Duggan, is still in the hunt. Ballyhannon was runner up in heat one in which he was pipped on the line and beaten a short head by Westmead Bond, whose winning clock 30.00. The draw for the third round on Saturday night next is Heat 1: 1 Farley Turbo; 2 Slippery Bob; 3 Bredas Girl; 4 Confident Nestor (m); 5 Westmead Bond (m); 6 Skywalker …

Nobody in Ireland is unaware that the International Monetary Federation and the European Central Bank are the most talked about gig in town this week.

A stranger ambling into McDonagh Park, Nenagh, would never have guessed that Michelle Downes had spent the previous hour running herself into the ground in pursuit of an All-Ireland medal.

West Clare Gaels  3-9   St Conleth’s (Laois) 0-8BUOYED by huge support in Nenagh, West Clare Gaels swept to a clinically comprehensive win over St Conleth’s in the All-Ireland intermediate club final on Sunday.

ROSCOMMON may not be rated as a camogie stronghold but their senior champions, Four Roads, are an experienced outfit and have been knocking on the door for All-Ireland junior club honours in recent years. Because of that experience, they will start this Sunday’s All-Ireland final at Kenny Park in Athenry against Corofin, the Clare and Munster champions, as favourites.

COROFIN were heartbroken to have lost two Clare intermediate camogie finals in succession and their determination to bring that crown to the parish has led to unbelievable commitment from all involved in 2010. That’s according to the team captain Aislinn Kelleher, one of three sisters hoping to have All-Ireland medals come Sunday evening.