Sports

The 40×20 Irish junior handball nationals 2010 take place this weekend at Ulster venues and there will be plenty of Clare interest as over a dozen Banner handballers from a number of clubs across the county will make the journey north to Kingscourt, Cavan; Bawn and Carrickmacross, both in Monaghan.

Clare Motor Club is 30 years old this year and the committee has decided to celebrate by having an indoor motorsport and car show on Sunday in Unit J, Ballymaley Business Park on the Gort Road.

WITH all its comforts and grandeur, the new Bord na gCon Greyhound Stadium in Limerick will be a fitting venue for the 2010 Kerry Agribusiness Irish St Leger, which gets underway on Friday and Saturday night.

THE O’Driscoll family from Glouthaune, outside Cork city, hope to make it another rewarding trip to West Clare next weekend when their Skellig dogs compete for the Aylevarroo all-age bitch stake at the Killimer-Kilrush coursing meeting.

West Clare Gaels 5-19 St Patrick’s, Dromahair 3-9 LAST weekend, the country was warned that a huge storm was about to envelop the nation. This would have had particular significance in the westerly villages of Carrigaholt and Kilbaha if a gale force wind had whipped up. The predicted weather didn’t materialise, although there was plenty of rain. Perhaps there was an exception in Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg, however, as the lady footballers of West Clare Gaels produced a thrilling display, which diverted their supporters from thoughts of the weather or the equally inclement economy, to that of football.Even if the winter turns out to be a harsh one, the Clare senior champions’ feat in reaching the All-Ireland intermediate club final has already shortened it for their ardent supporters in Kilkee, Carrigaholt, Kilbaha and Cross.With a Clare senior and Munster intermediate medal already nestling in their grasp, along with memories of that rather expensive quarter-final trip to London, West Clare …

Doora-Barefield 1-5 Ennistymon 1-4 Has a minor championship ever created such excitement on and off the field? Unlikely. It was apt therefore that the 2010 Minor A Football Championship wasn’t decided until the fifth minute of injury time in an eventful, albeit free-filled final in Miltown. Brian Houlihan’s inspirational 60th minute goal pulled Ennistymon to within a point of Doora-Barefield to set up an incredibly exciting finish. After a lung-bursting run from his own full-back line, Houlihan linked up with Cathal Malone and Cathal McConigley before he fired past Liam Slattery. St Joseph’s four-point lead had suddenly evaporated and Ennistymon sensed they were not without hope. Two minutes into injury time, a sustained Ennistymon attack, where they virtually camped in front of their opponents’ goalmouth, culminated in Barefield winning a free out. It looked as if that was it. Not so. Two minutes later, Ennistymon midfielder Cathal Malone stole inside the winners full-back line but his shot on goal was …

The Munster uneven ages U-9 to U-19 plus the intermediate cross country championships were held in the Showgrounds, Charleville, on Sunday.Conditions were excellent after a lot of rain and Clare athletes produced magnificent individual performances.Daiela Svensson, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare won the girls U-9. There was double gold in the U-11 section for Alex O Neill and Aidan McCarthy both St Cronan’s. There was another Munster title for Jean Clancy, St John’s, in the girls U-17 while Imogen Cotter, Ennis Track, won the girls U-19 title with Claire Madigan, St John’s taking the intermediate ladies 4,000m title.Clare captured 10 team awards, gold in the girls U-9 and bronze in the boys U-9; silver in both the girls and boys U-11, bronze in the girls U-13 and silver in the boys U-13; bronze in both the boys and girls U-15, gold in the girls U-17 and silver in the ladies intermediate. In addition, Ennis Track son the bronze medals in the inter-club …