Sports

The minor A football final between Ennistymon and Doora-Barefield has been fixed for Saturday week and all the indications are that the fixture will go ahead as scheduled on that date.Clondegad are still making efforts to get a re-fixture of their semi-final with Ennistymon but up to the time of writing their efforts had not been successful.“We are still trying to get it fixed and we are not getting anywhere,” said Clondegad manager Martin Power, who added that his team had offered to go to Ennistymon to play the game on this Saturday. “We have offered every alternative possible,” Power said.Meanwhile, Ennistymon minor club secretary Gerry Murphy said that he wasn’t aware “of any change and we are preparing for the final”.The semi-final between Clondegad and Ennistymon was scheduled for last Sunday week in Quilty but Clondegad failed to fulfill the fixture. Ennistymon were present and lined out and referee Gerry Corry threw the ball in. Corry’s report was adopted …

Cooraclare 2-8 St Senan’s Kilkee 1-9 A CONTRIBUTION of 2-2 from player-manager Joe Garry steered Cooraclare to a two-point win over St Senan’s Kilkee in the Junior B Football Championship final played before a big attendance at Shanahan-McNamara Park in Doonbeg on Sunday.The game was held up for almost half an hour early in the second half as injured Kilkee player Darren Clarke`had to be removed from the pitch by ambulance. The centre-back had been receiving medical attention for what looked to be a shoulder injury after he had collided with Cooraclare midfielder John O’Connell midway through the first half.The winners made the better start to this game and were 0-4 to 0-0 in front by the end of the opening quarter with points from Rory McMahon (2), John Joe McMahon and TJ Molloy.When play resumed after Clarke’s injury, John Garvey opened the seasiders’ account, which sparked off a good spell for the Kilkee men. They cut the deficit to …

Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon 5-12  St Flannan’s 5-8 Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon travelled to Inagh last week to score a good win over St Flannan’s College in the Clare Secondary Schools Ladies’ Football senior final. Both sides had wins over Spanish Point and St Camin’s, Shannon on the way to the final, where they were competing for the Johnny Hayes Perpetual Cup.  St Flannan’s, playing with the assistance of the wind, opened the scoring when Nicky Kiaser goaled a minute into the game. Scoil Mhuire’s captain, Niamh O’Dea, then opened the scoring for her side with a pointed free. Her sister, Eva, added a second point for the North Clare girls after an excellent pass from forward Róisín Howley. St Flannan’s Nicky Kiaser got her side’s second score with a well-taken point. Niamh O’Dea, playing a captain’s role, kicked a high ball goalwards, which dipped under the crossbar and into the St Flannan’s net to leave her side a point ahead. Midway …

The Banner Ladies defeated Newmarket-on-Fergus in the 2010 minor A championship final on Monday in Clareabbey. Newmarket opened the scoring when Ali Quinlan pointed in the first minute, followed quickly by a Nikki Kaiser goal. When the Banner Ladies laid siege to the Newmarket goal for the next 10 minutes, seven unanswered points were registered including Naomi Carroll (two), Niamh O’Dea, Megan Haugh, Orlaith Lynch, Emma Glynn and Rebecca Culligan. Anne Marie Hayes’ levelling goal for Newmarket seemed to negate all that effort but when Naomi Carroll’s rebound came back off the woodwork into her hands, she made no mistake on her second attempt to rattle the net. Shortly after, Rebecca Culligan scored an excellent goal for the winners and when the halftime whistle sounded, the Banner were 2-9 to 2-4 ahead. In the second half, the Banner held the upperhand and their greater experience was the key and they picked off some great scores. Banner Ladies: Orla Hennessy; Helen …

Hermitage A 0 Lifford 1 Lunga Balman was the hero for Lifford in this Ennis derby at the Fairgreen on Sunday. He scored the all-important goal, just before half time, to give Lifford the points against the league leaders.The ’Tage will be disappointed that they weren’t ahead at the time as they had created some good chances but the Lifford defence held firm Balman’s strike broke the deadlock and came after good work by Greg Howard.In the third quarter, the ’Tage piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but the winner’s defence in which Michael J Sullivan again impressed, held firm. An equaliser looked to be on the cards when Hermitage were awarded a penalty but Dave Moloney’s effort rebounded off the upright. Lifford: Jan Da Silva; Greg Howard, Hamad Kuku, Michael J Sullivan, J Lynch; Gary McMahon, TJ Ajisomo, Ruairi Norrbyt, Fabrice Baptista, Ciaran Neenan, Lunga Balman.Subs: Gary Browne, Liam Meaney, Jamie Fahy.Hermitage: Joe Burke; Donal Harnett, …

In the 12-race card that followed the opening of Limerick track Tubber owner, Martin Kelly, was winner of the second race, an A1-graded 525, with his Rathorpe Hawk. Third in his race at this venue last week, the son of Westmead Hawk- Rathorpe Star was well-placed from the start, put in a big challenge down the back to lead at the third bend and come in an impressive two-lengths winner in an equally impressive 28.79. Another fast winner with a good clock of 28.66 was Rallying Caul, owned by Dan Flynn, Meelick. Fast off the mark from trap five in a mini-open 525, the son of Black Shaw-Goodbye Lucy, was always prominent and was in front on the run home. However, the John McGee-trained Olympic Gift put in a stiff challenge nearing home but Ralling Caul held out to win by a head. Money Goes Easy, trained by Bernard Coffey, Sixmilebridge, was a trap three runner in the final race …

The Clare Champion sponsored Clare Cumann na mBunscoil boys and girls football finals were played at Cusack Park last Wednesday and Thursday.There were eight finals in all and the finals produced some exciting football. Cratloe National School scored a great double winning the girls and boys Division 2 titles. Ennis National School 2-6 Gaelscoil Mhichíl Ciosóg 1-7 In a very close contest, Ennis National overcame the challenge of Gaelscoil Mhichíl Ciosóg in the girls Division 1A final.This was a thrilling final with Ennis National snatching victory with a goal in the final minute of the tie.Chloe Eustace was the winners’ top scorer with 0-4, while Maressa Hayes and Nina Jabkonska each scored a goal with Ciara Casey and Orla Waters scoring a point each.The game’s top scorer was Jennifer Ní Mharachain with 0-6 while Siobhán Ní Chuinneagain (1-0) and Sionna Ní Dhonabhain (0-1) completed their tally. Ennis National: Natalia Fankulewska; Kayleighanne Haugh, Bebhinn Sullivan, Fiona Neylon (captain); Doireann Casey, Chloe …

Eire Óg 8-11 Broadford 1-2 ÉIRE Óg had a comfortable win over Broadford in this U-16C camogie decider. The town girls got off to a great start when centre-back, Claire McMahon won the ball at the throw-in, gave a superb pass to Orla Devitt, who in turn passed to Shaunagh O’Brien, to put it over the bar. This set the pace for the match and  further scores from Orla Devitt, Claire McMahon, Gráinne Nolan and Shaunagh O’Brien gave Éire Óg a substantial 4-8 to 1-1 lead at half-time.The second half started in much the same manner when Orla Devitt lobbed a long-range free over the Broadford goalie’s head  to the net. Further scores from Devitt, Gráinne Nolan and a cracker of a goal from substitute, Elana Bradley secured victory for Éire Óg on a final scoreline of 8-11 to 1-2.The strength and determination of the Éire Óg backs, Laura Brown and Rae Wall and wing-back, Clare Chadda coupled with the …