Sports

Doonbeg 0-7 Shannon Gaels 0-6 Three points up at half-time and unlucky not to have been a few more ahead, Shannon Gaels looked to be on their way to the county senior football semi-final half an hour into this game with Doonbeg at Kilmihil on Saturday evening.However, they failed to maintain their first-half form into the second half against a much-improved Doonbeg and when the final whistle sounded, they were a point in arrears, having failed to raise a flag in this period.While credit must go to the Magpies for the manner in which they improved, Shannon Gaels will wonder where it all went wrong. They did have some opportunities in the second period but an apparent lack of confidence and a lack of experience proved costly.Some half-time switches by Doonbeg helped their side to get a grip on proceedings. These included the move of Frank O’Dea to midfield and the placing of team captain Colm Dillon at centre-forward. Both …

St Joseph’s 1-6Liscannor 0-9 When St Joseph’s went a goal clear seven minutes from the end of this quarter-final tie at Kilmihil on Saturday, everything pointed to a surprise.Liscannor, however, were not prepared to give in and they hit back with three points to tie up the game for the fifth and final time. On the run of play, a share of the spoils was a fair result on a day when both sides finished with 14 men.St Joseph’s went into the game without regulars Kevin Dilleen, the team captain, and Ivor White, who were ruled out due to injury but White did come into the game in the second half.Liscannor were also forced into a late change, with Dara Blake left out of the starting line-up due to injury but he was called into the action six minutes before half-time. They were already without Denis Murphy and John Kerin, both of whom are recovering from knee surgery.The sending off …

Cooraclare 1-10 Éire Óg 1-10 Cooraclare were grateful to referee Michael Rock’s interpretation of injury time as much as John Looney’s last-gasp point as they salvaged their championship season with a dramatic late, late leveller at Lissycasey on Saturday afternoon.Rock played six minutes of additional time and in the final piece of action in what was an exciting contest, Looney landed a pressure point to throw Cooraclare a championship lifeline.Wayward with earlier attempts from frees, Looney’s perfectly floated free-kick from 40m, awarded following an ill-timed lunge by Darren O’Neill, found the target. Cooraclare had cut it very fine indeed and while a draw was probably a fair result, Éire Óg will bemoan their inability to see time out after Shane Daniel’s close-in free, on the call of normal time, looked to have sealed the deal.Playing a two-man full-forward line having deployed Hughie Donnelly as a third midfielder, Cooraclare dominated the opening quarter, mainly due to their ability to hoover up …

West Clare Gaels 4-10 Banner Ladies 1-14 WEST Clare Gaels made history at Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg on Saturday evening when they captured the Clare senior ladies’ title for the first time in the club’s history.In doing so they dethroned the title holders, Banner Ladies, who were attempting to complete a three in a row of successes at this level.Under the management of Darragh Kelly (St Senan’s Kilkee) and Pat Foley (Naomh Eoin), the new champions were full value for their five-point win.A good start was vital and the new champions made their intentions from the throw-in and after just 20 seconds had split the posts with a fine point from Bríd Troy. By the seventh, they lead by four points with the title holders still scoreless, their other three points coming from the game’s top scorer, Majella Griffin, two of which were from play. A point from Niamh O’Dea opened Banner’s account in the 12th and in the …

Liscannor 1-16 Fergus Rovers 1-11 LISCANNOR had to pull out all the stops before securing the senior B championship title at the expense of Lissycasey in the opening game at the Ladies football finals in Doonbeg on Saturday evening.Winners of the intermediate title last year, the North Clare outfit went into this final as warm favourites. After all, they had hammered their final opponents earlier in the campaign while Rovers were now without inter-county star Áine Kelly and their inspirational captain, Teresa Meaney, to mention some.This was a great contest with little between the sides throughout. After being level on a number of occasions in the first half, the winners went to the break with a three-point advantage, 1-9 to 1-6.It looked good for Rovers five minutes from the break when teenager Aoife Clohessy found the net but the lead was short-lived as the winners hit back and Doireann Hanrahan blasted to the net to help her side to lead …

Semi-final pairings have been decided in the PK Coaches senior camogie championship. Newmarket have topped group 2 after their victory over Sixmilebridge at the weekend. The ’Bridge are also through to the semis as they had already secured their passage entering the weekend game. They are now second in the group and will face group 1 winners Kilmaley. Newmarket will play Clooney-Quin in the other semi-final. Clooney-Quin had it all to do last Wednesday evening against Scariff-Ogonnelloe in a game that went down to the wire. Both were battling for a semi-final place and a tough exciting game ensued. Clooney-Quin emerged with a point to spare in a tie where the lead changed hands on many occasions.Kilmaley had an easy win over Kilkishen who have yet to scale the heights that saw them push Clooney-Quin all the way to a draw in round 1. The newcomers to senior will now compete in the Glenomra Shield as fourth placed team in …

THE junior rugby competitive season kicks off this weekend and three Clare sides will be in action. St Senan’s travel to play Cobh Pirates in the Junior Challenge Cup and Ennis will also be travelling to Cork to play Kinsale in the same competition. Both games will kick off at 2.30pm.Meanwhile, in the Martin O’Sullivan Cup, Kilrush will have home advantage against Presentation and this tie will kick off at 2.30pm at Monmore.In an U-17 friendly, Slattery Park will host a meeting of St Senan’s and Ennis this Thursday evening at 7pm.Both clubs will have another friendly on Sunday when St Senan’s will travel to play Thomond at Fitzgerald Park, with Ennis making the journey to Dooradoyle to play Garrowen.Scariff’s U-17s will make the short journey to Newport for a friendly and all three games will be at 11.30am.In an U-19 friendly, Ballina-Killaloe will play Young Munster at Derryknockane.   West Clare Warriors WEST Clare Warriors Rugby Club will hold …

THE first Sunday schedule of fixtures in the new soccer season will go ahead this weekend with games in all four divisions.In the Premier Division League, Hermitage A will have Rock Rovers as visitors to the Fairgreen while Rineanna Rovers will have Avenue United A as visitors.McDonagh Park will host the meeting of neighbours Newmarket Celtic and Bunratty while Tulla United A will have Bridge United A as visitors to the Cragg where the kick-off will be at 2.30pm with the remaining three ties all set for 11am.In the first division, the action will be in the league cup with Lisdoonvarna hosting the North Clare derby in which Sporting Ennistymon will entertain Corofin Harps. Turnpike Rovers will have Connolly Celtic as visitors to Lees Road.In section B, Shannon Olympic A will entertain Mountshannon Celtic while Cratloe Forest will have their neighbours, Bridge United B, as visitors to Limerick IT. In the second division, the action will also be in the …