Sports

Cratloe 3-6 Ennistymon 1-10 HISTORY was made at Cusack Park on Saturday evening when Cratloe qualified for the senior football championship quarter-final for the first time in the club’s history with a two-point win over Ennistymon.In a game which ebbed and flowed, they finished strongly to book their last eight place and send Ennistymon crashing out of the title race.In the end, it was the ability of the South-East Clare side to score goals, which proved decisive in an entertaining game that produced some good passages of play.The winners had early points from Conor McGrath on a day when Ennistymon were forced into a change in personnel as early as the fifth minute, as Michael O’Loughlin was forced to retire due to injury to be replaced at centre-back by David McInerney.Having suffered this early setback, they were given a huge boost in the 11th minute when Danny Rouine’s effort from 30m slipped through the hands of Cratloe goalie Jamie Joyce …

St Joseph’s 3-5 Lissycasey 1-10 ALTHOUGH they were out of contention for championship honours before they lined out for this tie at Éire Óg on Saturday, underdogs Lissycasey produced their best display of the campaign but it wasn’t enough to prevent them from going down by a point to St Joseph’s.

Kilmurry-Ibrickane 2-14 Miltown 1-11 A BLISTERING start, which saw them nine points clear inside 20 minutes, laid the foundations for Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s merited win over neighbours and rivals Miltown St Joseph’s at Ennistymon on Saturday evening.Miltown had the margin down to three as half-time approached but any hopes of them causing a surprise and beating the title holders were rocked just before the short whistle when full-back, Graham Kelly, was sent off on a straight red card following a clash with Odran O’Dwyer.Kilmurry also finished with 14 after Shane Hickey was sent off on a second yellow card just before the full-time whistle. In addition to the sending offs, the game saw 10 yellow cards issued by match official Michael Rock.Miltown had the advantage of the wind in the second half but being a man short proved a major obstacle and the champions always looked likely winners.The movement of the Kilmurry forwards caused huge problems for their opponents, particularly in the …

St Senan’s 2-7 Liscannor 0-12   ST SENAN’S Kilkee came out one-point winners in the senior football championship tie played at Kilmihil on Sunday evening but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the title race.Despite this win, their first in the campaign, they finished bottom in their group, after scoring difference decided that Liscannor finished ahead of Miltown, with Kilkee in fourth spot, which means that they will now be involved in the relegation play-off.Liscannor went into the game in the knowledge that a win would guarantee them a place in the quarter-finals. For much of the tie it looked like this would be the way things would go but a brace of Kilkee goals at the start of the final quarter put the Seasiders into the lead and this sparked off huge interest, not only amongst those attending the game but amongst followers of Miltown St Joseph’s, who were in action against the title holders Kilmurry-Ibrickane at the …

Éire Óg 1-16 Shannon Gaels 3-7 DESPITE trailing 3-3 to 0-6 at half-time, Éire Óg produced an outstanding second-half display to emerge three-point victors over Shannon Gaels in Lissycasey last Sunday evening. The fact that both teams had already qualified for the last eight perhaps contributed to what was probably the most open, attack-minded game of the 2010 senior championship. As well as Éire Óg played throughout the second half, Shannon Gaels had played outstanding attacking football in the opening period. John Paul O’Neill and Shane Tubridy netted two goals, while Barry Toner steered his second penalty in successive matches to the net. Éire Óg could have goaled but Eoin Glynn’s effort was saved by Keith Ryan, however, they did kick some impressive first-half points. The winners’ introduction of Brendan Manning and Dean Ryan definitely helped them as Éire Óg established midfield dominance for much of the second half. They kicked 1-10 in the second half, with Stephen Hickey netting …

Wolfe Tones 5-12 Kilmihil 0-6 KILMIHIL’S season nose-dived further last Sunday when Wolfe Tones recorded an emphatic win at the Éire Óg grounds. Wolfe Tones are now safe from relegation and play Kilrush in the Senior B semi-final. However, Kilmihil must prepare for a relegation dogfight against O’Curry’s. The West Clare side’s season didn’t turn last weekend – it turned when they relinquished a seven-point lead, 10 minutes from time, against Shannon Gaels in their opening championship game last June. Since then, Kilmihil have been relegated to Division 3 in the league, while their championship form has plummeted. Wolfe Tones, who missed a number of goal chances in their previous championship outing, led 1-8 to 0-2 at half-time as they finally showed what they are capable of. Brian O’Connell netted the first-half goal, while Kevin Cahill, Gary Leahy and Jamie Roughan added points. Leahy’s early second-half goal from a penalty finished Kilmihil, who also had Timmy Ryan red-carded about 10 …

DOONBEG cruised into the last eight of the senior football championship in Cooraclare last Saturday evening. Although they led by just two points at half-time, the Magpies were never seriously threatened by Kilrush, who had plenty of possession but were unable to reflect that on the scoreboard. In fact, Kilrush kicked 14 wides but Ruairí O’Connor’s 1-1 was their total return from play. Had Kilrush been slicker up front and had they been able to vary their attacking play, they could have been much closer to Doonbeg, who faded at midfield during the second half in particular. With a player like David Tubridy in attack however, Doonbeg can afford the odd downfield lapse, knowing that the classiest forward in Clare doesn’t need a constant supply of ball to display his ability. While his right foot is apparently his strong side, defenders trying to force him onto his left are wasting their time as Tubridy is equally proficient on his left. …

Cooraclare 0-17 O’Curry’s 1-5   COORACLARE eased into the last eight of the senior championship following a comfortable win over O’Curry’s in Doonbeg last Saturday evening.Having beaten Kilrush but lost to Doonbeg, Cooraclare knew that only a win would keep them involved in the 2010 championship. Having kicked 1-9 against Kilrush and 0-8 against Doonbeg, Cooraclare were also intent on improving their scoring difference, which they also managed. Full-forward John Looney landed eight points for the winners, seven from frees, while Rory Donnelly kicked four points from play. Cooraclare led 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time. Mark Roche netted for O’Curry’s early in the second half to raise their hopes. Points from Looney, Seán Maguire and Donnelly, however, eased Cooraclare into a 0-12 to 1-3 lead, at which point the result was safe. Donnelly and Looney added late points, while Michael Chambers also banged over a late score for the winners. O’Curry’s case wasn’t helped when Paul Roche was sent off …