Sports

It’s easy to see why Terence Fahy, Tomás Kelly and Aidan Harte put their faith in Ronan O’Connor as captain of their greatest ever team, writes Eoin Brennan. A model of hard-working consistency on the field, the Feakle clubman was just as genuine off it as he spoke frankly and emotionally about St Joseph’s Tulla’s amazing journey and the gravity of such an historic achievement. “It’s just unreal, I’m honestly lost for words. What this means to me, the team, my family everything, I’m just over the moon and so, so proud. “It means so much and I think you can see that in the support we had today. The numbers that came out, the cheer we received and the colours they brought, it means so much to us but also clearly for them too. Even in the build up, everyone was so much behind us so this cup is for them as much as it is for us.” O’Connor, …

A LARGE crowd turned up to last Sunday’s County Clare Hunt point-to-point fixture in Bellharbour, where jump fans enjoyed a tremendous day’s fun, writes Michael Duggan. All that is good in racing between the flags was on show with Wexford’s Rob James taking the day’s honours with two winners. James started his afternoon at the scenic north Clare venue in the best possible fashion when steering Out Of Office (which he also trains) to victory in the opening four-year-old maiden. A son of Shirocco, this well-bred newcomer came out the right side of a good battle with eventual runner-up Readin Tommy Wrong with the 3/1 chance finding most in the closing stages to score by two length. The victorious trainer/rider reported: “I fancied him coming here as we always thought a lot of him. He was showing us all the right signs at home and I’m glad he produced the goods on the day. “He jumped very well throughout and …

He may have been the only Galway man amidst a sea of Clare and Limerick on both sides of the divide, writes Eoin Brennan, but Aidan Harte was clearly every bit as proud of his side’s accomplishment as anyone else in the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday afternoon. As joint-manager alongside Terence Fahy and Tomás Kelly, the 2017 All-Ireland senior winning player was most impressed by St Joseph’s Tulla’s ability to thrive on such a prestigious and often times dating stage, a sign of their true character and leadership abilities according to the Gort native. “It’s unbelievable. I suppose the biggest challenge for young people or anyone involved in sport is to do when it counts most on the biggest stage. “And for these guys this is the biggest stage for them in terms of their school and underage careers and they responded by being outstanding from start to finish, there’s no other way of putting it. “They probably don’t realise …

SPORTS capital grant funding of €4.6m will be shared among 69 clubs in Clare, as part of a nationwide fund of €150m announced by Minister for Sport Jack Chambers. Ranging in size from €4,624 up to €138,768,the grants will facilitate infrastructure and improvement works in clubs across the county. (see the full list at the bottom of the piece) Among the biggest winners are St Joseph’s Doora Barefield GAA, Kilmurry Ibrickane GAA, Ennistymon GAA Club, East Clare Golf Club and Burren Riding Club, while soccer clubs competing in Limerick but based in Clare like Corbally United and Ballynanty Rovers are also included. Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the allocation saying he was “delighted to see this huge investment in sports facilities throughout Clare”. “Time spent involved in sports is golden time for young people and it’s only right that we invest in the facilities that improve participation. This year, Minister Chambers placed particular emphasis on clubs …

An All-Ireland Final beckons for Coláiste Muire after proving worthy players for all seasons following a gritty low-scoring war of attrition with Laois’ Mountrath Community College in Clarecastle on Saturday. On a day that you would be hesitant about putting your pet outside, the Ennis demonstrated their character and versatility in abundance once more to tee up a final showdown with Wicklow’s Coláiste Bhríde Carnew in a fortnight’s time. The antithesis of their freescoring Munster Semi-Final against Laurel Hill a month previously when firing 23 scores, every point was pivotal this time around thanks to almost Biblical weather conditions. With a gale blowing towards the clubhouse end, what unfolded was the proverbial game of two halves, with Coláiste Muire having its aid in the opening period before declaring with a four point cushion by the break. With the pressure on their shoulders from the outset, the home side eventually got off the mark in the fourth minute when the ever-impressive …

Ivan Smyth catches up with Dean and Dylan Casey who along with Niall Murphy and Mark Hanrahan brought home team gold from the European U20 Cross Country Championships BACK home after their gold medal heroics in Portugal on Sunday the twin brothers who led Ennis Track to European glory have been reflecting on their feat. Dean and Dylan Casey ran first and second as Ennis Track secured team gold in the Junior Men’s grade at the ECCC Cross Country Championships. Niall Murphy produced a gritty display of racing as he crossed the line in 11th place on a morning where Ennis Track simply obliterated the field. Murphy was fourth inside the opening kilometre but despite falling back slightly, he displayed admirable heart to hold on and help his team win gold. Mark Hanrahan finished in 18th as Ennis Track were the only club to have four athletes finish inside the top 20. The Casey brothers ran an aggressive race in …

CLARE’S Ethan Coughlan has made the starting 15 for Friday’s U20 Six Nations Round 2 clash against France in Aix-en-Provence. Head Coach Richie Murphy has named the Ireland Match Day squad, has made four changes in personnel to his starting XV from last weekend’s bonus point win over Wales in Cork, with Aitzol King, Daniel Hawkshaw, Coughlan and Rory McGuire coming into the side for the trip to France. Tony Butler and Conor Moloney are named among the replacements for the match. Commenting ahead of the game, Murphy said: “We were pleased with the performance and result in Round 1, but we’ve had to turn the page quickly ahead of a big challenge on Friday night. “The players acquitted themselves well last week and we have been able to focus on the areas of our game that need refinement this week. There is no greater test than going away to France and the group are excited about that challenge.” Friday’s …

Sean Stack has been appointed as the new manager of the Sixmilebridge senior hurling team, it was confirmed at their club committee meeting on Monday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. The iconic All-Star defender returns to the helm in his native club for the first time since 2004 and is joined on the backroom team by All-Ireland senior winners for both club and county Michael O’Halloran and Niall Gilligan along with Jim Fitzgerald and Adrian Chaplin. Sixmilebridge, winners of five of the last nine Clare Senior Hurling titles, exited last year’s championship at the quarter-final stage to Éire Óg, this ending a historic bid for a three-in-row of Canon Hamilton crowns under Tim Crowe and Davy Fitzgerald. Stack’s vast managerial experience, that includes guiding three clubs (Sixmilebridge 1984, Toomevara 1993 and Na Piarsaigh 2011, 2013) to provincial glory in three different decades is accentuated by a glittering playing career. he won an All-Star in 1981, back-to-back National Hurling Leagues in 1977 …