Sports

HUNDREDS of people from all over the country converged on the West County Hotel in Ennis last weekend for the Inter-County Pool Championships.Twenty-two men’s teams battled it out for the most prestigious team title in Irish pool, with a number of ladies’ teams and junior teams also competing at the event.Cork won the men’s team event, beating off stiff opposition from Wexford. John Magee, chairman of the Irish Pool Association, said it was the most exciting final of any competition they have had yet. “Cork were nine frames to one ahead when Wexford took the next eight frames, putting them level on nine frames each. Cork eventually won the match by 14 frames to 12. It was nail-biting stuff,” he commented.This is Cork’s first time winning the national title, on their first outing in the final. Wexford were national champions six times.John Columb from Cavan won the men’s title, beating Pat O’Leary from Offaly. “This was John’s fourth title, making …

Kilrush 0-15Cratloe 1-6 KILRUSH scored a comprehensive six-point win over Cratloe in Kilrush last Saturday evening. The win keeps the West Clare club top of the Garry Cup table.Looking very fit, Kilrush led 0-11 to 0-3 at the interval, having played with the aid of the breeze. Cratloe, who were without Seán and Pádraig Collins, Enda Boyce and Barry Duggan, played a little better on the resumption but never threatened to overhaul the home club. Kilrush: Tony Burke; Chris Dixon, Donal O’Sullivan, Cathal Lyons; Con O’Brien, John Hayes, Matthew Moloney; Paddy Clancy, Martin Griffin; Brendan Crowley, Alan Daly, Peadar McMahon; Stephen Sweeney, Jim Young, Ruairí O’Connor.Subs: Eoin Fitzgerald, Seamus Bolton, John Ryan, Dermot O’Brien.Cratloe: Jamie Joyce; Seán Hynan, Michael Hawes, Wes de Loughrey; Liam Markham, Conor Ryan, Barry Gleeson; Kane O’Shea, Kevin Browne; Robert Conlon, Pádraig Chaplin, Dean de Loughrey; Cathal McInerney, Conor McGrath, Patrick O’Gorman.Subs: Philip Gleeson, John Lawrence Boyce, David Ryan.   Doora-Barefield 2-10Kilmihil 1-9 ST JOSEPH’S Doora-Barefield …

  Clooney-Quin 3-8Newmarket 3-7 IN a nail-biting game, Clooney ladies beat Newmarket to win the intermediate football league final.Having lost to Newmarket in the first round, the Clooney-Quin girls were determined to turn the result around in the final. The game was played in perfect conditions in Newmarket with strong support for both sides present.Clooney Quin played with a slight breeze in the first half and settled into the game quicker with early scores from Orlaith Duggan and Jessica O’Neill. They stretched their advantage with a great goal from Orlaith Duggan after some slick passing involving Siabdh Corbett and Deirdre Murphy. Newmarket replied with a point before Clooney-Quin added two more from Jessica O’Neill and Deirdre Murphy. Clooney-Quin dominated this period of the game and finished off with another goal from Ashling Hannon to leave it 2-4 to 0-1 at half-time.Newmarket started the second half with an increased tempo and soon added a goal and two points to their tally, …

  Clare 3-17Waterford 1-2 CLARE qualified for the Munster U-18 camogie final when they defeated Waterford in Cusack Park on Sunday. The winners move on to a final date with Cork this Sunday in Scariff at 2.30pm.The home side opened the scoring in the third minute with a point from Niamh Corry. Two minutes later, Orlaith Duggan scored a controversial goal. Another goal by Duggan was followed by six unanswered points. Waterford’s only goal came in the 20th minute from Zoe O’Donoghue leaving the half-time score at 2-8 to 1-1.The second-half was very one-sided with Louise Woods opening the scoring for Éire Óg with a goal in the first minute. In the fifth minute a Naomi Carroll effort on goal was saved but got a point on the rebound. Clare then followed with nine unanswered points while Waterford’s only score of the half came from a free in injury time. Eight of Clare’s players managed to get their names on …

THE Ennis Swimming and Lifesaving Club Grade A swimmers won 60 medals in a Munster graded gala in Tralee recently. With the gala being the last one before the upcoming Munster Age Group Championships, the swimmers were eager to see how well they had progressed in their training.Overall, the club won 60 medals, 18 gold, 24 silver and 18 bronze. In the girls’ 12-13 age group, Lily Barrett put in consistent swims in earning four silver medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle and the 100m and 200m breaststroke. Emily Ryan established four personal best (pb) times in securing gold medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle and silver medals in the 100m backstroke and the 200m individual medley.The girls’ 14-15 age group saw Ciara Gleeson win two gold medals in the 100m freestyle in a time of 1.04:82 and in the 200m individual medley. Maebh Hogan set two pbs in her 100m freestyle and 100m breaststroke events. Maebh Jacob …

Avenue United A 2Bridge Celtic A 1 AVENUE United A justified favouritism in overcoming the challenge of Bridge Celtic in what was a disappointing semi-final tie at the County Grounds on Sunday morning.Two goals in a three-minute spell shortly before the end of the opening half proved decisive, as the Ennis side march to yet another final.Celtic had a dream start to the second half with a goal after just 18 seconds but failed to get through for another. Avenue is now just one game away from completing the league and cup double, having captured the Premier League title just over a week ago.The Ennis side played with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening half and created the better chances. Adrian McDonagh came close in the third minute while, 10 minutes later, Celtic’s goalie Adrian Dhuig was smartly off his line to turn a Barry Nugent effort behind for a corner.McDonagh again had a chance on the …

FOR the second Saturday on the trot young Glenamaddy trainer Conor Fahy had a double with his father’s charges at the Greyhound Racing Stadium. He was joined by Killaloe trainer Michael Downes, who also made two trips to the winners’ enclosure. The Fahy double was with Tyrur Lauren (29.03) in the featured A1-graded race and Tyrur Gerado (28.93) in an A3-graded 575. In the featured race, the Michael Downes-trained Ta Toosh filled third place. The Downes kennels were also represented by Stormy Dan in the opening A7-graded 525-yard race but the Limerick-owned Fancy Bigboy was always in front and won by two and a quarter lengths in 29.85 from Stormy Dan.Parteen-based trainer Joe Collins opened the Clare account with Matt Bird winning race number two, an S7-graded 350-yard event. Drawn in trap two, the daughter of Matt Hyland-Scattery Mac was off to a flyer and was four lengths in front in the run to the opening bend. Although challenged by …

KEITH King of Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare came away from the Munster Senior, Junior and U-23 Track and Field Championships at Cork IT with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.His first gold came in the high jump over six great rounds, with 1.85m on his last jump. Ten minutes later, he cleared 6.01m in the long jump to capture another gold. Pat O’Connor (Tralee Harriers) looked to have won the javelin competition but with one round to go, Ennis Track’s David Courtney got in a massive throw of 42.80m to snatch the gold medal, with Keith King taking the bronze medal with a throw of 38.12m.King, now on his fourth event of the day, also took silver in the triple jump with 11.33m, before capturing the bronze medal in the discus with a throw of 25.64m. In the U-23 ladies’ 1,500m, Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) ran a very steady race to take this title in 4.21:70, while Irish international Rachel …