Sports

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-9  Stradbally 0-6 A STRONG defensive display, particularly from the full-back trio, inspired Kilmurry-Ibrickane to a deserved win over their Waterford opponents in the provincial semi-final played at Fraher Field in Dungarvan on Sunday.This latest win by the Clare champions has seen them qualify for the provincial final for the second year in succession and they will play Kerry representatives Kerins O’Rahillys for the Munster title on Sunday, December 6.The third meeting of these teams – their 2004 final went to a replay – ended with Kilmurry-Ibrickane repeating their ’04 victory. Ironically, in all three matches, Kilmurry’s tally has been the same, 0-9.While the rain stayed away, the players had to contend with a near-galeforce wind that blew directly into the roadside goal at the Waterford venue. The winners had the aid of this wind in the opening half and when they went to the break with just five points to spare (0-7 to 0-2), their supporters, who …

Cratloe 3-4  Valley Rovers 0-5 Cratloe footballers booked a place in their first Munster intermediate football final after outclassing Cork champions Valley Rovers in windswept Clarecastle last Sunday.Victory over Kerry kingpins, The Spa, Killarney in the provincial decider next Sunday would crown a fairytale season for Cratloe, which has confounded sceptics in their own club, who questioned the wisdom of trying to actively pursue championship success in both codes at their last annual general meeting.The doubters who felt it wasn’t possible for adult players to try to win a senior hurling championship and triumph in the intermediate grade at the same time have now been silenced. Not only have Cratloe managed to achieve this feat and the U-21A football title in the one season, the men in blue and white are now only 60 minutes away from a Munster intermediate football crown.It has been a remarkable year for the South-East Clare club, who have successfully managed the challenges of juggling …

Clonlara 0-12  Crusheen 1-8 CLONLARA bounced back from the disappointment of losing the county senior championship final to retain the Clare Champion Cup (senior league) crown when they beat Crusheen at Clarecastle on Saturday. While Crusheen will point to the fact that they had 12 wides in the second half when they had the assistance of the strong wind, Clonlara just about deserved their victory as they made better use of the chances that came their way.A five-point lead at half-time hardly seemed enough for the title holders after they had enjoyed the assistance of what was a very strong wind.Indeed, their supporters in the small crowd that braved the bad weather conditions were concerned that they would rue the fact that they didn’t run up a bigger tally in the opening half.In view of the atrocious weather conditions, it surprised many that the game went ahead and, for this, full credit must go to Clarecastle GAA, whose pitch was …

Castlegregory 1-16  Clooney Quin 0-4 CASTLEGREGORY justified favouritism when they accounted for Clooney-Quin in the opening round of the Munster Junior Football Championship last Sunday.

DOONBEG Golf Links was this week named as the European Golf Resort of the Year for its exceptional contribution to the world of golf travel.

THE latest in a series of meetings organised by Clare GAA chairman Michael O’Neill in an effort to resolve the stand-off between members of the senior hurling panel and team manager Mike McNamara was set to take place last night (Wednesday).

NOMINATIONS close this week for positions on the executive of Clare GAA for 2010 and, as previously revealed in The Clare Champion, there will be a contest for the position of central council delegate with both Ger Hickey (Feakle) and PJ McGuane (Cooraclare) nominated for the post.Clare has to elect a new delegate to the central body as Kilmihil’s Tom Downes has completed his term.

“A demanding but very rewarding project” is how committee chairman Ger Keane describes a book chronicling the history of the GAA and other sporting organisations in Kilkee. The book will be officially launched by GAA president Christy Cooney at the Kilkee Bay Hotel on Thursday, December 3.