Sports

A NEW model for the development of Gaelic games in Ennis could drive a wedge between existing clubs, Éire Óg and the Banner. The report recommends the aligning of schools to specific clubs, which has not been the case before.

DARACH Honan is the first winner of the Bord Gáis Energy Breaking Through Player-of-the-Year award. The Clonlara clubman was picked from a shortlist that included his clubmate John Conlon and Newmarket’s Colin Ryan, along with Joe Canning (Galway) and Kilkenny’s Richie Hogan and John Mulhall.

THE race for the Dr Harty Cup, Munster colleges senior A hurling championship, got underway on Wednesday and Clare sides involved made a winning start while Ard Scoil Rís from Limerick, with a number of Clare players in their line-up, played a draw.Round 2 games are scheduled for Wednesday week, October 21.

  Kilmaley 0-12   Sixmilebridge 0-10 A POWERFUL defensive performance inspired Kilmaley to a merited victory over favourites Sixmilebridge in a most entertaining Minor A Hurling Championship final at Cusack Park on Saturday evening. Two well-matched teams – they had played a draw in the early rounds of the competition – gave the big attendance plenty to cheer about. In the final analysis, however, it was the workrate of Kilmaley and, in particular, the play of their full back trio that inspired this victory, their third in the history of the competition.Two points clear at the three-quarter stage after scoring four-in-a-row, Sixmilebridge looked to be in the driving seat but five unanswered points in the space of eight minutes turned this tie firmly in Kilmaley’s favour.The ’Bridge’s decision to play an extra defender when they went two clear proved costly and only helped to allow the Kilmaley backs to strengthen their grip on proceedings.The final whistle sparked scenes of celebration amongst …

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-11   Doonbeg 1-7 AT this stage, Doonbeg don’t need reminding. They know they threw away the chance of reaching their first county final since 2001. There was at least at 15 minute stretch in the second half when Kilmurry were there for the taking for the first time since 2007.

Kilkee 1-8   Kilrush 1-7 THE experience of David Russell proved a key factor in the first of the Clare senior football championship semi-finals at Cooraclare on Saturday evening.

Cratloe 1-8   Kildysart 0-10 A CRACKING goal as good as likely to be seen in any championship game in the county this season, proved decisive in Cratloe’s one-point win over Kildysart in the first of the intermediate football semi-finals played at Éire Óg on Saturday.Favourites Cratloe were made fight all the way for this victory on a day when the teams were level on four occasions. The winners were without inter-county man Seán Collins until he was introduced in the closing stages, as they fought their way back from a deficit of two points to win the spoils.The goal came just before half time from wing-back Martin ‘Ogie’ Murphy, who cracked a powerful shot to the top corner after an 80m run. It levelled the game for the first time after the winners had found themselves five points in arrears at the end of the opening quarter.Kildysart made a very impressive start to this game scoring the opening five points …

Corofin 2-7   O’Callaghan’s Mills 1-9 A GOAL from substitute Darren Malone two minutes from the end of normal time proved to be the decisive score in this intermediate football championship semi-final at Shannon on Sunday afternoon. In a well-contested game, the greater experience of the Corofin side helped them to book a date in the final, where they will meet Cratloe.The game ended on a disappointing note for the ’Mills, who had centre-back Declan Donovan sent off on a straight red card a minute into injury time, following a challenge on Corofin substitute Donnacda Kelleher.There was little between the sides throughout and with the exception of a brief spell in the middle of the first half, the margin between the sides never exceeded two points.Corofin led two points to one after eight minutes but for the next 15 the ’Mills had the better of affairs. Bryan Donnellan scored the game’s first goal in the 12th minute from the penalty spot …