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Crusheen appeal upheld at Munster Council level

AN objection brought by Crusheen GAA club following its relegation from the senior hurling championship has been upheld at Munster Council level. The Crusheen appeal centred on the structure of the relegation competition, focusing on the use of scoring difference as a means of separating teams, something that had been ruled out at the competition’s beginning. With the Munster Council having upheld the appeal, the matter will now be referred back to Clare County Board for a solution. Crusheen were relegated after finishing the relegation competition on four points from a possible six. While they were level on points with both Clooney/Quin and O’Callaghan’s Mills, Crusheen were relegated as they had the weakest scoring difference of the three . However, at the outset of the relegation competition it was understood that scoring difference would not be used as a means of separating teams, and Crusheen had actually played two of their three games before there was a move to change …

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All to play for entering final round of Clare U-15 PPS Championship

A winners-takes-all showdown for a place in the inaugural Clare U-15A Post-Primary Schools Championship Final between Gort Community School and St Flannan’s Blue commences a much-anticipated final round of group matches this evening (Tuesday) in Caherlohan at 7pm, reports Eoin Brennan. With Ardscoil Rís awaiting the victors in the Cup decider on Thursday week (December 9), it promises to be a thrilling conclusion to this new developmental initiative that has provided 30 preparatory matches for over 300 boys ahead of their provincial championships in the New Year. Limerick side Ardscoil, Rís, backed by an eleven strong Clare contingent, are the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition ahead of their final round against St Flannan’s White in Shannon on Thursday evening at 7pm. Indeed, Gort and St Flannan’s Blue’s only defeat was at the hands of the tabletoppers, with a win or draw enough for Gort to advance to the flagship final whereas the loser will contest the Shield decider. …

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Munster Final awaits for Kildysart

ST JOSEPH’S Tulla’s breakthrough to a Dr Harty Cup Quarter-Final in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday afternoon was the apex of an encouraging afternoon for East Clare, reports Eoin Brennan. Scariff Community College eased into the last eight of the Senior C Hurling Championship after overcoming neighbours St Anne’s Killaloe by 3-22 to 1-14 and are still on track for a Senior and Junior C double Also through to the quarter-finals as CBS Ennistymon (Senior C) and Ennistymon Vocational School (Senior E) while St Caimin’s Shannon can join them this afternoon (Thursday) when traveling to Tipperary Town to take on Abbey CBS in the Senior B Championship. Rice College will contest next Wednesday’s Junior B Hurling Semi-Final against Cork’s Charleville CBS but St John Bosco, Kildysart went one significant step further by brushing off the challenge of Mungret Community College to advance to the Under 15E Football Final against Gaelcholáiste Mhuire an Mhainistír Thuaigh (Cork) in a fortnight’s time. Munster Post-Primary …

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Quin Taekwon-do Club back to winning ways at the Irish Cup

IT IS a very busy time for Quin Taekwon-do head coach Stephen Ryan as his Team Ireland members prepare for the European Championships in Spain next week and he reflects on his club’s success at last weekend’s Irish Cup in the University of Limerick (UL) Sports Arena. Six of the club’s black belts will join a 60-strong Irish squad when they travel to La Nucia, Spain, for the long-awaited return to international competition. Experienced competitors Shane Tuite (-70kg senior sparring); James Tuite ( -68kg junior sparring); Alice Larkin (2nd Degree Patterns and –68kg senior sparring) and Luke Moriarty (-70kg senior sparring) will be joined by Aoibhin Copeland (- 55kg junior sparring) and David Larkin (1st Degree Patterns and –50kg junior sparring), who have been selected to the Irish team for the first time. “It’s been great but challenging to be back training for the Euros with this group of athletes,” said Stephen, who is also Head Coach of the Irish …

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Success on the double for coach Kelly

THREE days of unbridled success for Tony Kelly and for once, he didn’t have to hit a ball, writes Eoin Brennan. Sidelined with injury as he recuperates from ankle surgery that will keep him out of playing action until the New Year, the current All-Star is instead making his mark on the sidelines. Ballyea secured their third ever Senior Hurling title on Sunday before he added a prestigious Dean Ryan Cup to his CV as mentor of St Flannan’s triumphant Under 16.5 side. Having lost provincial Under 15, Dean Ryan and Harty Cup finals during his own St Flannan’s career at the backend of the noughties, Kelly lauded the current crop of young stars for grasping their opportunity with both hands. “It’s a big day. We haven’t been in a Dean Ryan final since 2010 when Shane O’Donnell’s age group won it last. We’ve an exceptional bunch of young lads inside there that are keen to learn and keen to …

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Emphatic finish sees Flannan’s clinch Dean Ryan Cup

Munster Under 16.5A PPS Hurling Championship Final St Flannan’s College 3-16 Ardscoil Rís 0-16 The ‘buzz’ is unquestionably back in St Flannan’s after a masterful finish ensured that they bridging a ten year gap to their last Dean Ryan Cup in TUS Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Wednesday afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan. Two years on from a long-awaited 15 year Harty Cup success in 2020, Munster’s Post-Primary Schools’ roll of honour leaders confirmed the richness of their conveyor belt of emerging talent in what was a novel final against Ardscoil Rís. With 27 of the 26 players on show being Clare natives, it was a noteworthy occasion capped off by a fairytale finish that included clinical goals for chief marksman Oisin Whelan, the lively Luca Cleary and fittingly captain Dylan Keane Hayes to cement St Flannan’s 13th Dean Ryan crown. It was an outcome that certainly didn’t seem likely when trailing a Danny Chaplin (4) and Eoin Begley (2) led Ardscoil …

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HURLING: Never-say-die Ballyea take third title

Clare Senior Hurling Championship Final Ballyea 1-17 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-16 THE Canon Hamilton Cup is back in Ballyea for the third time in six seasons after a scintillating finish pipped debutants Inagh-Kilnamona to the post in dramatic fashion in Cusack Park this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Put simply, despite being without current All-Star Tony Kelly as well as remarkably firing 17 wides, Ballyea’s sheer ‘refusal to lose’ mentality was eventually rewarded coming down the final straight with a four point blitz in as many minutes to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Being a fourth one point victory in their six championship outings that also included a group decider draw with Cratloe, it was their experience and winning know-how that ensured that Ballyea never reached for the panic button at any stage despite falling by as much as four points in arrears nearing the final water break. The turning point of the final was undoubtedly a penalty awarded to Aaron …

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McInerney eager to avoid another hard luck story

At aged 22, Cian McInerney has accomplished more than most on the hurling field. However, he isn’t satisfied to just add a county final appearance to his ever expanding CV with the talented hurler hoping to be part of history by helping Inagh-Kilnamona lift the Canon Hamilton Cup on Sunday afternoon. He wants to atone for previous defeats, most notably his side’s 2019 semi final defeat to Sixmilebridge. The secondary school teacher believes his side took plenty of lessons from that loss but he does not want a repeat result when coming up against an experienced Ballyea outfit. The former Clare minor insists his side have developed a greater mental toughness since that loss, highlighted by their gritty win against Éire Óg in the semi finals a fortnight ago. “Two years ago in that semi final we led for most of it but the ‘bridge used their experience to get over the line. We lost that game and it was …

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