Sports

TONY Kelly is one of only three hurlers from outside of Limerick to be named on the 2021 All Star team. The Ballyea man was named at corner forward and it is third All Star, with the others having come in 2013 and 2020. Kelly was in outstanding form during the 2021 season and his selection had been widely expected. Limerick won the 2021 All Ireland with some ease, and that has been reflected with an incredible 12 of their team being named All Stars. Other than Kelly, the only other non Limerick inclusions are Kilenny’s Eoin Murphy and Conor Prunty of Waterford. In an interview with the Champion this week, Kelly said he feels Clare can enjoy a good 2022. “We are confident we are moving in the right direction. Clare were a puck of a ball away from beating Cork who got to the All-Ireland final. I know Cork got a trimming in the All-Ireland final but that …

Munster Senior D Post-Primary Schools Football Championship Round 2 St Joseph’s Spanish Point 2-7 St Anne’s Killaloe 1-7 A superb 24 hours for St Joseph’s Spanish Point was initiated on Wednesday afternoon when demonstrating their resolve to hold off a stubborn St Anne’s Killaloe in Ballina, reports Eoin Brennan. A gritty victory, cemented with a late brace of points qualified the West Clare college to the last eight of the Munster Senior D Championship against Salesian College, Pallaskenry. That buoyancy would be copperfastened when their Under 15 side shaded an inch-tight contest with Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastlewest yesterday (Thursday) to advance to the provincial Under 15D decider against Cork’s St Brogan’s College. All seemed to be going according to plan for their senior side when belying the strong conditions and their 90 minute trip to lead their hosts by 1-3 to 0-4 by half-time. Benefitting from a slice of fortune just before the water break when Joe Campbell’s effort …

WITH Crusheen having successfully appealed the structure of the senior hurling relegation competition, Clarecastle chairman Niall Tuohy said his club are writing to the county board to express the view that the competition was not legitimate and must be deemed void for all four clubs that were involved. Clarecastle lost all their three games in the relegation competition, leaving them bottom of the four team group, behind Crusheen, O’Callaghan’s Mills and Clooney/Quin each of which finished on four points. While Crusheen were also to be relegated on scoring difference, they took an appeal to the Munster Council, as at the competition’s outset it was understood that scoring difference would not be used as a means of separating sides who were level on points. That appeal was successful and the matter has to go back to Clare county board for a resolution. “We were entered into a competition that has been deemed to have been improper and every one of the …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …