Sports

Eoin Brennan takes a look at the Clare camogie finals taking place this weekend Senior Camogie Championship Final Truagh-Clonlara v Scariff-Ogonnelloe at Clarecastle, Saturday 2pm (Andy McMahon, Cratloe) Being only the third final since the turn of the Millennium that Newmarket-on-Fergus or Inagh-Kilnamona (Kilnamona) are not competing in, the sheer magnitude of what Truagh-Clonlara and Scariff-Ogonnelloe have achieved just to even tee up this unique final pairing is not lost on Clare Camogie supporters. Both have rebuilt their flagship sides from the bottom up and have concentrated on developing clear pathways from underage level as central to their revolutionary ways. Indeed, both cubs have had a similar trajectory, becoming almost ever-present in the last four line-up over the past few years. However, while Truagh-Clonlara found it difficult to break their semi-final hood against Newmarket that including back-to-back extra-time heartbreak in 2018 and ’19, Scariff-Ogonnelloe did famously make the breakthrough in 2019 to conquer Clare and Munster in one historic fell …

A MEMORABLE weekend in Meelick was confirmed on Sunday morning when O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke retained their Minor B crown, writes Eoin Brennan. Only 24 hours after O’Callaghan’s Mills’ flagship side had consolidated their senior status by a whisker at the same venue, it would need just as much of a steady hand for the minor amalgamation to overcome their sticky neighbours Scariff/Ogonnelloe. A first half brace of Jamie Howard goals certainly helped as it provided some clear breathing space for the Mills/Bodyke to lead from start to finish. Howard, Sean Boyce, Thomas Wiley, Tadhg Kilkenny, joint-captains Darragh Moroney and Sean Cooney and a formidable half-back unit of Cathal McNamara, Billy Scanlon and Liam Minogue led the O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke challenge superbly while centre-back Scott Cairns, Sean Hartigan, Aaron Collins and Donnacha McNulty provided the greatest resistance throughout. Scariff/Ogonnelloe’s attacking division of Sean Treacy, Rossa Keelan, Liam Madden and Tadhg Minogue had their moments but realistically they required more of a cutting edge …

Two Clare clubs have discovered their opponents in Round Four of the FAI Junior Cup, writes Ivan Smyth. Avenue United and Ennis Town will meet Wexford and Limerick opposition respectively. Avenue United face a tricky trip to Wexford as they take on Courtown Hibs in the fourth round. The Clare side had an impressive 1-0 win against Desmond League side Abbeyfeale United FC as Dylan Casey headed home the only goal of the game to send Avenue United through. The Clare side have impressed since the season started as they are unbeaten in the Premier Division with their only blemish a defeat to rivals Newmarket Celtic in the Premier League Cup final. Abbeyfeale had defeated Newmarket Celtic earlier in the competition. Avenue have struck 17 goals in their three games in the competition to date and will be hoping to add to that tally against Courtown Hibs. Meanwhile, Ennis Town have been drawn away to Limerick side Star Rovers in …

Eimear Considine and Edel McMahon have been named in the Ireland women’s rugby team for their test against the USA this Friday, writes Ivan Smyth. Considine switches to the centre after lining out in the Six Nations and World Cup 2021 European qualifiers at full back. Kilmihil’s McMahon will wear the no.7 jersey against a USA. Ballina’s Maeve Óg O’Leary is named among the replacements as she looks set to make her international debut after a stellar year. O’Leary impressed when representing Munster in the Interprovincial series. She made her debut against Ulster in August and started all three games for her province as her rich vein of form has been rewarded as she looks set to make her international debut. This has been a turbulent week for the players and everyone involved in women’s rugby in Ireland. The Director of Irish women’s rugby Anthony Eddy made controversial claims to the media about the team’s lack of success. Irish women's …

Eoin Brennan reports on the minor A final which Inagh-Kilnamona will hope is a good omen for the big one this Sunday The power of persistence effectively clinched Inagh-Kilnamona’s first Minor A title in four years after finally holding off Clooney-Quin in what was a superb wrestle for supremacy that went all the way to extra-time in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon. Trailing by two by the 56th minute after frustratingly failing to fire, crucially Inagh-Kilnamona never panicked and led by the electric Sean Rynne, grabbed ten of the next twelve points to effectively seal victory. Clooney-Quin captain Callum Hassett and the relentless David Considine did their utmost to stem the tide with both firing injury-time points to force extra-time. However, that was as good as it would get for an impressive Clooney-Quin side that more than matched their opponents for the first hour as having finally found their feet, Inagh-Kilnamona stormed out of the blocks in the additional periods …

BOTH Clare sides in this week’s first round games of the Harty Cup lost close contests, though a strong Clare contingent helped Limerick’s Ardscoil Ris to victory, writes Ivan Smyth. Saint Flannan’s suffered a 2-20 to 1-21 defeat against a strong CBS Thurles outfit, while St Joseph’s Tulla just went down to De La Salle Waterford. Flannan’s, the reigning champions, are not out of the competition but they will need to beat Cashel Community School next to book a quarter final spot. A defeat there would end their campaign. With the Harty Cup returning after not being played last year due to COVID, St Flannan’s lined out with an inexperienced outfit as Jarlath Collins, James Doherty, Dylan Cunningham and Eoin Guilfoyle were the only survivors from the panel that claimed the Harty Cup 619 days ago. A Cian Kirby goal after a brilliant run from deep by James Hegarty gave the Ennis side an ideal start. Then they shipped 1-3 …

A legend of The Magpies from Doonbeg is celebrated in a new book on the great heroes in gaelic football history A DOONBEG sporting sensation has been honoured in a new book celebrating some of the country’s top names in Gaelic football. Michael Haugh from Killard was born in 1943 and has truly earned his place in Clare’s sporting hall of fame. His football feats span three decades. Between the ‘60s and the ‘80s, he won nine County Senior Football Championships with Doonbeg (1961,’67, ’68,’69, ’72, ’73, ’74, ’82, ’83) and 11 Cusack Cup Titles (1961, ’62, ’65, ’67, ’68, ’69, ’70, ’72,’ 74, ’81, ’82). He has a Clare Minor Football (U-18) title (1959) under his belt, as well as a Clare Under-21 Football Titles (1963). Michael also has a New York Junior Football Championship title and a London Senior Football Championship title to his name. These accomplishments, as well as a glittering athletic career, have earned Michael a …

Senior Football Championship Final Éire Óg 1-11 Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-09 ÉIRE Óg deservedly bridged a 15-year gap to wrestle back the Jack Daly Cup after usurping Kilmurry Ibrickane’s throne in Cusack Park this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Facing a ‘Bricks side that were bidding for a fourth title in six seasons, the Ennis side belied their final inexperience by taking the game to their opponents from the outset to lead from start to finish. In such a low-scoring yet compelling encounter, a goal was always going to be a huge score and it was the Townies who grabbed it just after the first water break when Einne O’Connor cut in from the left corner before centring for Mark McInerney to flick home at 1-3 to 0-2. Some welcome home for Jack and these legends 🇮🇩🔥 pic.twitter.com/kEGQAi4Zyv — Éire Óg EnnisCamogie (@Eireogenniscam) November 8, 2021 Buoyed by that score, Clare duo Conall Ó hAiniféin and Gavin Cooney tacked on further points …