Clare’s future stars on show at Community Games finals

THE St Francis Credit Union Clare Community Games County 50th Athletic Finals were staged on Sunday, August 15, in John O’Sullivan Park, Lees Road, Ennis, in ideal weather conditions.
It was a much scaled down version of what used to be the showcase event of the year for Community Games. The standard was very high with some very close finishes. The first and second in each track event now go forward to represent Clare in the Munster Regional Finals in Cork while the first in the field events go to National Finals.

Podium places for the Girls U14 80m hurldles: 1st Evie Quinn (Tulla), 2nd Lucy Shannon (Doora Barefield), 3rd Saoirse Kent (Inch-Kilmaley-Connolly) and 4th Sarah Slattery (Quin-Clooney), with Cllr PJ Ryan, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, and Cecilia O’Sullivan, President of Clare Community Games. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Winners of the Girls U14 80m hurldles: (l-r) 2nd Lucy Shannon (Doora Barefield), 1st Evie Quinn (Tulla), 3rd Saoirse Kent (Inch-Kilmaley-Connolly) and 4th Sarah Slattery (Quin-Clooney). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Medal winners at the Girls U10 60m hurdles were (l-r) 2nd Ellie Carroll (Ennistymon-Lahinch-Liscannor), 4th Orla Downes (Kilmihil), 1st Olivia Shannon (Doora-Barefield) and 3rd Ella Sweeney (Quin-Clooney). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Molly Purcell from Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry, winner of the Girls U14 Long Puck event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Podium finishes for (l-r) Sean Hassett (Doora-Barefield), Sean Hick (Ballynacally-Lissycasey), Conall O’Murchu (Tulla) and Darragh O’Rourke (Inagh-Kilnamona) in the Boys U8 60m track event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Winners of the Girls Long Jump were: 1st Isobel Horgan (Cooraclare-Cree), 2nd Maeve Kelly (Ennis-St-Johns), 3rd Emma McGann(Doora-Barefield) and 4th Isabel Maher (Broadford-Kilbane-Kilmore). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Medal winners in the Girls 100m event were (l-r) Simone Considine (Cooraclare-Cree), Rebecca Reid (Inch-Kilmaley-Connolly), Kate Monahan (Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry) and Ava O’Boyle (Ennis-St-Johns). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Winners of the Boys U14 100m event were: 1st Promise Jolaoshu (Ennis-St-Johns), 2nd Sean Maher (Inch-Kilmaley-Connolly), Patrick Byrne O’Connell (Lisdoonvarna) and 4th Michael Donnelly (Ballynacally-Lissycasey) pictured with Cllr Pj Ryan (Cathaoirleach Clare County Council), Stuart and Graham Meakins, son and husband of the late Rose Meakins who presented the medals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Winners of the Boys U16 200m event were: 1st Fionn O’Mara (Killanena-Flagmount), 2nd Daire Culligan (Ballynacally-Lissycasey), 3rd Aidan Considine (Cooraclare-Cree) and 4th Prince Shonibare (Ennis-St-Johns). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Fionn O’Mara is congratulated by Marie Doyle, chairperson of Killanena/Flagmount Community Games, after his win in the Boys U16 200m event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Winners of the Boys U16 200m event were: (l-r) 2nd Daire Culligan (Ballynacally-Lissycasey), 1st Fionn O’Mara (Killanena-Flagmount), 3rd Aidan Considine (Cooraclare-Cree) and 4th Prince Shonibare (Ennis-St-Johns). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Competition official Ita Hanrahan from Doora Barefield with Michael Lillis (Kilmihil), secretary of the Munster Cross Country Association and first chairman of the Clare Athletics board. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Clare Community Games stalwart Tommy McCarthy rings his bell to signal the last lap for track runners. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Clare Community Games stalwart Tommy McCarthy rings his bell to signal the last lap for track runners. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Finn Duignan of Ennis-St-Johns strides to victory in the Boys 800m event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Winners of the Girls 800m event: (l-r) 2nd Aoife Lillis (Cooraclare-Cree), 1st Faye Mannion (Doora-Barefield), 3rd Clara Keogh (Carrigaholt-Cross) and 4th Sophie Maher (Ballynacally-Lissycasey). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Graham Meakins, husband of the late Rose Meakins, presents Ava Rochford (Ennis-St-Johns) and Lisa Nicholas from Tulla with their U16 Girls High Jump medals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

2nd place Ava Rochford (Ennis-St-Johns) and winner Lisa Nicholas from Tulla with their U16 Girls High Jump medals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Louise O’Mahony from Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry competing in the Girls U16 1500m event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Gerard Dunne from Doonbeg strides to victory in the U16 Boys 1500m event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Michael Lillis presents Gemma Galvin with the shield for her success in the Girls U16 1500m event. Gemma is currently is All Ireland champion and captain of Clare Community Games. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Marie Roche presents the Christy Gormley Memorial Cup to Gerard Dunne from Doonbeg, winner of the U16 Boys 1500m event. In second place was Jack Rush (Lisdoonvarna), 3rd Harry Monahan (Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry) and 4th Dylan Ryan (Doora-Barefield). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Proud parents Maria and Patrick with their medal-winning daughter Anna from Ballynacally/Lissycasey enjoying Clare Community Games athletics finals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Cian O’Gorman from Cratloe powering his way to victory in the U14 Boys 80m hurdles final. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Evie Quinn from Tulla showing great technique to win the Girls U14 80m Hurdles event at Clare Community Games Athletics Finals 2021. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Olivia Shannon from Doora-Barefield sprints to the line to win the Girls U10 60m hurdles event ahead of Thea Harvey (Cooraclare-Cree) and Laura McCormack (Newmarket-on-Fergus). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Adam Rochford from Ennis-St-Johns crosses the final hurdle to win the Boys U10 60m event at Clare Community Games Athletics Finals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Clare Community Games veterans Michael Lillis and Tommy McCarthy enjoy a chat between events. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Cllr PJ Ryan, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, welcomes the competitors and officials to the 2021 Clare Community Games Athletics Finals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Cecilia O’Sullivan ( President of Clare Community Games), Cllr PJ Ryan (Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council) and Mary Phelan (PRO) stand for one minute’s applause in memory of the late Rose Meakins who died on 6th April 2020. A stalwart of Clare Community Games, Rose had been involved for over forty years for which she had achieved Honorary Patron status. Her husband Graham and son Stuart were present at the county athletics finals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Sophia Moroney from Newmarket on Fergus running to victory in the Girls U8 60m event ahead of Doireann McDonagh (Lisdoonvarna) and Molly Considine (Ennistymon-Lahinch-Liscannor). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Kate Kennedy from Newmarket on Fergus competing in the Girls U14 Long Puck. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Ava O’Boyle of Ennis-St-Johns powers her way to victory in the Girls U10 100m event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Sean O’Brien from Broadford-Kilbane-Kilmore competing in the Boys U12 Long Puck event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Patrick McInerney from Doora-Barefield competing in the Boys U12 Long Puck event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Tommy Healy from Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry competing in the Boys U12 Long Puck event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Jack McDonald from Quin-Clooney competing in the Boys U12 Long Puck event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Rebecca Reid from Inch-Kilmaley-Connolly takes victory in her stride during the Girls U12 100m event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Due to Covid-19 restrictions parents were not allowed inside the event arena for this year’s Clare Community Games athletics finals but had to make do with encouraging their youngsters from outside the fence. Enjoying the proceedings at Lees Road were Linda Wynne, Martina O’Mara, Marie Doyle, Claire Moroney, and Teresa Clancy from Killanena/Flagmount Community Games. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

The Girls U14 100m ended in a very close finish with Allisha Ryan (Doonbeg), Lauren Shannon (Doora-Barefield) and Aoibhe O’Leary (Newmarket on Fergus), needing a judges decision. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Michael Kelly from Ballynacally-Lissycasey powers to victory in the U16 Boys & Girl 100m final, ahead of Lauren Flaherty (Ennistymon-Lahinch-Liscannor), Eoin Heffron (Moylusa) and Robbie Burns (Doonbeg). Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Lisa Nicholas from Tulla competing in the Girls U16 High Jump event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Lisa Nicholas from Tulla competing in the Girls U16 High Jump event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Ava Rochford from Ennis-St-Johns competing in the Girls U16 High Jump event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Thumbs up from Fionn O’Mara from Killanena-Flagmount as he powers to victory in the Boys U16 200m event. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Aisling Kelly of Ennis-St-Johns finishes strongly in the final of the Girls U12 600m event ahead of Emma Haugh from Ballynacally-Lissycasey. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Gemma Galvin from Kilrush celebrates her victory in the Girls U16 1500m event. Gemma is currently is All Ireland champion and captain of Clare Community Games. Photography by Eugene McCafferty

Sarah Crowe from Ennis-St-Johns competing in the shot putt event during Clare Community Games athletics finals. Photography by Eugene McCafferty