Double victory for Ennis at table tennis finals

THE table tennis and choir competitions dominated Community Games activity in the county last weekend. St Anne’s School in Ennis was the venue for the table tennis finals but the entries were disappointing.

Ennis St John’s won both the boys’ U-13 and U-16 titles. They also filled the runners-up spot in the U-16, where Clarecastle-Ballyea were third with Killimer-Knockerra in fourth spot.
Broadford were crowned the girls’ U-13 winners, while there were no entries for the girls U-16 section.

Choir
There was also a disappointing entry for the choir competition, which was held at the GAA hall in Sixmilebridge where the co-ordinator was Dolores O’Loughlin, with Kevin O’Loughlin as the master of ceremonies.
Ennis and Kilrush emerged as the winners and they will now represent Clare in the Munster finals in Limerick on March 26. The judges were Anne Hayes and Brid Meaney.
U-13: 1. Ennis St John’s, Paul Farren, Ann Marie Conlisk, Aileen Curtin, Keave Scanlon, Caoimhe Duggan, Ciara Cassidy, Caoileann Kelly, James Casey, Ciara Kennedy, Alanna O’Connor, Cliona Curran, Lauren Cashell, Rachel Brennan, Bellvina Kido Obi. Christina Njekwe, Maria Daly, Eoin Martin, Erron Roche, Isioma Okeyenbular, Colm Walsh O’Loughlin; 2. Kilrush, Ian Dobson, Chris Hehir, Craig McKiernan, Croidhe Crowley, Mark O’Malley, Sinéad Clossy, Tracey Guilligan, Shauna Carmody, Veronica Kelly, Molly Brew, Aoibheann Malone, Arigail, Drummy, Tracey Kelly, Erin O’Bruien, Shannon Kelly, Chantel Burke, Michael Gilligan, Joanne O’Gorman; 3. Kilkishen-O’Callaghan’s Mills-Oatfield, Alannah Ryan, Laura Philpott, Dairine Marsh, Eilis Whitney, Molly Nolan, Caoimhe Boyce, Leah Donovan, Megan Boland, Sarah Madden, Micheala McNamara, Cormac Murphy, Chloe Philpott, David McInerney.
U-16: 1. Kilrush, Caoimhe Lyons, Saoirse Griffin, Fia Donovan, Rachel Ryan, Dylan Broderick, Megan Broderick, Maddy Jarocka, Megan Walsh, Ruth Nolan, Caroline Lillis, Sarah Honan, Emma Troy, Melissa Hanrahan, Aoife Carigg, Jessica Gilligan, Laoise O’Dea, Kayla Crowley, Ian Dobson, Chris Hehir, Emma Cahill.

Civic reception
Clare County Council, led by Mayor of Clare, Christy Curtin hosted a civic reception last week at which Clare Community Games was honoured in recognition of 40 years of promoting community games across the county.
Members of the current Clare Community Games executive, together with many past officers were in attendance when president John O’Sullivan was presented with a scroll to mark the occasion. The attendance included Clare’s first national winner, Cushla Murphy Hehir from Kilkishen and former chairman, Paddy Keane from Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry, while former officer, Fr Willie Russell from Meelick, now ministering in Rathkeale in Limerick, was also present as Kevin O’Loughlin replied on behalf of the Clare organisation.
He pointed out that the organisation caters for about 10,000 children between the ages of six and 15 in over 50 different sporting and cultural activities each year. He paid tribute to Clare County Council and SFADCo for their support.

Draughts
THE draw for the draughts finals was made last week. There will be four teams in the race for the U-10 title, with Broadford B playing Tulla A in one semi-final and Tulla B playing Broadford A in the other semi-final. Seven teams will contest the U-12 competition. Ennis play Tulla B, with Broadford A awaiting the winners in the semi-final. Tulla A play Kilrush and the winners there will go through to play Broadford B or Sixmilebridge.
Six teams will compete for the U-14 title. Tulla play Broadford with the winners going through to play Sixmilebridge or Kilkee in the semi-final. The other semi-final will be between Ennis and Kilrush.

Basketball
IN the U-11 basketball, Broadford play Cooraclare-Cree in a quarter-final with the winners going on to play Doora-Barefield. In the other semi-final, Quin-Clooney will play Clarecastle-Ballyea.

Handball
THE race for the handball titles is taking place this week and games will continue at Clooney this Thursday and Friday, where the action will start at 6.30pm on both evenings.
On Thursday, the boys’ U-13 semi-finals will be played followed by the third and fourth place play-off and the final. On Friday, it will be the boys’ U-15 semi-finals followed by the play-off and the final.
Further details are available from Tom Loughnane at 086 0662998.

Badminton
THE county badminton finals will take place on Saturday at Cratloe, where the action will begin at 10am.