Quin-Clooney and Cooraclare-Cree strike gold

The Clare Community Games basketball U-11 mixed and U-13 boys’ competitions took place last Saturday in St Flannan’s College. The event was co-ordinated by Emer Considine and Gráinne Ryan, with referees Sean Stack and Damian Power.

Only five teams took part in the U-11 competition but what it lacked in quantity it made up for in quality as there were some fantastic matches. In the first round, Cooraclare/Cree A team beat the Clarecastle/Ballyea side 10-4. In the semi-finals, Doora/Barefield beat Cooraclare/Cree B team 8-2, while Quin/Clooney pipped the Cooraclare/Cree A team by just two baskets, 10-6.
In the play-off, the two Cooraclare teams met, with the A team just pipping the B side by one basket for the bronze medals. In the final, Quin/Clooney won the gold medals by just one point from near neighbours Doora/Barefield, 13-12.
The members of the teams are listed below.
1. Quin-Clooney: Cliodhna Ryan, Kirsty Begg, Alice Larkin, Juliette Cantwell, Sara Hassett, David Barbotin, Adam Deegan, Martin Fiain, Colm Cassidy.
2. Doora-Barefield: Gail Norton, Kevin Nugent, Ryan Killowry, Conor Kelleher, Gary Mulligan, Dan Kennedy, Shauna Murphy, Sadhbh Kelleher, Muireann Collins, Sally Brogan.
3. Cooraclare-Cree A: Kate O’Neill, Aoibheann Browne, Pádraig Browne, Brian McNamara, Niall Corry, Sinéad Lillis, Niamh Conlon, Therese Meaney, Ronan Donnellan, Dillon Toumauguelov.
4. Cooracloare-Cree B: Sean Martyn, Sean Keane, Gearóid Lillis, Gary Cunningham, Emily Culligan, Katie Grogan, Nicola Keating, Saskia Morrissey, Katie Lillis.
U-13
In the U-13 competition, six teams took part and in the first round. Cooraclare/Cree A beat Ennistymon/Lahinch 28-14 in a brilliant display of basketball. Clarecastle/Ballyea were pipped at the post by Quin/Clooney 12-10. In the semi-finals, Cooraclare/Cree B beat Doora/Barefield 14-4 while Quin/Clooney were well beaten by a much stronger Cooraclare/Cree A, which left the two Cooraclare/Cree teams to contest the final. The A team came out on top 6-1. Doora/Barefield won the bronze medals from Quin/Clooney.
The members of the teams are listed below.
1. Cooraclare-Cree A: Sean McNamara, Davy Martyn, Colm McNamara, Cathal O’Gorman, Tomás Browne, Jack Corry, Keenan Quinn, Luke Considine, Ronan Lillis.
2. Cooraclare-Cree B: Colm Browne, Patrick Kampff, Paidi Hehir, Shane Lillis, Kieran Chambes, Dean Cunningham, Emmet O’Sullivan, Padraic O’Donoghue.
3. Doora-Barefield: Aidan Cleland, Eoghan Thynne, Mark Fahy, Ross McDonnell, Tadhg Clune, Sean Slattery, Dylan Nolan, Fionn Mulqueen, Brendan Cleland, Jack O’Reilly.
4. Quin-Clooney: Oisín Egan, David Glowski, Paul Hogan, Kevin Reynolds, Ulick O’Sullivan, Alex McConway, Eoin Beirne, Ronan Wall, Adam Miniter.
The remainder of the basketball competitions will be held on Saturday, February 18.

Quin/Clooney art results
Girls
U-8: Ciara Morris Clooney 2. Áine Browne Quin; 3. Sophie Howard, Quin, Sarah Brassil, Dangan.
U-10: 1. Alice Larkin, Quin; 2. Cliodhna Ryan, Quin; 3. Karen O’Sullivan, Quin and Lily Mulcahy, Clooney.
U-12: 1. Leah O’Neill, Quin; 2. Laura Brassil, Dangan; 3. Caoimhe McAteer, Quin, Ellie Rochford, Quin.
U-14: 1. Ellen Moriarty Quin; 2. Grace McMahon, Quin; 3. Gráinne Brady, Dangan.
U-16: 1 Natasha Coughlan.
Boys
U-8: 1. Sean Keane, Clooney; 2. Liam Flynn, Dangan; 3. JackO’Neill/Killian Wall, Quin.
U-10: 1. Rory Morris, Quin; 2. Adam O’Neill, Quin; 3. Donagh O’Sullivan, Quin, Ben Catlow, Dangan.
U-12: 1. Oisín Egan, Quin; 2. Ronan Wall, Quin; 3. Alex McConway, Quin, Ulick O’Sullivan, Quin.
U-14: 1. James O’Neill, Quin; 2. Chris Murray, Quin; 3. Cathal O’Halloran, Clooney, Anthony O’Donnell, Quin.
Model making
U-14 girls: 1. Siobhán Frain, Quin.
U16 girls: 1. Lauren McConway, Quin.
U-12 boys: 1. Alex McConway; 2. Cian Wall; 3. Tomás Meade.

Upcoming events
Saturday, February 4: handwriting – St Joseph’s, Tulla at 10am.
Saturday, February 4: courses for area secretaries, treasurers – West County Hotel, Ennis.
Sunday February 5: chess – St Flannan’s College.
Saturday, February 11: art and model making – CBS Ennis at 10am.
Monday, February 13: handball competitions start.
Saturday, February 18: basketball U-13 girls and U-16 boys and girls.
Saturday, February 25: draughts – Tulla Secondary School.
Friday, February 24 to Sunday, February 26: national AGM – Strand Hotel, Limerick.
Saturday, February 24: Munster meeting – Strand Hotel, Limerick.
Saturday, March 31: Munster finals – UL.