Shoot-out at St Flannan’s

THE Golden Vale Clare Community Games U-13 and U-16 basketball for both boys and girls took place at St Flannan’s College on Saturday and Sunday last under the co-ordination of Emer Murphy and Gráinne Lynch. Referees were Seanie Stack and Damian Power with table officials, twin sisters Shauna and Alanna O’Brien.
Cooraclare-Cree and Ennistymon-Liscannor scored doubles and will now represent the county in the Munster finals, which are scheduled for July.
On Saturday morning, the girls’ U-13 competition attracted eight teams. In the first game, Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry overcame the challenge of Doora-Barefield 2 by just one score. Quin/Clooney and Clarecastle/Ballyea were in action next with the latter winning 9 to 6. An Droichead were beaten by a much stronger Coorclare/Cree with Doora/Barefield A beating Ennistymon/Liscannor by just one basket.
Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry took on a more experienced Clarecastle/Ballyea side but came out winners on a score of 19 -12. The second semi-final was between Doora/Barefield A and Coorclare/Cree with the latter coming through. The final was between the inexperienced Sixmilebridge/Kilmury and a very well-coached Cooraclare/Cree. Sixmilebridge put up a great show but were narrowly beaten. Doora-Barefield A won the third place play-off, beating Clarecastle-Ballyea.
The members of the winning team are Grace Quinlivan, Claire Tubridy, Aoife Downes, Caoimhe Browne, Róisín Keating, Emer Ryan, Aoibheann Hassett O’Sullivan, Deirdre Ryan, Megan Downes and Aislinn Hehir.
Runners-up Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry comprised Kyra Klein, Niamh Carroll, Olivia Phelan, Coady McElligott, Sylvia Hodgins Fean, Sarah Loughnane, Melissa Morey, Rachel Kelly and Natalia Kowalska.
The members of the bronze medal-winning team from Doora-Barefield A are Vanessa Meaney, Tara Glynn, Michelle O’Neill, Caitlin O’Brien, Ciara Sexton, Emily Williams, Eilish Clune, Ciara Kelleher, Mia Hanrahan and Orla Purcell.
Fourth placed Clarecastle-Ballyea included Deirbhile Murphy, Niamh McDermott, Sarah McGuane, Ellen Barry, Joanne Potter and Katie McEldowney.
There was a disappointing attendance of just four teams in the boys’ U-13 finals on Saturday afternoon. Cooraclare-Cree defeated Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry in the semi-final, while Quin-Clooney accounted for neighbours, Doora-Barefield. Cooraclare-Cree claimed the title with victory over Quin-Clooney in the final.
The members of the winning team are Danny Martyn, Colin McNamara, Ciarán O’Donoghue, Cathal O’Gorman, Sean McNamara, Fergal Donnellan, Tomas Browne, Jack Corry, Colm Morrissey, Keenan Quinn.
The U-16 competition took place on Sunday when the standard was high despite the small entry.
Ennistymon-Liscannor and Cooraclare-Cree were the only participants in the boys’ section and the former emerged victorious.
The North Clare parish also won the girls’ competition beating Clarecastle-Ballyea in the final with Cooraclare-Cree having to settle for third spot.

Dates
THIS Friday, the U-12 and U-14 mixed distance relays will take place at Cooraclare GAA field at 6pm.
The Munster finals will take place at University of Limerick on Saturday when Clare representatives will be hoping to progress to the national finals in Athlone.
On Friday, April 1, the Clare quiz finals will be held in St Flannan’s at 7.30pm.
The handwriting finals will take place at Tulla on Saturday, April 2 at 11am while the mini rugby will also take place on the same day.
St Flannan’s College will be the venue for the Futsal competitions on April 9 and 10, while tag rugby will also take place at the Ennis college on Saturday, April 16.
Meanwhile, the closing date for entries for the hardcourt tennis and tag rugby is Friday, April 1 while the closing date for hurling entries is Saturday, April 22 with Saturday, April 29 the closing date for entries for Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and volleyball.

Munster finals
CLARE will be represented in 17 competitions at the Munster finals on Saturday, the winners of which will go forward to the national finals in Athlone on May 26 to 28.
The teams representing Clare are: Indoor soccer girls’ U-13 – Kilnamona; indoor soccer girls’ U-15 – Inch/Kilmaley/Connolly; indoor soccer boys’ U-13 – Cooraclare-Cree; indoor soccer boys’ U-15 – Cooraclare/Cree.
Table tennis girls’ U-13 -Broadford/Kilbane/Kilmore; boys’ U-13 and U-16 Ennis St John’s.
Handball girls’ U-13, boys’ U-13 and boys’ U-15 all Kilkishen/O’Callaghan’s Mills/Oatfield; girls’ U-15 Derg.
Chess U-12 and U-16 both Shannon; draughts U-10, U-12 and U-14 all Tulla; Badminton – Ennis St John’s.

Handwriting
IN the Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry handwriting competition, Ferdia O’Lionain was the winner in the boys’ section from Adam Fitzpatrick with Cian O’Reilly, third, and Adam O’Sullivan, fourth.
In the girls’ section, Áine Healy was the winner from Zoe Marrinan, with Ali Meehan in third spot followed by Karolina Mostava.