CLARE corner-back Laurence Healy believes Clare were just too nice in the opening half. Cork ran through the middle of the defence without anybody laying a finger on them. Those runs led directly to the winners’ three first-half goals, meaning Clare never threatened to come within reachable distance of Cork. “I don’t think we’re overly disappointed with the second half but we probably feel we could have been a bit more cynical in defence in the first half. That’s something we pointed to at half-time that we probably should have conceded more frees, rather than give away goals. When Rory (Donnelly) had a goal chance, Cork pulled him down. We need to do the same thing. We need to get cuter for the future,” he maintained. The Ennistymon man was certain Nicholas Murphy’s goal was illegal because Paul Kerrigan’s fist pass had crossed the line before the towering Cork man got a touch. “I know I’m biased but I did …

SINCE the suggestion of a return to the seeded draw in the Munster Football Championship was mooted in recent weeks, the idea has gained a little momentum and, sadly, it would appear that support is growing. Following Sunday’s final, which attracted a small attendance, those who want to get rid of the open draw are making their case again.At the end of the day, it will be down to a decision of the delegates representing the counties of the province. If Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford vote for the open draw, it should remain in place. It’s that simple. However, should one or more of these counties decide to row in with Cork and Kerry if and when a vote is taken, then it is likely to revert back to a situation where Cork and Kerry will be on opposite sides and can only meet in the final.An official attendance of just 9,139 at Sunday’s final between Clare and Cork …

IT may well be his first year as team manager but Eamonn Fennessy is well versed on Munster minor hurling final days, having been part of the Clare management team for the past two seasons when the county side captured the title.“The experience of the last few years is a help. While you cannot look beyond the next game, deep down my goal at the outset was to get to this final,” the Sixmilebridge man said.“We take it game by game and can’t get carried away. We played Tipperary in March and they gave us a right trimming in Borrisoleigh. I knew that if these fellas perform, they will do well. They are doing well in training but it has to happen on the day.“Preparations have gone brilliantly. If they have a cut, they have the ability to win. We all have to play a part and everything has to click,” the team boss said, as he put the finishing …

WILL it be a first Munster minor three in-a-row for Clare or will Tipperary be celebrating a first ever Munster minor double on Sunday?That’s the question GAA fans across the province are asking as Clare and Tipperary complete preparations for Sunday’s Munster minor hurling final at Páirc Uí Caoimh, which throws in at 2pm.Being one step away from retaining the title is something few Clare fans would have predicted at the beginning of the campaign. Winners of the crown for the past two years, they started preparations for this year’s championship with only a handful of the outgoing panel.They began the campaign with a defeat to their final opponents of last year. Extra time was required before Waterford beat them at Cusack Park. They bounced back quickly, as was the case two years ago, and a good victory over Cork showed this group meant business.Against Limerick in the semi-final last week, they saw a six-point lead slip away in the …

SO this is what the Clare hurling public has been surviving without all of these years. Can anybody definitively recall when Cusack Park last housed a knock-out championship match, teeming with fearless Clare performances and viewed by a crowd growing increasingly fond of this developing team?Before the game, most of the attention centred around the respective managers but afterwards the way in which John Conlon, Brendan Bugler, Tony Kelly and Seán Collins had inspired Clare in hurling Dublin off the park, was the talk of the town.While Nicky O’Connell’s sending off, two minutes into the second half, was primarily linked to Clare opening their shoulders thereafter, Darach Honan’s role in winning a crucial free, 17 minutes from time, was the pivotal moment.Along with Conlon, Honan is one of the Clare players whose every twist and turn ignites the crowd. That said, while Honan clipped over two points from play and outwitted Peter Kelly to win that critical free, he is …

OUTSTANDING play from the Clare defence was a key factor in Saturday’s victory over Dublin and none stood out more that Whitegate’s Brendan Bugler, who put in a storming second half.After the game, he didn’t hide his delight at the result. “I am over the moon. This means so much to us. Fitzy said at half-time that this result could make or break us. A few seconds into the second half, we were a man down. It’s unbelievable to be part of this fantastic win,” he said.Bugler believes, “This is only the beginning for this team and hopefully we can kick on from this. Heads didn’t drop when in other years they would. There is something special and different about this group. You saw the young lads out there, fellas like Tony Kelly and Seadna Morey hurling up storms of games.”Bugler had words of praise for his manager. “Davy is so honest, picking lads on form like Brian Cody does …

SATURDAY’S win was a great result for Clare hurling and one that will boost confidence considerably, according to selector Louis Mulqueen. “We were down a man for most of the second half and for the young lads to perform and win was crucial for Clare hurling,” he said.“We started well this evening but they came at us. We didn’t get the ball in quickly enough in the first half. There was a wind there. In the second half we got the ball in quickly to the inside line. Confidence picked up. Nicky’s sending off inspired the lads to win. They lifted themselves.”Mulqueen’ praised the commitment of the players. “These young lads have given everything, up at 5.30am to train. They have given everything they have been asked to. Fitness levels are high and the commitment level is high. They have a great passion for Clare, which is crucial. We had an 18-year-old tonight and we had three or four U-21s. …

Inagh/Kilnamona U-14 camogie team captured the Division 2 National Féile na nGael title in Croke Park on Saturday. In the group stages they played Castleknock, their hosts, on Thursday in beautiful sunshine and had a good win. On day two they travelled to Silverpark to play Kilmacud Crokes and Kilmessan from Meath. The weather was atrocious with constant rain and wind. However, the girls and mentors were focused on what they had to do, win all games to avoid the conundrum of extra time and possible shoot-outs.All through the group stage they played superbly with excellent team play and work rate.With tired limbs and some injuries, the management had to be worried going into the semi-final against St Patrick’s, Portaferry, Down at St Jude’s grounds in Templeogue. This proved to be one of the games of the tournament, despite the driving rain and wind. On Saturday the sun shone as the team and mentors woke to prepare for the biggest …

Niamh Kilkenny’s goal at the turn of the final quarter was the decisive score in this All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship game at Cusack Park on Saturday evening.Galway has just edged a point ahead when they struck for the game’s only goal, a blow from which Clare never recovered. Indeed, the home side managed just one point in the final quarter as they slumped to their third consecutive defeat in the championship. They play their final group game this weekend when they travel to Dublin.Clare got off to the better start on Saturday and scored the opening two points through Fiona Lafferty and Claire McMahon. Galway battled back and by the end of the first quarter, the sides were level at 0-4 each with Chloe Morey (free) and Lafferty adding to Clare’s early scores. The home side went two clear again when Claire McMahon converted two frees but Galway finished the half strongly and points from Niamh McGrath (3) and Martina …

THE GAA car park in Clooney was heaving with hard-hitting hurlers last Saturday morning. Sliothars whizzed in every direction, with eager competitors racing after it. The hurlers haring left and right are members of the Limerick-based Treaty Warriors Club. What separates them from sister or brother hurlers in most GAA clubs is the fact that they play while in a wheelchair. The demonstration of wheelchair hurling was held in conjunction with Move Smart Week, which was co-ordinated by Munster camogie development officer Deirdre Murphy. Move Smart Week was an initiative organised by the Munster Camogie Association, in conjunction with the Nutrition and Health Foundation. One of the parents who didn’t have far to drive that morning was Ann Enright from Quin. Her 10-year-old daughter Adah plays with Treaty Warriors, who are supported financially by Limerick Sports Partnership. “We’re huge supporters of hurling and when your children are born, you think they’ll be playing hurling. Then, when they have a disability, …

Contests for the positions of chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and posts on the committee are expected at this Thursday’s annual meeting of the Clare Junior Soccer League.There are three candidates for the post of chairman with outgoing Donie Garrihy being opposed by Michael Guilfoyle and Padraig McCullough.McCullough, a former chairman of the league, is also nominated for the position of vice-chairman in opposition to Paul Tuohy.Another former chairman, Frank Healy, is nominated to contest the position of secretary against the outgoing Oliver Fitzpatrick.A contest is also expected for two positions on the committee. Nominated are Paul Tuohy, Padraig McCullough, Frank Healy and Tom Nestor.Certain of re-election are treasurer Michael McInerney, registrar Leo Murphy, fixtures secretary Michael Lydon, FAI delegate Jim Madden, Munster delegate Thomas Leahy, PRO Gerry Scanlon and child protection officer Dave Kerin.  

PLANS are well underway for the 2012 Clare Motor Club Loose Surface Autocross, which takes place on Sunday. The event is Round 4 of the Munster Autocross Championship.After a six-year break at the Ardnacrusha venue, clerk of the course, Gerry O’Brien, is thrilled to announce the event is back in Bobby O’Connell’s Quarry. Since details were released that the club are returning to this venue, the interest from people willing to take part is very exciting and one of the biggest entries of the year is expected.For anybody interested in taking part and wondering about the make-up of the course, the surface is a very solid with hard compacted gravel and is suitable for all makes of cars.Scrutiny for all cars will take place from 10am sharp at the quarry with racing taking place afterwards. Each lap will be approx 1.5km. Prize-giving will take place afterwards.For more details, contact Gerry O’Brien on 086 2766267. Registration and entry forms are available …

THE upcoming seven-day Galway Festival is foremost on a lot of people’s minds at present and there were plenty of Ballybrit clues on offer last weekend, none more so than at Limerick on Sunday where Tony Mullins’ Claret booked her Galway Hurdle ticket with a smooth success.A good winner over hurdles at Sligo and on the flat at Tramore already this season, Clarach went to post 9/4 favourite to account for her 11 rivals in the two-mile Adare Festival Weekend Rated hurdle and did so with the minimum of fuss.Ridden by her trainer’s son, Danny, this daughter of Beneficial swept to the front at the penultimate flight and ran on really strongly from there to beat runner-up, Pires, by two lengths.Mullins senior, whose late father, Paddy, had a tremendous record at Ballybrit, commented, “All my life, I’ve dreamed of training one for the Galway Hurdle and this mare fits into that category. She’s very honest and finds plenty although she …

THE Athletics Association of Ireland National Track and Field Championships were held over two days in Santry Stadium. A host of Irish stars took part and looked for big performances before the Olympic Games in London in August.David Tierney from Ennistymon and Leevale AC won the 56lbs for height and Rachel Akers (Marian) won a silver medal in the hammer.Cara Kennedy (Ferrybank) produced some fine throwing to take this national title with a throw of 56.22m with Rachel Akers throwing 52.37m to take a silver medal.Timothy Crowe (Sixmilebridge and Dooneen AC) in the 400 hurdles finished fourth with a time of 53:91.Brian McGinley (Ennis Track) finished 10th in the 5,000m with Brian Murphy (Ennis Track) finishing 14th in the 10,000m.In the 56lbs for height, David Tierney who hails from Ennistymon and competes with Leevale AC, captured the gold medal with a throw of 4.56m. Micheal O’Brien (Tulla) had some fine throws to finish fourth in 3.65m. ResultsSenior ladiesHammer1. Cara Kennedy …

THE Coillte 10k road race, organised by Dundrum Athletic Club, was held in damp weather conditions with over 300 competitors going to the start. There was a big representation of Clare athletes and from the start, Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) set the pace, going through the first mile in 5:10. He had the big field well strung out with Danny Smith (Ballynonty), Kevin Moore (Dundrum), Damian Landers (St John’s) and Shane Mullally (Thurles Crokes) all working hard to stay with the leader. At the 5k mark in 15:25, he had a minute on Danny Smith with Damian Landers in third spot and Kevin Moore starting to drift off the pace.Shannon was always in control up front and finished in a time of 31:54 with two minutes on Danny Smith. In the masters’ ladies’ O-35, Loretto Duggan (St Mary’s) came home in second spot with Siobhán Lennon taking the O-40s and Aishling Power (Ennis Track) finishing second. ResultsSenior ladies1. Siobhán O’Doherty (Borrisokane) …