DIVISION 2 leaders Liscannor suffered their first defeat of this campaign when going under by the minimum margin to Cratloe on Saturday.Despite the loss, they still remain at the top of the table, a point ahead of Lissycasey with Clondegad, Cratloe and O’Curry’s all tied together, a further point back. St Senan’s, Cooraclare and St Breckan’s are battling to avoid relegation. The Kilkee men who are pointless must win their remaining two games to have any chance of avoiding the drop to Division 3.   Cratloe 1-10   Liscannor 1-9 CRATLOE caused a surprise when they accounted for unbeaten Liscannor at Cratloe on Saturday evening.As the scoreline suggests, there was little between the sides throughout and the home side hit the winning point in the last minute.Outstanding performances from inter-county hurlers Sean Collins and Liam Markham proved vital for the South Clare side.With a number of key players ruled out due to injury, the winners were fortunate to have Collins and …

COLIN Crehan extended his magnificent run of recent form when he captained a Clare team to the prestigious Paddy Grogan Memorial Tournament in Carrickmore, Tyrone over the weekend. This invitational tournament features the top young handballers in Ireland and is run off on a novel format.Each team comprises four players, one U-14 girl, one U-14 boy, one U-16 boy and captained by an U-18 boy, with each team named after the captain’s county. Games were played on a time basis with overall aggregate score determining the winners. The Kilkishen teenager defeated Darren Doherty from Monaghan in the final in the latest game of a growing rivalry. Crehan defeated Doherty at the recent Irish junior trials and the Monaghan man won when they met in the tournament group stages on Saturday. Crehan wasn’t to be denied in Sunday’s final though and collected the cup with his team-mates Ramunas Ramuskas (Monaghan), Jason English (Tipperary) and Elise McCrory (Tyrone). The Monaghan runners-up were …

MONTHS of preparation have been put in for what promises to be a great occasion at Lahinch next week when the famed Clare club will host the annual international get together for members of Dr Alister MacKenzie-designed courses.Teams from MacKenzie-designed courses in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Britain and the US will join their Lahinch counterparts from Monday to Thursday inclusive.This is the sixth staging of the event, which started in MacKenzie’s home in Pasatiempo in California..In 1927, the great golf architect Alister MacKenzie was invited to submit a design for a new layout. The redesign work took one year to complete and featured undulating triple tiered greens. MacKenzie said, “Lahinch will make the finest and most popular course that I, or I believe anyone else, has ever constructed”.  After Lahinch, MacKenzie went on to design, among others, Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne.A round of golf in the Greg Norman-designed Doonbeg is included on Monday for the visitors. On …

Broadford trainer, Joe Ryan has an exciting prospect on his hands in Turnandgo, who made a winning debut in the second division of the opening  four-year-old geldings’ maiden at last Saturday’s Tipperary Foxhounds point-to-point in Clonmel.Ridden by top jockey, John Thomas McNamara, Turnandgo showed a nice turn of foot when quickening up impressively from the third-last fence to beat runner-up Capilla by eight lengths.Ryan, who trains the victorious son of Morozov for his son, Joshua, said, “I’ve always thought the world of this horse. He is really tough and was by no means fully wound up for today. There is plenty scope for further improvement and he’ll probably go the upcoming Brightwells Sale at Cheltenham following today’s win.” Sixmilebridge trainer Niall Kelleher has enjoyed a good season and the Cork native was on the mark with Vicky’s Lass in the winners’ race at Sunday’s East Galway Foxhounds meeting at Laurencetown, near Ballinasloe.A fifth winner of the season for Quin jockey …

The Dolores Ruth-trained Razldazl Jayfkay was all the talk after a sensational win and a new track record in a second round heat of the Williamhill.com English Greyhound Derby in Wimbledon on Saturday night.In what was regarded as one of the great all-time performances, he hit the ground running once the traps lifted and proceeded to demolish the rest of the field to win by  13-and-a-half lengths with a new time of 28.08 for the 480m trip.  Now cut to 3-1 favourite for outright success in the event, Razldazl Jayfkay was completing a second-round treble for Dolores Ruth, who won two more heats on Friday night with Razldazl Rioga (28.54) and Razldazl Bugatti (28.45).Trainer, Pat Curtin is still very much involved in the outcome of the English Derby, his Shelbourne Geoff qualifying for round three after being runner-up in heat three on Friday night. Owned by a syndicate that includes Clare’s Murty McMahon and Noel Hehir, Shelbourne was beaten one …

Avenue United A 1   Newmarket Celtic A 5 Newmarket were crowned Premier League champions for the second year in succession when they defeated Avenue United at Lees Road on Sunday.Attention now turns to their challenge to complete the league and cup double and all eyes will be on their cup semi-final against Bridge United A on Sunday week.In the meantime, they will complete their league programme this week when they play Tulla United A after which the league trophy will be presented to captain Mark Donlon. The title holders took the lead through Ronan McCormack midway through the first half and this goal separated the teams at half time.Moments after the resumption of play Avenue were back on terms when Alan Roche found the target. The title holders were back in front ten minutes later when a Darren Cullinan cross was deflected to his own net by Colin Smith. A superb volley from outside the box from Stephen Kelly saw …

Tulla United B 2   Hermitage B 2 (Hermitage B won 4-3 on penalties) HERMITAGE B retained their second-division status for next season following victory over Tulla United B in a promotion/relegation play-off at the County Grounds on Sunday.The Ennis side dominated the first half and were two goals clear at half-time thanks to strikes from Danny Russell and Ritchie O’Grady.The Tage came out for the second half without central defender Robert Ford and his absence proved a big blow to the side.Tulla had the better of the second-half exchanges and hit back with goals from Shane McNamara and Keith Walsh to force the game into extra time.The East Clare side continued to hold the upperhand in the extra period when Eoin Slattery in the Hermitage goal produced a couple of excellent saves to keep his team in the race.In the penalty shoot-out, Brian McMahon scored the town side’s first but Cathal Keane had his effort saved. However, Ritchie O’Grady and …

DANIEL Griffin is a 13-year-old boy who wants to play soccer with Avenue United but his request to join the Ennis club was turned down at a recent meeting of the Clare Schoolboys executive.That decision led to the resignation of the league secretary, Davy Kerins, who is a member of the Avenue United Club. Kerins would only say he had resigned from the league because he didn’t agree with a decision that they had made.Daniel Griffin lives in Quin and attends school in Clooney. For the past two seasons he played schoolboys soccer with Tulla United. His form led to him being chosen on the Clare Emerging Talent Squad.According to the Schoolboy League rules, a club may only sign one player from the Emerging Talent Squad in any one season. Avenue signed Cathal Darcy from Lifford and their request to sign Griffin was then turned down. At the time, Tulla objected to the application.Griffin hasn’t signed for any other club …

The fifth annual Miltown Malbay Parish National School Sports Day was held in great conditions at the GAA field, with all schools taking part. The first three athletes in all races will represent their schools in the finals at Lees Road venue on Wednesday, May 23 against Ennistymon-Liscannor and Kilmurry-Ibrickane parishes. ResultsGirlsU-6 60m: 1 Catriona Byrne (Miltown); 2 Kate Meade (Rockmount); 3 Susan Meehan (Maigh).80m: 1 Catriona Byrne (Miltown); 2 Susan Meehan (Maigh); 3 Kate Meade (Rockmount).U-7 60m: 1 Ciara Ferguson (Miltown); 2 Eileen Curtin (Rockmount); 3 Nila Appat (Rockmount).80m: 1 Ciara Ferguson (Miltown); 2 Nila Appat (Rockmount) and Leanna Mc Mahon (Maigh); 3 Eileen Curtin (Rockmount).U-8 100m: 1 Sarah Looney (Miltown); 2 Eve Wankel (Maigh); 3 Meadbh Murray (Miltown).300m: 1 Sarah Looney (Miltown); 2 Meadbh Murray (Miltown); 3 Eve Wankel (Maigh).U-8 4 x 100m relay: 1 Miltown (Sarah Looney, Niamh Fallon, Meadbh Murray, Ciara Ferguson); 2 Rockmount (Eileen Curtin, Nila Appat, Catriona Crowe, Gemma Darcy); 3 Maigh (Eve Wankel, …

The Clare Sports Partnership and Clare Athletics Association held its summer series four-mile road race and walk in Ballyea last week. There was another fine turnout for the event, which was hosted by Ennis Track Club. One-hundred-and-seventy athletes set out at 7pm from Ballyea Community Centre and Fergal Smithwick, winner of the 5k in Lees Road, set a very fast pace for the first mile, going through the mile mark in 5.30.The chasing group was led by Mike Cunningham (Bilboa), Martin Grealish (Ennis Track), Michael Kelly (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Dariusz Kuranda (Ennis Track).Pat Nugent was making good progress towards the leaders, along with the leading lady, Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare).Martin Grealish was on the shoulder of Fergal Smithwick as they went through the two-mile mark in 10.35 and over the final two miles, Grealish stamped his authority at the front and opened up a good lead going towards the three-mile mark, which he held all the way to …

  Waterford 1-20   Clare 3-13 Clare and Waterford have provided some hugely entertaining games in the Munster Minor Hurling Championship in the past few years and their latest meeting continued in this vein at Cusack Park on Wednesday evening.Extra time was needed to produce a winner with the visitors emerging by the minimum margin to secure a place in the provincial semi-final in June when they play Tipperary.Clare have just a week to re-group for their next outing which will be against Cork or Kerry next Thursday. It’s a huge ask for the title-holders who picked up a number of injuries in this week’s tie.GAA officials who talk about burnout need to take a serious look at the schedule of games for players at this age group. To ask Clare – it could so easily have been Waterford in this position – to play a knock-out game in this competition next week is a bit much. It’s a similar situation …

  Galway 3-6   Clare 1-10 The concession of a converted penalty just before half-time proved costly for Clare in the Division 2 Ladies National Football league semi-final played at Banagher on Sunday. Originally scheduled for Birr, the venue was changed on Saturday.A near gale force wind that blew directly down the pitch, made matters difficult for the players. Galway won the toss and, surprisingly, opted to play against the breeze in the first half.Two first half goals against the wind proved crucial for Galway, with the second of these coming on the half hour mark from the penalty spot. Against the wind in the second half Clare played their best football and held out until five minutes from time, when Galway got through for their third goal put them into the lead for the first time.Clare went in front after just 35 seconds when Eimear Considine pointed but it took the a while to get the upper hand and they …

Clonlara 0-12   Crusheen 1-11   A HAUL of 12 points from teenager Cathal O’Connell helped Clonlara to this narrow win over Crusheen in a hard-fought Clare Champion Cup tie at Clonlara on Saturday evening.Both sides may have been a little below full strength but they showed they are likely to be well in contention come the latter stages of the league and, indeed the championship, this season.The winners led by the minimum margin, 0-7 to 0-6, at half-time after an evenly fought first half. In the early stages of the second half, Dara O’Doherty got through for the game’s only goal, after Ger O’Connell had made an excellent save from Patrick O’Grady, to put the visitors in front. From there to the finish, they exchanged points on a number of occasions with Cathal O’Connell for the home side and Jamie Fitzgibbon the main scorers.It was a game that could have gone either way and there would have been few complaints …

O’Callaghan’s Mills 1-10   Broadford 0-13   WHEN Broadford opened a six-point lead in the third quarter of this Division 1B League tie at O’Callaghan’s Mills on Saturday, everything pointed to them taking the spoils.They were very much on top and would not have been flattered had they gone more than six points clear. Their failure to avail of a number of good chances proved costly in the end.In the final 10 minutes, the home side fought their way back and the equalising score came in the last minute. It was an excellent score from centre-back, Bryan Donnellan, who beat a number of opponents before sending over a great effort from the touchline.Broadford made the better start and opened a three-point lead, 0-4 to 0-1 but the home side fought their way back and when the half-time whistle sounded, the teams were level at 0-7 each.The Mills had played with the aid of the wind in the first half but they …

THE Irish tae kwon do team returned from the ITF European championships in Maribor, Slovenia last weekend with an impressive haul of three gold, eight silver and 12 bronze medals. Among the Irish team were several competitors from Quin and Shannon tae kwon do clubs under the guidance of Stephen Ryan and Adrian Byrne. Competing from Quin tae kwon do club were Stephen Ryan, Laura Cullen, Áine Cregan and Nicole Moriarty, while representing Shannon were Adrian Byrne (coach), Louise McCagh, David Lynch, Jamie Williams and Shakira Coonghe. The squad arrived in Maribor on the Wednesday for weigh-in and final registration before the competition kicked on the Friday, running right through to the Sunday evening. The first to compete for the Clare contingent was Stephen Ryan, current world number two in the senior men’s IV – VI Dan pattern division. Stephen came away with a bronze medal after losing out in the semi-final to his fierce rival, Jarek Suska, current world …