Category: Sport

Sixmilebridge 4-11 – Kilmaley 2-13 at Gurteen

LAST YEAR’S Junior B champions Sixmilebridge seamlessly made the step up to the next grade when overcoming Kilmaley in windy Gurteen on Saturday.

Kilmaley enjoyed the better of the opening moments scoring 1-1 with the goal coming from Patrick Sexton as the ‘Bridge took a while to settle.

Further scores from Paul Kennedy (2) and Jason Pyne with only a brace of Ronan O’Shea points in reply saw Kilmaley go into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead after the first quarter.

This seemed to ignite Sixmilebridge who were pilling on the pressure and got the reward when they won a 20 metre free that Ronan O’Shea converted to the net to bring his side back into the game.

Two scores in quick succession from Donald Devanney and John Mulready leveled matters before another goal chance came their way.

Again it was O’Shea who saw his powerful shot saved by a combination of Brian O’Loughlin and the crossbar as the ball rebounded into the path of Declan Murphy.

The Kilmaley net minder made a good stop to deny Murphy before unfortunately for O’Loughlin and his side, Eanna Burns was on hand to hit the ball to the net.

This gave the ‘Bridge the lead for the first time in the match and they were to hold a two point lead at the break, 2-6 to 1-7, as both sides traded scores in the last ten minutes of the half.

The seesaw nature of the game continued when immediately on the restart, Danny Cabey shot from 40 yards went all the way to the net. Remarkably on the next attack, the green flag was raised again, this time down the other end of the pitch as Ronan O’Shea’s shot was adjudged to have crossed the line.

Kilmaley inevitably fought back and ‘Bridge goalkeeper Gerry O’Halloran made a couple of outstanding saves to deny the Kilmaley second string during this period.

The games most important score came midway through the second half when O’Shea completed his hattrick with another free to give his side a four point lead.

Kilmaley were given some hope when Paul Kennedy and Danny Cabey sent over points to reduce the gap to three with less than five minutes remaining.

However, Sixmilebridge finished the stronger with two scores from O’Shea as all Kilmaley could muster was a free from Jason Pyne as the Bridge held on for a well deserved four point win.

Sixmilebridge
Gerry O’Halloran; Evan McInerney, Brian O’Loughlin, Jason Murphy; Jonathan Hayes, Barry Deasy, Daniel Collins (Capt); Brian Carey, Donald Devanney (0-1); Shane Devanney (0-1), Declan Murphy, Eanna Burns (1-1); Ronan O’Shea (3-6; 2-2f, 0-1‘65), John Mulready (0-1), Darragh O’Connor (0-1)

Subs
Eoin Hogan for S.Devanney, Mark McInerney for Deasy, Joe O’Halloran for Mulready

Kilmaley
Bryan O’Loughlin; Shane Lynch, BrendanTalty, Stephen Griffey; Gerard Commane (0-1,‘65), Michael Pyne, Enda Finnucane; Kevin McNamara, Danny Cabey (1-1); Cillian McNamara (0-1), Ronan Pyne, Barry Lynch (0-1); Jason Pyne (0-2 1f), Patrick Sexton (1-1), Paul Kennedy (0-6 4f)

Sub
Shane Culligan for B.Lynch.

Man of the Match
Ronan O’Shea (Sixmilebridge) Referee Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Other Junior Hurling
Championship Results Junior A Championship Round 1 Group 1 O’Callaghan’s Mills 3-8 Éíre Óg 0-3 Cratloe 2-18 Corofin 0-09 Group 2 Clooney/Quin 1-11Whitegate 2-06 Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-14 Inagh/Kilnamona 1-07 St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield a bye Junior B Championship Round 1 Group 1 Clonlara 1-18 Smith O’Brien’s 0-06 Broadford 2-11 Ballyea 0-08 Group 2 Crusheen 1-12 Killanena 0-05 Group 3 Kilmaley 0-10 Éire Óg 1-04 Tulla 3-7Tulla 1-4 Group 4 Tubber 3-16 Inagh/Kilnamona 0-07 WolfeTones 2-07 Clooney/Quin 1-10 Junior C Championship Round 1 O’Callaghan’s Mills 2-12 Ogonnelloe 1-06 Feakle 3-8 Parteen 1-7 Banner received a walkover fromClonlara

DEFENDING champions Newmarket-on-Fergus were held to a stalemate by neighbours Clarecastle in the first defence of their title on home soil. Indeed, the holders had to come from behind to salvage a point after finding themselves 3-08 to 1-10 in arrears by the 50th minute after Magpie goals from Stephen Ward (2) and Pajoe Dolan before the home side dug deep mainly through James Warren and Frank Melody to eventually equalise by the hour mark at 3-08 to 1-14.

There were no doubt about the result for last year’s beaten finalists Sixmilebridge however who had a comprehensive 6-17 to 1-13 victory over B champions Clonlara on Friday evening. Goals from Conor Deasy (2), Jamie Shanahan, Sean Lynch, David Murphy and Alex Morey secured the victory for the away side who led by 4-9 to 1-5 at the break. There was also a sizeable win for Ballyea who had ten points to spare over Éire Óg. A Martin O’Leary goal saw them lead by 1-13 to 0-06 at the break with Tony Kelly, Martin O’Leary, Niall Deasy and Tadgh Lynch among the points scorers while a Michael Nagle goal on the turnover put the result beyond any doubt. Minor A Championship Round 1 Ballyea 2-19 Éire Óg 2-09 Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-14 Clarecastle 3-08 Sixmilebridge 6-17 Clonlara 1-13 Minor B Championship Round 1 Group 1 Inagh/Kilnamona 2-14 Broadford 1-08 Inis Cealtra 4-11 Kilmaley 2-11 Meelick 1-16 Parteen 0-13 Group 2 Smith O’Brien’s 2-13 Corofin 0-07

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS and Crusheen will face off for top spot in Division 1 following the play-off draw on Monday evening. Inagh/Kilnamona’s late surge meant that there is a three way play-off for two semifinal places in the Clare Cup along with Newmarket-on-Fergus and Crusheen. Those sides were drawn first, allowing them to play off for top spot while Inagh/Kilnamona will play the losers of that tie to decide the second semi-final place.

What is certain is that last year’s promoted sides Broadford and Wolfe Tones will be back in the second tier for the 2012 campaign and will be replaced by the two sides that were relegated from the top tier last year, Clonlara and Cratloe. However, while promotion is ensured for the 2008 and 2009 county champions respectively, Clonlara still have one game outstanding against Corofin that could have a huge bearing on both ends of the Division 2A table. With Cratloe beating Clonlara in the league, Clonlara will need to get something out of the Corofin game in order to claim a last four spot in the competition that they won backto-back in 2008 and ‘09. Equally Corofin require the points to avoid the drop to Division 2B and if they can avoid defeat, Scariff and Ballyea will be relegated. If they are unable to get anything out of the game, then it will come down to scoring difference.

Killanena earned a late reprieve to consolidate their Clare Cup status on Saturday by beating Parteen and leapfrogging Bodyke in the process, thus relegating the east Clare side along with neighbours Ogonnelloe while Kilmaley and Éire Óg will move up to Division 2A for 2012, with Kilmaley awaiting the winners of the first play-off in Division 1 to confirm their opponents in the Clare Cup semi-final.

Meanwhile, the Intermediate League semi-finals go ahead this weekend with the winners securing promotion to the Clare Cup. Inagh/ Kilnamona and Meelick will face off in Shannon on Saturday while the mouthwatering repeat of last year’s Junior A championship final between Crusheen and Newmarket will decide the other finalist.

In Division 4, last year’s finalists Clonlara will take on Whitegate for advancement to the final while Doora/Barefield and the Mills second strings pair off for the other place.

DESPITE NOT winning a championship game under his watch, history will in time reflect very favourably on Ger O’Loughlin’s two year reign as Clare senior hurling manager. The Sparrow resigned on Wednesday following his side’s comprehensive championship exit at the hands of neighbours Galway, their fourth straight championship defeat, with inexperience highlighted as the main source of defeat.

From the outset of his managerial appointment in December 2009, O’Loughlin’s commitment to blooding youth and building for the future was admirable. However, while he may have originally planned to gradually introduce the All-Ireland Under 21 winning panel to top flight hurling, his hand was forced somewhat by the retirements of Niall Gillian, Tony Carmody and Tony Griffin and subsequently Gerry O’Grady to injury later in the year. Those four players along with Jonathan Clancy, Diarmuid McMahon, Brian O’Connell, Pat Vaughan, Brendan Bugler, Patrick Donnellan and Alan Markham would have provided an experienced core for O’Loughlin to build his new side upon, with a sprinkling of younger talent complimenting that experience.

It was not to be however and instead, the Sparrow was forced to concentrate on building a completely new look side around the Under 21’s that would be capable of competing for top honours in a projected timeline of 3-4 years. In his first championship game in charge against Waterford, O’Loughlin entered unprecedented territory by handing debuts to nine players and it almost paid dividends while three more were given their first championship outings in 2011.

However, while the Sparrow’s foresight and courage was to be commended, the short term results didn’t reflect kindly on Clare who failed to achieve their primary goal of emerging from Division 2 of the National League. Had they managed to beat Wexford or Limerick in either final, O’Loughlin might have been heartened sufficiently to maintain his long term rebuilding plan but having to face a third year in the basement of Division 2 was too much.

Small margins derailed Clare’s cause to an extent as had they won either league final, it may have been the big breakthrough this young squad so badly needed in terms of confidence and development. In turn, they would have also boosted Clare’s championship campaigns that in both years saw very encouraging signs for the future in their Munster openers against perennial superpowers Waterford and Tipperary, only to sour the subsequent summers with sub- standard displays against Dublin and Galway in the All-Ireland series.

There is no denying that inexperience was the main issue but O’Loughlin simply had no option but to stick to his convictions and put all his faith in his young charges. In 2010, Clare lost to Waterford by 0-22 to 1-15, using 19 players with a combined total of 165 championship games behind them, averaging nine games experience for each player (including a late cameo for Alan Markham who alone made up over a quarter of those appearances at 45 games). All the more admirable when you consider that nine of those 19 were playing in their first senior championship game while also fac- ing a Waterford side with 520 games experience, an average of 26 games each. A game later, a young Dublin side had almost twice Clare’s experience at 270 games or 14 games for each player.

This year, with no Markham or Brian O’Connell (emigrated), O’Loughlin handed out two more debuts to Cratloe duo Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney and took on All-Ireland champions Tipperary head on, with only 124 championship games under their belts as compared to the Premier’s 374, with Brendan Cummins and Eoin Kelly having almost as much championship experience as the entire 18 man Clare side that day. Finally Galway went back to their roots and had a combined total of 312 championship games experience that proved too much for Clare.

There is still some naivety and greenness to be knocked off them while the squad seemingly learned very little defensively from their Division 2 campaign. When a team is conceding 2-17 to Westmeath, 1-18 to Kerry and 3-16 to Laois, it is almost impossible to expect them to hold out All-Ireland champions Tipperary who devastatingly put seven goals past Waterford in Sunday’s Munster final, or against Galway who also showed their firepower against Cork on Saturday.

There was a hint of Ger O’Loughlin’s impending resignation immediately after the 17 point defeat to Galway just over a week ago when he reflected on his time as manager but also reckoning that the squad weren’t that far away from making the breakthrough.

“When I went in, after a couple of weeks, I knew that we were starting off from a very low base with regard to experienced players and we have had to start from scratch but I think we have made progress even though the results are poor.

“I think we actually have a nucleus built up to go forward but we need that injection again of five or six, 18, 19 and 20 year olds over the next year or two. But Clare will win something I think in the next three years. It might take three years but I think they’ll win something.”

They may yet prove to be very prophetic words indeed in light of Clare’s second successive Munster minor title victory on Sunday. The ingredients are there, the future is indeed bright and it will be noted that The Sparrow sowed the seeds by blooding the 2009 Under 21 panel. It’s now up to the new manager to nurture those crops further in the hope of reaping a blossoming future harvest.

THERE WAS much to savour for what was a truly historic occasion in Pairc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday as two memorable performances lit up Munster hurling’s flagship day. Tipperary undoubted stole the headlines for their seven goal senior demolition of defending champions Waterford while beforehand, Clare carved out their own piece of history by putting Waterford to the sword for the second successive decider.

In fact, Clare’s display was every bit as commanding as Tipperary’s, only that the Premier had a greater and more ruthless eye for goal. The five point winning margin simply didn’t do justice to the quality, hardworking and mature display of Clare who strolled to a 13 point advantage by the turn of the final quarter with Waterford unable to live with them.

That they didn’t complete the rout and pour even more misery on the Deise support was more down to the fact that Clare tired rather than Waterford sparkled. With the engine room of captain Tony Kelly and Colm Galvin in real danger of missing out on playing in their second successive Munster final, the fact that they started and essentially pulled the strings along with Cathal O’Connell and Jamie Shanahan in the centre for Clare once more, were central to Clare’s success. However, as the central pair inevitably tired, so too did Clare’s dominance around the middle and Waterford punished with a late rally of 2-2 that merely grazed a touch of gloss off Clare’s historic victory.

The real measure of the contest is emphasised by the fact that Clare got 21 scores to Waterford’s 12 and that nine point margin would be a better reflection of the game.

At times, Clare were outstanding and it was refreshing to see a Clare team so comfortable and at ease in the heightened surrounds of Pairc Uí Chaoimh. The serial stars like the quartet already mentioned put in another massive hour, particularly Tots O’Connell who was at the centre of everything good for Clare. However, nearly every player stepped up their game another level from the Tipperary game which is a real sign of a quality side. Goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan pulled off two super saves in the final quarter; Jack Browne and Seadna Morey were inspired, particularly in a superb opening 20 minute spell; the wing backs were courageous and attack minded while Peter Duggan, Shane O’Donnell, Oisin Hickey and Aaron Cunningham had plenty of ingenuity and endeavour without putting up huge personal totals on the scoreboard.

Now don’t get me wrong, it isn’t all gushing pats on the back as there is plenty for Donal Moloney, Gerry O’Connor and Co to work on for the All-Ireland semi-final in a month’s time. And in that regard, in the greater scheme of things it’s probably no harm that Clare didn’t ruthlessly take all of their many goalscoring chances and win by a cricket score because at least the goals they missed at one end and conceded at the other will give them something to work on in the coming weeks.

Much of the credit though must go to the management team in all it’s various guises as it was abundantly clear even from the warm-up that this was a supremely well drilled squad that possessed a huge work ethic and understanding.

The opening 20 minutes was champagne stuff as Clare built up a 0-12 to 1-03 at their ease, with Cathal O’Connell’s unerring freetaking along with eycatching points from Peter Duggan, Aaron Cunningham, Jarleth Colleran, Jamie Shanahan, Tony Kelly and Colm Galvin.

They also deserved a goal in the 13th minute when Seadna Morey burst out of defence before offloading to Oisin Hickey who outpaced his marker only to see the resulting shot stopped by goalkeeper Paddy Cooke. Even the concession of a goal two minutes later in a rare Waterford attack, through the hard work of 15 year old Stephen Bennett who set up Adam O’Sullivan for the finish, couldn’t derail Clare who simply brushed off that set-back with another five points in a row on their way to a double scores 0-14 to 1-04 halftime advantage.

Within 30 seconds of the restart, Clare should have been further ahead after good work from Duggan and Galvin that got Hickey on the ball but perhaps he should have passed to the unmarked Shane O’Donnell instead of attempting a shot from an acute angle that was pushed away by the goalkeeper. The Meelick man quickly made up for it only two min- utes later however as Jamie Shanahan sent an inch perfect pass over the top for him to chase, gather and bury to the net to finish the game as a contest. With that, the pace eased off some- what, the game opened up and there were chances at either end for goals. Shane O’Donnell had two bites of the cherry denied while down the other end, Quilligan was forced to make a full-length acrobatic stop to deny

WEEK 7 of the ITRA Tag Rugby League resulted in Division 1 being closer than ever with current leaders Tag Her & Try Her being beaten by a renewed team of Lucas’ Legends. Tag Her & Try Her were never really a threat to the Legends and the game finished 7-2 in favour of Lucas’ Legends, a win they badly needed.

In second place on the Divison 1 League Table was Deep Heat who were looking to gain some extra points to catch Tag Her & Try Her. However Scrum N Coke proved stiff competition. The game was tied 0-0 at half time before Deep Heat had a quick succession of tries giving them a lead of 5-1. Mary O’Connor for Scrum N Coke got a majestic try to bring her team within one point and a last minute try saw the teams level at the final whistle with 5 points a piece.

Elsewhere, MurtysMen had too much for The Try Hards and their fast paced game saw them getting 12 tries to The Try Hards 3. The game finished up 12 points to 9 in MurtysMen favour, giving them their first win of this division.

In Division 2 Ennis Randomers finally got their first win of the season defeating DBOCS. The Randomers looked like winners from the off and certainly grew in confidence as the match progressed and the scores increased. The game ended with Ennis Randomers on 14 and DBOCS on 3.

First place, The Shades took on second place, On Wing With Prayer in what was being pipped as the Division 2 decider. On Wing With Prayer fought hard and fast and took the game 18 points to the Shades 9. Meanwhile Munstergroup and TTM Tryers faced off with both teams wanting to build on their wins from last week. TTM were the better team and won the match by a convincing 13 points to 4.

The competition now goes into the final week of the league with all teams eager to give one last push before finals night.

Week 7 Results
Division 1 TheTry Hards 9 – 12 MurtysMen Tag Her &Try Her 2- 7 Lucas’ Legends Deep Heat 5 – 5 ScrumN Coke

Division 2
Munstergroup 4 – 13 TTMTryers Ennis Randomers 14 – 3 DBOCS The Shades 9 – 18 OnWing With Prayer

AN Ennis man who is bringing the stars of world soccer to Ireland at the end of the month says he is proud that Clare is hosting the FAI’s Festival of Football.

Damien O’Brien, who is originally from McNamara Park in the Turnpike area of Ennis, will return home later this week to promote the Dublin Super Cup.

O’Brien’s Iconic company, in association with Endemol Sport has signed a 10 year deal partnership with the FAI to bring world class soccer teams to the Aviva Stadium.

The inaugural event takes place in Dublin on July 30-31 when the stars of Inter Milan, Celtic, an Eirtricity League X1 and Manchester City, clash in a pre-season tournament.

A student from Kilmaley National School will lead out one of the teams on the first day of games. O’Brien explains, “My parents are back living in Inch. Kilmaley national school were doing a fundraiser so we gave a prize that one of the kids could be a mascot for one of the teams. The tournament will be screened to something like 150 territories around the world, everywhere under the sun”.

The tournament represents O’Brien’s latest venture in the world of high level sports promotion. Five years ago he devised the format for Football’s Next Star – a reality TV show that offers young footballers the chance to earn a professional contract with clubs such as Inter Milan and Chelsea. In 2009, Tulla United teenager Sunny Jay qualified for the final 40 of the competition.

O’Brien says the competition has helped young Irish footballers secure professional contracts with clubs in England. He adds, “We’ve had three Irish boys finish in the top four. We’re coming to Ireland next year with it. It’s gone global. We have shows in the US, China, Africa. The kid who won the competition in the first year is now captain of the Chelsea reserves…Its for kids that maybe have slipped though the net”.

Through Iconic, the 38 year old is also involved in sponsoring the FAI’s Emerging Talent Programme.

A former pupil of Ennis National School, O’Brien played schoolboys soccer with Turnpike Rovers. He moved to London after studying at St Flannan’s College and became involved in sports promotion through an association with Chelsea FC. He says he is looking forward to coming to Clare for the Festival of Soccer.

EVENTS WILL take place throughout the week as Clare becomes the soccer capital of Ireland. The FAI road show began yesterday with visits to Connolly Celtic, Corofin Harps, Moher Celtic, Burren Utd and Sporting Ennistymon.

Under the FAI’s grant scheme, 26 Clare clubs will recevie funding as follows: St Pats AFC (€ 3000); Corfin Harps (€ 2000); Connolly Celtic (€ 3000); Tulla United (€ 10,000); Hermitage FC (€ 1000); Bridge Celtic (€ 1000 and training equip ment); Mountshannon Celtic(€ 1000 and training equipment); Bunratty (€ 2500); Lifford AFC (€ 2250); Kilrush Rangers (€ 1250); Burren United (€ 3250); Bridge United (€ 3250); Lough Derg (€ 5000); Rhine Rovers (€ 1000 and training equipment); Newmarket Celtic (€ 3250); Sporting Ennistymon (€ 1000 and goal posts) Avenue United (€ 2250); Park United (€ 1000); Kilmaley Fern Celtic (€ 3250); Coole Park (small side goals); Shannon Olympic (€ 2250); Moher Celtic (€ 1250); Moneypoint (€ 3250); Ennis Town FC (€ 2000 and small sided goals); Shannon Hibernian (€ 3250 and small sided goals). The Clare schoolboys soccer league is to receive 10 sets of small sided goals plus coaching education concessions while the Clare DSoccer League has been granted € 10,000.

AGM.

Mayor of Clare Pay Hayes (FF) said, “This injection of funds will provide a huge boost to the continued development of the game in County Clare.

TUAMGRANEY Handball Club this year celebrates 100 years in existence and to mark the occasion, the club are hosting a Centenary Celebration Weekend on July 15 to 17.

The East Clare village has always been synonymous with handball and through the success of so many great players, has become one of the most famous and well-renowned handball clubs in Ireland.

From the days of the Kirby brothers, Haulie Hogan and Pakie Ryan right up to the present day acheivements of the Nash and Malone brothers and so many greats in between, Tuamgraney has always been punching above its weight in the ball alleys all over the country.

The Centenary Celebration Weekend kicks off on Friday night July 15 with music (by Rosanna Egan) in the specially constructed marquee to the rear of Teach Ui Bhriain in the village (admission free).

The Saturday afternoon will see juvenile tournament finals and exhibition games of 40×20, 60×30 and One-Wall handball (featuring some of Ireland’s top players such as Duxie Walsh, Robbie McCarthy, Ger Coonan and Fergal Collins as well as lo- cal stars) as well as the much-anticipated ‘Lucky Square Challenge’.

There will then be a mass for deceased members at 6.30pm in Tuamgraney church. Following an after-mass procession from the church to the handball club grounds led by the Tulla Pipe Band, GAA Handball Ireland President Walter O’Connor will unveil a comemorative monument marking 100 years of handball in Tuamgraney.

The monument depicts Tuamgraney legend and former World Champion Pat Kirby. Pat is currently on a visit from Arizona where he now resides and will be present at the unveiling and will also be a special guest at the Centenary Gala Dinner, place in the marquee after the momument unveilling and the re-opening of the refurbished 60×30 court.

Another all-time hadball great, Duxie Walsh of Kilkenny, will also be a special guest while the special guest speaker on the night will be none other than gaelic games broadcasting legend Micheal O’Muircheartaigh.

At time of writing, tickets for the Gala Dinner (€ 25) are almost completely sold out but some ‘afters’ tickets (€ 10) are still available. Enquiries to Conor Daly (086-8541464). Music is by Gearoid Devanney and band.

On Sunday 17, Duxie Walsh will hold an informal juvenile handball coaching session at 12.00pm. Later in the afternoon, Tuamgraney Develoment Association host a ‘Family Day on the Green’ with a Monster BBQ, face-painting, bouncy castles, slides, DJ and HB Ice Cream (all proceeds from ice-cream sales to Down Syndrome Ireland).

The party starts at 4.00pm in the Memorial Park, Tuamgraney. The weekend winds down with a Ceili Night (9.30pm) in the Teach Ui Bhriain Marquee with music by Seamus Bugler, Pat O’Connor and friends (admission € 5), plus the ‘Centenary Prize Draw’. Over the weekend, East Clare Heritage will be hosting an exhibition of old handball photos and anyone who has photos that they feel might be of interest are asked to contact Conor Daly. All photos will be returned.

July 15-17 promises to be a great weekend to mark a century of ‘the ancient game’ in Tuamgraney and the surrounding areas.

WHILE Clare’s early Munster 60×30 Championship fixtures have seen defeats in most grades, the tide was turned by Declan Frawley who had an emphatic

Intermediate Singles semi-final win over Tipp’s Adrian Supple. There was also Golden Masters A Singles victory for Mike Kelly, while Pat Donellan is also still in the Golden Masters B Singles race after receiving a walkover from his Cork opponent. This week is again choc-full of fixtures involving Clare players including Declan Frawley’s Munster Final in Cashel on Thursday night against either Cork or Waterford opposition (see full fixtures below).

Meanwhile, the TG4 Irish OneWall Handball Nationals were held recently at the Breaffy House resort in Castlebar. One-wall handball is growing in popularity in a big way and a number of Banner County competitors, young and not so young, travelled to Mayo. The Open events were dominated by the visiting American and Puerto Rican players but there were Plate Final victories for Clare payers John Cawley (Golden Masters A Plate), Ciaran Malone (18-&-Under Plate) and Niall Malone (Mens Open Plate), who defeated fellow Clareman Jamie Lynch in the decider. Diarmaid Nash reached the Mens Open quarter-final while Fergal Coughlan and Tiernan Agnew made it to the finals of the Boys 14-&-under and 12-&-under events respectively. Ella Donellan won the Girls 12-&-under competition.

Finally, Tuamgraney Handball Club’s Centenary Celebrations take place this weekend. GAA Handball President Walter O’Connor will be on hand to oficially re-open the club’s refurbished 60×30 court and also unveil a commemorative monument. There wil be a number of exhibition handball games on the Saturday while at Saturday night’s ‘Centenary Gala Dinner’, special guests Pat Kirby, Duxie Walsh and Walter O’Connor will join Guest of Honour Micheal O’Muircheartaigh in celebrating 100 years of Tuamgraney handball in style.

Munster 60×30 Championships
(Clare fixtures) Tuesday July 12, Cullen (Cork) – Junior Doubles: Niall Malone & Darragh Kirby v. Cork. Ruby Masters Singles: Jimmy Walsh v. Cork Wednesday July 13, Broadford (Limerick) – Golden Masters B Doubles: Pat Donellan & Stephen McInerney v. Cork Thursday July 14, Cashel – Intermediate Singles Munster Final: Declan Frawley v. Philip Butler (Waterford) or ColmJordan (Cork) Friday, July 15, Bohermore – Ruby Masters Doubles: John Kirby & JimmyWalsh v. Cork