Category: Sport

VETERAN players and Clare referees squared in a keenly contested match at the County Grounds in Doora last week.

Organised to raise money for local charities, Clare Seeking Vision and Clare ISPCA, the tie pitted a panel of players aged 40 or over against a team made of Clare referees. No quarter was asked and none was given as the Over 40s edged a tight battle 1-0. The referees made a great start and were unlucky not to score in the opening 15 minutes. John Hickey found Kieran Collins for the over 40s but he saw his shot saved by referee John Murray. Hickey wasn’t to be deined five minutes later when he skipped through the defence to score what proved to be the match-winning goal. The second half started with the same zest as the first and it was missed chances and excellent goalkeeping from both sides that kept the final score at 1 nil to the Clare over 40s. There are already plans to make the game an annual fixture. Mike Healy, Timmy Healy, Noel Healy, Tom Botcher, Dave Kerin, Richie Lynch, Colm Cooney, Mike Twomey, Kiki Shannon, John Hickey (captain), Kieran Collins, Clive Slater, Colin Lawlor, Liam Glass, John Horne Over 40s Ma nager : Pat r ick Ba zil Whela n; Assist a nt s: Cia r a Hickey, Emma Hickey, J immo Pur t ill Cla r e r efer ees pa nel David McCarthy (player manager), Jim Denieffe, Julian Stanford, Kevin McCarthy, Noel Bennett, Michael O’Halloran, Michael Rock, Michael Maxwell, Trevor White, Dave Brosnan, Anthony Brosnan, Martin Monaghan, John Murray, Terry Kennedy, Dylan Shannon, Pa Gleeson Mickey Whyte (captain)

THE sight of some of the biggest names in Irish football lending their support to the game in Clare represented a proud moment for the men who played a key role in bringing the FAI’s showpiece event to the county.

As a former Chairman of the Munster Football Association (MFA), Michael Leahy, proposed bringing the FAI’s Annual General Meeting to Clare in 2006.

Clare District Soccer League secretary Oliver Fitzpatrick also supported bringing the event to Clare and laid a lot of the groundwork for the county’s ultimately successful bid.

Both men were among the guests in the offices of Clare County Council at last Thursday night’s civic reception held in honor of the FAI.

The prescence in Clare of Ireland manager Giovanni Trappattoni, his assistant Marco Tardelli along with major figures in the Irish game such as FAI CEO John Delaney and former international Ray Houghton, confirmed to Michael just how far soccer has come in the banner county.

Michael, a former league chairman who played for Newmarket Celtic and Hermitage, said, “It’s a fabulous day for sport. As long as kids are playing the game, any game, that’s all you want. We never thought we’d see dignatories coming down from the FAI”.

Michael said the visit of the FAI was made more memorable by the involvement of his son Tommy, who is the Clare District Soccer League’s delegate to the MFA.

Michael also paid tribute to the work of former CDSL Chairman Jim Madden.

He said, “Without Jim Madden I think the league would’ve just rolled along. He’s really pushed it into this century. The FAI coming has really made a difference. John Delaney has a great affinity for Clare. He pushed for us to get Denis Hynes which has made an awful difference to soccer in Clare. That gets kids out playing”.

Having been in Kerry for the first time the FAI held the AGM outside of Dublin, Oliver Fitzpatrick be- lieved the event could be a big success in Clare.

He explained, “I’ve been at them all since it first started. I saw what it did for Kerry, the county, bringing all the former players. It was a big thing. When I came back to Clare, at the next committee meeting, I brought it up that it would be a great idea to have this in Clare. Some people said maybe not, maybe yes, but we decided it was worth pursuing. We applied for it. It took a bit of time. Michael Leahy did a lot of work in the background”.

Beyond the immediate impact of grant funding, Oliver believes better organisation and increased playing numbers will be the long-term legacy of the FAI’s visit to the county.

He said, “Take Bunratty and Cratloe, they have used this to kickstart underage soccer in their area. I would say they will have a schoolboy’s team in for next season. That’s the big thing. That’s a positive straight away. West Clare is the same way. You’ll probably have more and more play- ing it. Around Ennis you’ve seen the crowds were very good. They came from everywhere. Everywhere was very good. You have to applaud the clubs and the effort they put in. I think this has been a big success for Clare. In Clare we do have good guys on the ground”.

Senior A Cha mpionship Round 4 Kilmihil 2-8 Lisca nnor 0-5 at Hennessy Memor ia l Pa r k, Milt own Ma lbay BATTLING against driving rain and gale force winds in Miltown Malbay on Sunday, Kilmihil maintained their perfect start to the campaign and guaranteed their passage to the last four of the championship.

Kilmihil, although playing against the conditions in the opening half, settled well and came at Liscannor in waves. Liscannor weathered the storm though and held Kilmihil scoreless until 15 minutes into the first half when Becky Mahon got on the scoreboard with two well taken points in quick succession while Ailish Considine added two from play before half-time. Ailish also had the first score of the second half when she coolly slotted home a goal after a great run from wing back Una Downes.

Liscannor registered their first score in the next passage of play when Aishling Torpey pointed from a close range free. That score seemed to lift the north Clare side who added points from Marie Considine and Olivia Lucas. Ailish Considine got a great individual point and Maria Keane added another as Kilmihil hit back.

Aishling Torpey was again on target from a free before Kilmihil’s Eimear Considine and Orla Keane extended Kilmihil’s advantage before a goal from Eimear Considine put the game beyond Liscannor.

Both teams struggled at times with the unseasonal weather conditions and scores were hard to come by. Indeed the wind was so strong at times that it even made the basic skills of soloing and passing next to impossible. Liscannor backs did very well in particular in the first 15 minutes when Kilmihil were at full flight and were it not for some excellent goalkeeping, the assistance of the upright, and some wayward shooting, the game could have been over as a contest much earlier.

Kilmihil backs were solid on a tough day for defenders and in particular their half back line of Rosie Currane, Becky Mahon and the outstanding Una Downes. Elaine O’Halloran was also very impressive over the hour.

Niamh Keane who started at corner forward had an excellent game in a sweeper role. Kilmihil forwards, though not scoring as prolifically as usual, did very well especially Orla Keane, Eleanor O’Gorman, Ailish and Eimear Considine. Moriah Lineen did well when introduced. Impressive for Liscannor were Marie and Carmel Considine, Aine Greene, and goalkeeper Emma Slattery.

Kilmihil
Sharon O’Gorman, Elaine O’Halloran, Edel McMahon, Laura Egan, Una Downes, Rosie Currane, Becky Mahon (0-2), Maria Keane (0-1), Dympna Walsh, Eleanor O’Gorman, Orla Keane (0-1), Denise O’Halloran, Niamh Keane, Eimear Considine (1-1),Ailish Considine (1-3)

Sub
Moriah Lineen

Liscannor
Emma Slattery, Marian Considine, Sinead Considine, Roisin Considine, Fiona Considine, Carmel Considine, Cliona Falvey, Marie Considine (0-1),Aine Greene, Emer Hillary (0-1), Olivia Lucas (0-1), Clionadh Considine,Aishling Torpey (0-2f),Yvonne Flaherty,Aine Burke

Referee
Michael Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

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

Kilmihil 6-14 – Cooraclare 3-09 at Labasheeda

THREE POINTS from play inside the opening five minutes for Kilmihil from Eimear Considine (2) and Orla Keane set the tone in this high scoring senior championship Round 3 encounter on Saturday evening. In a match that produced nine goals, Kilmihil were deserving winners over the hour.

Credit to Cooraclare though as once Roisin O’Looney equalised with a fine goal in the seventh minute, they really impressed in the opening half against their more expierenced opponents. At half-time, Cooraclare, who were forced to line out without the injured Monica Lillis and Anne Marie Callinan, trailed by 3-6 to 2-4 while Kilmihil’s third goal from the impressive Ailish Considine came late in the half.

Senior Championship debutant Laura Egan was Kilmihil’s first goal scorer and by the quarter stage, her side led by four points at 1-5 to 1-1. Cooraclare then hit a purple patch with points from Patricia Callinan, Niamh Chambers and Aoife O’Gorman before corner-forward Ciara Golden put the blues ahead when she rattled the net. Their lead was short lived however as Kilmihil through Ellie O’Gorman responded with a goal.

Early second half goals from Becky Mahon who lined out at wing back but was moved to attack and Eimear Considine stretched Kilmihil’s lead to 11 points and while Niamh Chambers added a goal and three points for Cooraclare as well as a points from team captain Noreen McGuane and substitute Lourda Lillis, it wasn’t to be their day. Another Kilmihil goal from Ellie O’Gorman as well as points from Ailish Considine, O’Gorman and Orla Keane sealed a fine win.

In addition to the scorers, Rosie Currane, Una Downes and Dympna Walsh were very impressive for the winners while Bernie Kelly, Roisin O’Looney, Noreen McGuane, Patricia Callinan, Niamh Chambers and Aoife O’Gorman performed well for Cooraclare. A feature of this game was a number of long range points, two from Kilmihil’s Ailish Consid- ine and score of the match from Patricia Callinan from all of 45 metres.

Kilmihil
Sharon O’Gorman, Elaine O’Halloran, Edel McMahon, Niamh Keane, Becky Mahon (1-1), Rosie Currane (capt), Una Downes, Dympna Walsh, Maria Keane (0-1), Laura Egan (1-0), Ellie O’Gorman (2-2), Orla Keane (0-3),Ailish Considine (1-5), Eimear Considine (1-2), Denise O’Halloran

Sub
Moriah Lineen for M. Keane

Cooraclare
Mairead Griffin, Fiona McMahon, Louise Murrihy, Orla Reidy, Danielle Dillon, Bernie Kelly, Sherena Clarke, Dympna O’Dwyer, Roisin O’Looney (1-0), Noreen McGuane (capt) (0-2), Patricia Callinan (0-1), Rachel Garry, Ciara Golden (1-0), Niamh Chambers (1-4),Aoife O’Gorman (0-1)

Sub
Lourda Lillis (0-1) for D. Dillon

Referee
Michael Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

Banner Ladies 4-10 – Liscannor 2-08 at Kilfenora

COMFORTABLE winners in the end, the outcome did not look too good for most of the opening half for the Banner who trailed at one stage by six points and played half the match with 14 players on Friday evening.

When the match finally got underway, full-forward Aine Burke was first of the mark for the north Clare side with a nice point from play. Local girl Niamh O’Dea, whose younger sister Eva also lined out, had two points for Banner Ladies. Further points from Burke (2), Aisling Torpey and the lively Marie Considine had Liscannor three ahead before midfielder Carmel Considine soloed through the Banner defence and rifled home a fine goal to put her side 1-5 to 0-2 in front.

It took the Ennis side a while to get in to their stride but when they did, they weren’t long whittling down the lead. A goal and a point from full forward Niamh O’Dea reduced the gap to two before Marie Considine and Mary Tierney traded points. As half time approached, Banner Ladies were awarded a penalty when Eva O’Dea was fouled in the small square. Inter-county star and AllStar nominee for the past two years, Louise Henchy made no mistake from the placed ball and so at the interval her team retired two points to the good at 2-4 to 1-5.

Banner Ladies resumed the second half with a full contingent. The fifteenth player Katie Cahill made an immediate impact and went on to play an excellent 30 minutes. Marie Considine cut the deficit to a single score when she pointed quickly after the restart but then came a crucial score for the winners when Susan McNamara goaled. There seemed to be a mix up between the Liscannor goalkeeper and some of her defenders, and McNamara had the simple task of kicking the ball to an empty net. When the lively Mary Tierney tacked on a point, last year’s championship runners up went three points clear. The excellent Naomi Carroll pointed and her colleague Niamh O’Dea had her second goal when she finished following a flick on from Sonya Maher.

Laurie Ryan, Clare Walsh and Emma O’Driscoll all played intelligently in the Banners defence. Mary Tierney, Susan McNamara and Niamh O’Dea were very prominent in attack. Naomi Carroll gave a player of the match display at midfield while Louise Henchy also performed well. Best for Liscannor were Aine Burke, Aisling Torpey, Aine Greene and as usual the Considine sisters Carmel and Marie.

Banner Ladies
LouiseWoods, Laurie Ryan (capt.), ClareWalsh, Helen Hehir, Rebecca Culligan, Emma O’Driscoll, Sinead O’Keeffe, Louise Henchy (1-2 1-1f) , Naomi Carroll (0-1), MaryTierney (0-2), Sonya Maher, Eva O’Dea, Niamh O’Dea (2-5 2f), Susan McNamara (1-0), Katie Cahill

Liscannor
Emma Slattery, Roisin Considine, Yvonne Flaherty (capt.), Roisin Rouine, Cliona Falvey, Sinead Considine, Fiona Considine, Carmel Considine (1-0),Aine Greene, Marie Considine (03), Olivia Lucas (0-1), Marian Considine, Clionadh Considine,Aine Burke (0-2 1f),AislingTorpey (1-2 1f, 1-0 pen)

Subs
Emer Hillery for Marion Considine (half time),Theresa Shannon for Flaherty (inj), Catherine Hayes for Falvey

Referee
Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Senior A Championship Round 4
Banner v West Clare Gaels @VenueTBC, Friday 8pm(RefereeTBC) Kilmihil v Liscannor @VenueTBC, Sunday 1.45pm (RefereeTBC)

Senior B Championship Round 4
Fergus Rovers v Miltown @Venue andTimeTBC, Sunday (RefereeTBC)

Junior A Championship Round 1
Burren Gaels v Doonbeg @VenueTBC, Sunday 4.45pm(RefereeTBC) Banner B v Kilrush @Venue andTimeTBC, Sunday (RefereeTBC)

Under 14 Division 1
Championship Final Banner v Kilmurry Ibrickane @Kilmihil,Thursday 5.45pm(Lisa Harte McMahon)

Under 14 Division 1 Shield Final
Doora-Barefield v West Clare Gaels @Kilmihil, Friday 5.45pm(Linda Russell)

Under 14 Division 3
Championship Semi- Final Cooraclare/Miltown v Coolmeen @VenueTBC, Saturday 1.15pm(RefereeTBC) Doonbeg v Shannon Gaels @VenueTBC, Saturday 2.45pm(RefereeTBC)

Under 12 Division 2
Championship Final Banner v West Clare Gaels @Miltown,Tuesday 6.30pm(Linda Russell)

Crusheen 1-17 – Tulla 0-14 at Crusheen

COUNTY champions Crusheen kept up their end of the bargain against Tulla on Friday evening but with rivals Newmarket ending Sixmilebridge’s hopes and Inagh/Kilnamona throwing a spanner in the works with a victory over the same opposition 24 hours later, the race for the two semifinal places is still undecided.

Inagh/Kilnamona will travel to Whitegate on Thursday, with a win for the Combo placing all three teams on equal points and scoring difference coming into effect.

With that in mind, Crusheen will probably rue not putting this game to bed earlier as they led by ten points at one stage. However, credit Tulla for biting at their heels in the second half with Brian Lynch and Ray Stewart heading the revival.

A blistering start saw the home side blaze a trail early on, starting with Paddy O’Grady’s goal after 24 sec- onds on their way to a 1-6 to 0-1 lead by the 13th minute.

In fact, such was their dominance at that stage that all the Crusheen forwards had got on the scoresheet by the 24th minute and by the break, they held a 1-12 to 0-6 advantage.

With the result seemingly beyond doubt, Crusheen eased their foot off the pedal and a rejuvenated Tulla took advantage when controlling the midfield sector and chipping away at the deficit mainly through the aforementioned Stewart and Lynch.

The gap was reduced to just four by the 56th minute and the damage could have been greater, had it not been for the dogged defending of the back line of the Brigdale brothers John and Alan and the Dillons, Cronan, Cathal and Cian.

However, their fate will not be known until Thursday evening when Inagh/Kilnamona look to throw their hat into the ring by beating home side Whitegate.

Crusheen
Gearoid O’Donnell, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon, Alan Brigdale, Ciaran O’Doherty (0-4 2f 2’65), Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon, Gerry O’Grady (0-3f), Fergus Kennedy (0-1), Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-2), Shaun Dillon (0-1), Darragh O’Doherty (0-1), Paddy Meaney (0-2), Paddy O’Grady (1-0), Conor O’Donnell (0-3)

Subs
Donal Tuohy for G. O’Donnell (13 mins), Gearoid O’Donnell for D. O’Doherty (43 mins), AlanTuohy for P. O’Grady (53 mins)

Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, Mark Quinn, John Fahy, Brian Lynch (0-2), Paul Lynch, Rory Hogan, Cathal Dinan,Tomás McMahon, David McInerney (0-1f), Michael Murphy (0-1), Daragh Corry (0-1), Ray Stewart (0-8 5f), Kieran Brennan (0-1), Shane McNamara

Subs
SeanTorpey for McNamara (HT), Declan Murphy for Hogan (43 mins), Cathal Bolton for McMahon (45 mins)

Referee
Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Clooney/Quin 1-19 – Clarecastle 2-11 at Páirc Uí hAonghusa, Clooney

MEANINGLESS IN terms of advancement or relegation to the home side but it mattered to Clarecastle who may yet be dragged back into the relegation mix if Wolfe Tones win their remaining game on Wednesday. In the end, it was two purple patches that secured victory as they bounced back from an early three point deficit to hit eight points without reply in a nine minute period midway through the half on their way to a 0-11 to 0-04 half-time lead.

And with Tyrone Kearse and Jonathan Clancy leading the comeback rally for the Magpies on the restart, when grabbing five out of the first seven points, a 43rd minute Adrian Fleming opportunistic goal put the skids on the visitors fightback and initiated another scoring spree of four successive points to lead by 11 by the 52nd minute.

Clarecastle did rally with goals from substitute Sean Talty and a Kearse 20 metre free but the damage was already done as Clooney/Quin finished the league on a positive note while the Magpies will have to sweat it out until Wednesday at least.

Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrison, Shane McNamara, Donnacha Murphy, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrison, Mike McNamara, Padraig Ward (0-8 6f), Seamus Conroy (0-1), Sean Conheady (0-2), Martin Duggan (0-1), Mike Daffy (0-3),Adrian Fleming (1-0), Daire Hannon (0-3)

Subs

Ruairi McNamara (0-1) for Hannon, Ger Leamy for M. Duggan,Tony McMahon for E. Harrison

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy, Seanie Moloney, Patrick Kelly, Garrett Barry, Danny Scanlon, Eric Flynn, Garry Farmer,Tyrone Kearse (1-4 1-3f), Jonathan Clancy (0-4), Derek Quinn (0-1), Kieran O’Dwyer (0-1), Fearghus Ryan, Jamie O’Connor,Alan O’Loughlin, Niall Dunne

Subs
Aaron Considine for Ryan (Inj), David Green for O’Loughlin, Eamon Callinan (0-1) for O’Connor, SeanTalty (1-0) for Dunne,Andrew Page for Farmer

Referee
Ger Hoey (Killanena)

WITH FOUR games down for decision in Division 2A on Tuesday evening, the final placings are yet to be sorted but what is certain is that Clonlara and Cratloe will bounce back to the top tier at the first time of asking.

Both teams are tied on 12 points at the summit, albeit that Clonlara have a game against Corofin in hand to see who will top the table and compete in the latter stages of the competition.

That outstanding tie is just as important at the rear of the table as Corofin simply need the points to have any chance of avoiding the drop. Their relegation rivals will play Clonlara on Tuesday while Scariff, the third side embroiled in the struggle at the bottom can secure their Division 2A status with a victory over Corofin this Friday.

It was tighter than a submarine door in Division 2B of the Clare Cup as Kilmaley, Éire Óg and Ruan fought it out for two promotion spots.

First up was the meeting of Sixmilebridge and Ruan on Thursday night in atrocious conditions in O’Garney Park, with the visitors running out 39 to 1-10 victors. 24 hours later the focus of attention switched to Kilmaley in a derby against Éire Óg.

The home side were already promoted due to their far superior score difference while the Townies knew only a win would seal their promotion and condemn Ruan to another season in the division.

That hunger drove the visitors to a 1-13 to 1-04 half-time advantage including a Thomas Downes goal but it was still far from over as the home side inevitably slashed away at the deficit and by the hour mark, only the bare minimum separated the sides much to the anxiety of both sets of supporters as well as the Ruan following who were hoping for a draw or Kilmaley win to see them advance to the next tier. However, while Kilmaley threw everything at them in additional time, Éire Óg, backboned by the solid half-back line of Kevin Moynihan, Fergus Flynn and Tadgh MacNamara held out for the narrowest of victories and of course promotion on scoring difference.

The race to avoid relegation from Division 2B however is still up in the air as three sides fight to avoid the drop alongside Ogonnelloe. Ennistymon take on Bodyke on Tuesday with the winner guaranteed safety while the loser will hope that Killanena don’t get anything from their final game against Parteen in order to survive as well.

In the intermediate league, it was reported last week in this column that the top two teams in the division would qualify for the final but the league has been altered this year to include semi-finals, with Inagh/Kilnamona, Crusheen and Newmarket safely through ahead of their final game on Monday evening while anyone of Éire Óg, Meelick, Clooney/ Quin or Clarecastle could snatch the