Category: Sport

TEENAGERS Kayleigh McCormack and Sally Carrig (left) were Clare’s golden girls at the National Youth and Lady’s Boxing Championships in Dublin at the weekend.

Both boxers took home gold medals for Clare who had five competitors battling for glory at the National Stadium.

Coach Colum Flynn hailed the performances of Clare’s boxers, describing their appearances in the finals as a “great achievement”.

After defeating Lauren Smith from the South Meath club in the semi-final, McCormack (16) had too much for Ulster Champion Rosemary Doherty in the final of the 57 kg lady’s division.

The Kilfenora boxer overpowered her opponent from the Carndonagh club, racking up an impressive 3-0 points victory.

“She won the title last year and she is one of the best boxers around”, said Flynn.

Carrig (15), representing Ennis Boxing Club, was similarly impres- sive when she defeated Mayo’s Ciara Loftus 14-3 in the final of the 63 kg lady’s division.

Both girls were level at 3-3 after the first round. But Carrig showed her class to wrap up a convincing victory.

There was disappointment for Kayleigh’s cousin, Caoilinn Mc Cormack. Caoilinn, making her first appearance in the national championships, was beaten in the final by Helen Carty from Kilkenny.

“She’s definitely one for the future. She’s very sharp, a good boxer. She has very few flaws”, said Flynn.

After impressing in her 16-3 semifinal win over Katie Hyland, reigning champion Antoinette Keane (16) was defeated 6-1 by Louth’s Shani Just in the 63 kg final.

There was disappointment too for 16-year-old Lee Sherlock who lost to John Stokes from the Mulhuddart club in the 54 kg youths final.

Flynn said, “He had a good second round, he rallied a bit but Stokes came on very strong after that. He’ll (Sherlock) will definitely win a title in the next couple of years”.

Newmarket Celtic 5 – 1 Hermitage at McDonough Park, Newmark-on-Fergus

RUNAWAY Premier Division leaders took a huge step towards winning a first Premier League title in three years when they blitzed Hermitage in this top of the table clash that was played on Sunday morning.

Liam Murphy’s side did in style, bouncing back from being rocked by ‘Tage goal inside the first minute from Adrian Walsh to get home with something to spare to put 14 points between them and the Ennis side in the Premier League standings as both side only have four games left to play.

A keen tie was expected here, given the high-scoring nature of the first league meeting between the sides back on September when they played out a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw at the Fairgreen, but this return leg turned out to be damp squib as a rampant Celtic side showed no mercy in turning the screw.

Michael Crosby was Celtic’s star turn on the day, helping himself to a hat-trick as they ended the ‘Tage’s hopes of making a dream title-winning return to the top flight of Clare soccer. Celtic recovered from their early set-back to equalise inside five mintues thanks to Mark Donnellan, who rose highest at the back post to head home Seamus Considine’s cross from the right wing.

Crosby then put made his first impression when toe-poking the ball into the corner of the net after 15 minutes after the ball fell nicely for him just inside the area. And when Seamus Lawlor got in on the scoring act in the 30th minutes, Newmarket were on the high road to their 11th win of the campaign.

The second half proved to be very comfortable for the home side, with a brace from Crosby bolstering Newmarket’s impressive goal difference to plus 22 as they brought their tally of league goals to an imposing 44 for the season to date.

The first came after 60 minutes when Crosby ran on to a through ball from Davy Wall before slotting the ball past Joe Burke in the ‘Tage goal, while his hat-trick was up ten minutes later when a similar type goal.

Newmarket Celtic
MartyWhelan, Mark O’Malley, Mark Donnellan, Eoin O’Brien, Darren Cullinan, Mike O’Malley (Eoin Hayes), Mike Devitt, Seamus Considine (Pa Coughlan), Seamus Lawlor, Michael Crosby, Davy Wall (Gary Collins).

Man of the Match
Michael Crosby (Newmarket Celtic) Referee Dave McCarthy

Avenue United 2 – 1 Tulla United at Lees Road, Ennis

AVENUE UNITED keep their hopes of winning the Premier alive as they secured three points on Sunday narrowly beating Tulla by two goals to one.

The first chance of the game fell to Tulla but Niall Whelan was unable to put his side in front. Avenue then began to get on top and held possession well. Mikey Mahoney then set up Barry Nugent for the first goal 25 minutes in and cries of offside from the Tulla contingency fell on deaf ears as Avenue took the lead.

The game then became nip and tuck from here as Tulla went in search of an equaliser but it was Avenue that struck again with a David McCarthy free kick that found the net putting them two up. Tulla did not give up hope and only minutes later they were back in it when Gearoid O’Doherty hit a great free kick past John Healy in the Avenue goal.

The sides went in at the break with Avenue 2-1 up but with a resilient Tulla side there looked to be a great second half battle in store. Unfortunately, Tulla were reduced to 10 men as Trevor Corbett received a second yellow card and this put a major dent in Tulla’s chances.

Avenue pressed on from here as Tulla began to struggle. They then had the chance to increase their lead to three when the referee awarded Avenue a penalty for a Denis Murphy foul in the area. Tulla were given a glimmer of hope though as Gary Flynn stepped up and put the ball over the bar to keep the the game tight to the finish.

The result of the game still hung in the balance in the closing stages as Avenue began to sit back on their lead and Tulla tried to pile on the pressure. Alan Brigdale then had a chance to gain a share of the spoils and level matters very late on but he was unsuccessful with his effort and Avenue held out to claim the victory.

Avenue are currently 22 points behind leaders Newmarket F.C but they have seven games in hand and will hope to utilise all these games to close the gap at the top of the table bringing the closing stages of the season to an interesting finale.

Avenue Utd
John Healy, Simon Cuddihy, David Herlihy, Con Collins, Mattie Nugent, Pa Wilson, David McCarthy, Gary Flynn, David Smyth, Barry Nugent, Mikey Mahoney.

Subs
Eamon O’Reilly, Colin Smyth.

Tulla Utd
Shane Collins,Tommy McKeon, Gearoid O’Doherty, Denis Murphy, Pat Vaughan, Mike McDermott,Trevor Corbett, Niall Whelan, Shane Mason, Keith Lenihan,Alan Brigdale.

Subs
Brian Hehir, Kevin Deloughrey,TomBurns.

Clare 5 – Galway 1 at County Grounds, Doora

A SUPERB and comprehensive victory saw Clare sweep aside the challenge of reigning champions Galway to book a place in the semi-finals of the Inter League Youths Cup on Saturday.

Clare, playing in the knock out stages of the competition for the first time since winning the trophy in 1971, were full value for a win that sets up a semi-final meeting with Kilkenny in the Marble City.

Playing with noticeably more aggression and pace than their opponents, a physically powerful Clare side led 2-0 at half time thanks to goals from Daragh Sexton and Niall Whelan.

Yet Galway weren’t for throwing in the towel. A goal from the visitor’s most impressive player, Timmy Molloy, seconds after the re-start threw the game wide open.

Far from unsettling Clare, the goal prompted a brilliant response from manager Mike Moloney’s team.

Avenue United’s Eoin O’Loughlin poached two goals in the space of two minutes to quell any notion of a Galway comeback. Substitute Eoin Fitzgerald completed the rout in the final moments.

There was plenty to admire about Clare as they went about their business in a game re-fixed for the County Grounds after heavy rain had made the original venue at Tulla unplayable. Niall Whelan was immense in midfield; Colin Smyth gave a classy performance at centre back while Ruairi Norrby, Sexton and O’Loughlin combined to give Clare a deadly cutting edge in the final third. As a whole, Clare defended with purpose and kept their shape.

They made the perfect start. O’Loughlin and Norrby both went close before Clare took the lead. Galway goalkeeper Aaron Connolly’s short kick out was read by Sexton who powered past one defender be- fore curling, a side-footed effort over Connolly in the 15th minute.

Galway steadied and enjoyed more possession but apart from Molloy’s dangerous shot run in the 18th minute, Clare’s goal was rarely threatened. The better chances continued to flow Clare’s way.

Daragh Fitzgerald almost scored after good approach work from Alan Roche and Sexton. Norrby, Fitzgerald and Smyth then all saw efforts saved or clip the bar as Clare turned the screw. The second goal duly arrived in the 42nd minute.

Darren Murphy’s long free kick looked to be travelling wide. Connolly and defender James Casserly dithered. Whelan did not.

The Tulla United man controlled the ball on the byline, held off Casserly and poked the ball home from a tight angle. Advantage Clare.

Galway however had other ideas. A minute into the second half, Smyth was forced to clear off his line but Molloy was on hand to slot home. But the visitor’s hopes were short lived as Clare hit back with a devastating counter attack. As Smyth strode out of defence in the 59th minute, O’Loughlin peeled away into space on the right flank. Smyth located his club mate with a perfectly weighted pass.

Without having to break strike, O’Loughlin rolled the ball past Connolly. O’Loughlin grabbed his second minutes later, finishing from close range after Whelan’s shot was saved. The striker came close to completing his hat trick before Eoin Fitzgerald notched Clare’s fifth goal in the finals seconds.

Clare
Ciarán MacMathuna (EnnisTown), Jack Walsh (Avenue United), Paraic O’Malley (Tulla United), Darren Murphy (Bridge United), Colin Smyth (Avenue United), Niall Whelan (Tulla United), Daragh Fitzgerald (Bridge United),Alan Roche (Avenue United), Eoin O’Loughlin (Avenue United), Daragh Sexton (Avenue United), Ruairí Norrby (Lifford)

Subs
Thomas McKeown (Tulla United) for Daragh Fitzgerald, Dylan Blake (Lifford) for Whelan, Eoin Fitzgerald (Avenue United) for Norrby

Galway
Aaron Connolly, Shane Gallagher, James Moran, Ronan Greany, James Casserly, Barry McEntee, Mark Murphy, LiamHreherow, Mike Collins, Connor Murray,Timmy Molloy

Subs
Daniel Tully for Murphy, Jack Byrne

A CLEARLY delighted Clare manager Mike Moloney said his side’s stunning 5-1 victory over Galway exceeded all expectations.

As he left the pitch in the County Grounds in Doora on Saturday, Moloney hailed the performance of his players.

He said, “It’s exceeded what we would have expected. Galway, coming down as holders, had a lot to play for. We’ve got great confidence in our own lads. The preparation was unbelievable. But to end up 5-1, it’s beyond what we could have expected.”

A two-goal lead at half time duly reflected Clare’s dominance and the margin could have been more had the home side been more clinical on front of goal.

Moloney highlighted the importance of Clare’s second goal, scored by Niall Whelan.

“You’re always concerned that you’re not putting away your chances and you’re going to suffer for it. And then Ciarán (MacMathuna) made an absolutely fantastic save just before at half time and then the goal we got just before half time was a gift,” he said.

Moloney added, “Niall chased it down and slipped it under the keeper. We needed it that considering that they got such an ideal start to the second half.”

Galway struck back at the start of the second half but Moloney was hugely impressed with Clare’s ruthless response.

He said, “There is always that sense when you go in 2-0 up at half time, that it is a dangerous lead and that you might fall asleep a little bit. I think it was just a lack of communication at the back and they slipped one in. We responded straight away and soon as we got that third goal, I think it was downhill after that”.

Clare prepared intensively for the quarter-finals, training in Tulla and Gort and playing high profile friendlies against reigning FAI Junior Cup champions Fairview Rangers (a game that ended 3-3) and League of Ireland side Athlone Town

Moloney explained, “I think we’ve built a club atmosphere because we’ve been together for five months and maybe a lot of Clare sides haven’t had that before. There is great commitment given by the lads and you could see that there today. They were fighting for each other.”

He added, “We played Athlone Town up in Athlone and they gave us a bit of a lesson. They had a lot of their League of Ireland side out. I think they are type of games that we need to get us up to the level that we’re at now.”

Clare should have Daragh Corry available for selection for next month’s semi-final against Kilkenny. The talented Tulla United man was forced to sit out Saturday’s win with a chest infection.

CLARE tourism is set to benefit on the double from a major golf competition to be staged in the county over a six-month period that will showcase what the county has to offer to golfers around the country.

The Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge is set to attract a big nationwide entry bringing in much sought after golf tourism, while proceeds of the event will also be used to finance a marketing campaign to be formulated for the county for the 2012 season.

In the only competition of its kind in Ireland golfers must play at least five of Clare’s ten golf courses between April and September, after which the top ranking teams will compete in a final to be held at the Greg Norman designed links course in Doonbeg on October 25.

Other participating courses include Lahinch, Dromoland, Ennis, Woodstock, Shannon, Spanish Point, Kilrush, Kilkee and East Clare.

Joe Russell, Chair of the Clare Tourism Forum and General Manager at Doonbeg Golf Club said, “The 2011 Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge offers golfers the unique opportunity to play all ten Clare golf courses, including two of the world’s top 100 ranked courses. This initiative will help secure the continuation of the successful and effective marketing and promotional activities carried out by the Clare Tourism Forum.”

Clare Tourism Forum marketing executive Maureen Cleary commented: “It was wonderful to have had so many golf clubs throughout Clare and surrounding counties represented in the inaugural event in 2010. The standard of golfing also was high and contributed to what has been a hugely successful first year for the Challenge. We hope that this year’s event will once again generate funds that will be injected into much needed marketing and promotional activities during 2012”.

“The Clare Tourism Forum is very grateful to the participating golf clubs, without whose support this event would not be possible,” she added.

The 2010 Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge winning team included team leader Des O’Brien (Kilrush GC), Sean McGuirk (Limerick GC), Bill Hanley (Charleville GC) and Brendan O’Keeffe (Ballykisteen GC), who won the final with a score of 88 points.

Clare Ultimate Golf Challenge entries may be made online at www. clare.ie/golf.

CLARE BOXERS made considerable progress in the Irish Youths and Ladies Championships in the National Stadium in Dublin last weekend with last year’s silver medallist Lee Sherlock showing particularly good form edging closer to his quest for gold in the 54 Kilo division.

The ladies have been particularly prominent with Kilfenora’s Caoilinn McCormack and Ennis representative Sally Carrig winning their semi-finals in spectacular fashion on Saturday and with reigning champions Antoinette Keane 63 Kg and Kayleigh McCormack 57 Kg already through to the semi-finals, the prospects of gold looks good.

Caoilinn McCormack stopped Ulster Champion Sharon Kelly in the third round of her semi-final, having led 8-2 after the second round, and Sally Carrig in her first year of Championship boxing also won inside the distance against another Ulster champ Kayleigh MacAuley from Derry. Sally nailed her oppo- nent with a big right hook at the end of the first round forcing a standing count and kept up the sustained pressure from the bell in the second for a great inside the distance victory.

Lee Sherlock has been showing good form this season, and he came through to the semi-finals on Friday with a good win over last year’s champion Paudge McDonagh from the St Francis Club in Limerick. The Ennis southpaw displaying all of his defensive skills limited his onrushing opponent to a single point over the three rounds while scoring nicely with his lightning right jab for victory. \ His semi-final opponent, Patrick Bradley from the Errigal club in Derry was easily the toughest of his opponents to date, and their battle for gold or silver was a cliff hanger with fortunes fluctuating, and the tenacious Sherlock holding out for victory. Bradley led by a single point coming out for the third and final round and he clung to the tenuous lead right up to the final seconds when nailed him with a perfect right hook to the chin to bring the score to parity and force a double countback on the computer for a score of 4-1 to the Ennis fighter. His Ennis clubmate Wayne Danagher was not so lucky however in his quarter final; having led all the way in his 70 Kg battle with Sean Collins from the Smithfield Club in Dublin’s inner city he was caught with a left hook with just ten seconds remaining and lost the initiative, losing out 11-10 in the end.

And so, with the ladies stealing the limelight, all five will battle for glory on Friday and Saturday next, and hopes are high for a brace of titles. Sherlock’s opponent in the 54 Kg final will be Dubliner Jamie Stokes from the Mulhuddart club, and both fighters are waxing lyrical about their prospects of victory in this prestigious final.

Ennis coaches and mentors Tommy Lyons and Sean Carrig were proactive in the judging and refereeing of these championships and will again be in action come next weekend. EnnisTournament 2nd March 2011.

Boy 1 36 Kg JimMcDonagh (Ennis) Bt Timmy Casey (OLOL) 42 Kg Conor Doyle Bt Alan O’Donnell 48 Kg Luke Carmody lost to Martin Mongan 65 Kg Caimin Doyle lost to Danny Harty Boy 2 42 Kg Diarmuid O’Gorman lost to Paddy Keenan 52 Kg Brian McDonagh Bt Terry Harris 57 Kg Ml Galbraith lost to Muiris Mongan Boy 4 57 Kg Simon McDonagh Bt Geoff Mulqueen 63 Kg James Galbraith lost to Ed O’Donoghue Youth 2 75 Kg Martin Keenan Bt Ben McNamara Heavyweight Mark Fitzgerald drewwith Ml P. Mongan

THERE WERE mixed fortunes for Clare’s clubs at last Sunday’s Cycling Pursuits Cup in Broadford, County Limerick. Promoter Liam Collins laid out a tough circuit with 150 metres of climbing reaching 11 per cent gradient in parts. This ensured plenty of suffering for the 150 competitors as the field got whittled down on each successive lap.

The highlight was in the A3 race, after Blarney’s Owen Cummins had soloed to victory, Damien Roche of West Clare surged through the bunch to take the sprint and an impressive second place. Dolmen CC’s Gary McDonald also grabbed a top ten spot.

In the A1/A2 race, West Clare’s Jarlath Hassett and Mike Storan were well placed at the bell but Liam Ryan (St Finbarr’s CC) and Cathal McCarthy (The Edge CC) escaped on the final lap and were not hauled back. Hassett was in the mix for the sprint, taking fourth on the line with Storan ten seconds back.

In their first year of racing, Burren CC are showing impressive form with Robert Hawes and Anthony O’Halloran taking fifth and ninth respectively in the A4 category. Gro u p 1 Doonbeg 1-8 St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-6 Shannon Gaels 0-10 St Joseph’s Miltown 0-06 Kilrush Shamrocks 2-8 Liscannor 0-6 Kilmilhil v Kilmurry-Ibrickane (postponed) Gro u p 2 Cooraclare 4-7 Clondegad 0-7 Lissycasey v St Breckan’s (postponed) O’Curry’s v St Senan’s Kilkee (postponed) Ennistymon a bye

CLARE FM were one of the recipients at The Camogie Association Media Awards at Croke Park on Saturday night, with Clare FM’s Sports Editor Kevin McGillicuddy picking up the award for Best Local Radio. President of the Camogie Association Joan O’Flynn, Group Head of RTÉ Sport, Ryle Nugent, and Lily Dunne, wife of the late Mick Dunne, presented the awards to eight recipients who were acknowledged for their outstanding work promoting and publicising camogie.

In her address, President Joan O’Flynn emphasised the importance of highlighting those who are promoting the game.

“The Camogie Association and RTÉ Mick Dunne Memorial Awards are an important event on the camogie calendar each year. The awards are hugely important in recognising the enormous contribution that regional and national press and association members make to the promotion of our game. Tonight, we honour the outstanding work of those who are here to receive awards and acknowledge the fantastic work they do to further boost the profile of camogie. On this night, the eve of our All-Ireland club finals, the Camogie Association is delighted to celebrate the achievements of those, who work so tirelessly off the pitch publicising, all of the action on it.”

Clare Camogie Chairperson Orla Considine expressed her delight in this recognition of Clare FM for their coverage of Camogie in the county, whilst adding that Clare were to the fore in the publicity they receive from local media. The full list of winners were: Clare FM(Local Radio); the Offaly Express (Provincial Newspaper); Dublin Camogie Board (Website):Armagh County Camogie Board (Match Programme); Barbara Ryan (PROof theYear); Caroline Quinn (Photograph of theYear);“I Gotta Feeling” by Dean Goodison; (PublishedWork) Irish Examiner (National Coverage of Camogie). Cla r e v Cor k @ Fr Mur phy Memor ia l Pa r k, Newma r ket -on-Fer gus, Sunday 1pm

AS THIS year’s Munster Adult 40×20 Championships come to a close, there was more success for the Tuamgraney pair of Niall Malone & Diarmaid Nash when they won the Munster Intermediate Doubles Final in Cappagh on Wednesday last, beating Cork brothers Niall & Brendan Fleming 21-18, 21-15. The Clare duo are now due to play the Connacht champions this coming weekend in the All-Ireland semi-final. A time and date is yet to be confirmed and a clash will have to be avoided with Niall Malone’s All-Ireland Senior Singles Championship clash with Cavan kingpin Paul Brady (currently scheduled for this Saturday in Kingscourt at 2pm). Nash meanwhile, having already secured the Munster Senior title, will be expected to make it a hat-trick of provincial wins when he takes on Brendan Fleming in tonight’s Intermediate Singles decider (Ballydesmond, 8pm).

Aisling Fitzgerald (Tuamgraney) was also successful, winning her Munster Ladies Junior B Singles Final in Galbally on Saturday when she beat Laura Keevers 21-9, 21-6. Coughlan brothers Fergal and Ger were in the Masters A Doubles Final also in Galbally but went down to Cork pair Stephen Palmer and Kevin Buckley.

As mentioned, the Munster championships are now coming to a close and focus shifts to the All-Ireland semi-finals which take place over two weekends (March 12/13 and April 2/3). As well as Nash’s Senior win, Clare have already secured seven Munster titles; Ladies Junior B Singles (Aisling Fitzgerald), Ladies Junior B Doubles (Sarah Loughnane & Paula Loughane), Golden Masters B Singles (John Cawley), Golden Masters B Doubles (John Cawley & Teddy O’Hanlon), Glden Masters A Singles (Pat Donellan), Golden Masters A Doubles (Pat Donellan & Mike Kelly) and Intermediate Doubles (Diarmaid Nash & Niall Malone). The two outstanding finals up for grabs are tonight’s Intermediate Singles Final and an all-Clare (and all-Tulla) Junior Singles Final between Cathal Hannon and Aidan Lynch which was postoned due to an injury to Lynch and may yet be played before All-Ireland semi-final date.

While All-Ireland semi-final fixtures are yet to be confirmed at time of writing, the following grades involving Banner County players are scheduled for this coming weekend; Golden Masters Singles (A and B), Ladies Junior B Singles (all Connacht venues) and Intermediate Doubles (Munster venue).

A host of Clare’s rising handball stars were in action over the weekend as the Munster Juvenile Championship semi-finals were played at a number of venues. Clare are through to Boys Munster Finals at Boys Under 12 Singles (Tiernan Agnew), U-12 Doubles (Gary Cooney, Owen Shanahan), U-13 Doubles (Jack Hayes, Shane Hunt), U-14 Singles (Brian Fahy), U-14 Doubles (Fergal Couhlan, Jamie Keane), U-15 Doubles (Jacob Loughnane, Ciaran Cooney), U-16 Singles (Colin Crehan) and Girls Munster Finals at U-12 Singles (Ella Donellan), U-14 Doubles (Clodagh Nash, Doireann Murphy), U-15 Doubles (Natasha Coughlan, Michelle Nihill) and U-16 Singles (Alice Akers). In U-17 Doubles, Hannah O’Brien and Aine McInerney have a bye through to the All-Ireland semi-final.

On the local scene finally, the last of this year’s Adult County League Finals was won by Clarecastle when they defeated Shannon 96-79 in the Division 3 decider in Clooney on Friday. The winning team was John Sweeney (Capt.), Jeff Coughlan, Pakie Healy, Michael Casey, Martin Sweeney and Adam Healy.