Category: Sport

Cola ist e Mhuir e 3-4 Scoil Mhuir e & Ide, Newca st lewest 0-4 at Knockader r y, Limer ick COLAISTE Mhuire ensured that a Munster Cup would be heading back to Ennis at the weekend after a convincing win over SMI. Newcastlewest. Played on Saturday in near perfect conditions, the first half was largely dominated by both defences and scores were at a premium.

The first score of the game was a pointed free from Jane Flanagan in the tenth minute which was soon followed by a goal from impressive midfielder Leigh-Anne McMahon after a goalmouth scramble. Colaiste Mhuire had the majority of the possession in this first half but scores were hard to come by. SMI defended well with Karen O Leary and Julia Kennedy excelling and were rewarded with a point from play by Sarah Corbett leaving the half time score at 1-1 to 0-1 to Colaiste Mhuire. For the leaders, captain Leigh-Anne McMahon played well in midfield with Jane Flanagan supporting well throughout for the Ennis side.

SMI had a better start to the second half with another point from play however the Colaiste girls were soon into their stride. Jane Flanagan scored their second goal directly from a 45 and followed this with a cracking point after breaking from the halfway line. SMI fought back and were rewarded with two points without reply. However, Caoimhe Hoey put the result beyond doubt when she scored a brilliant goal. Fitness and determination were key requirements in this Munster final. This was displayed by the entire Clare team including all five subs who came on in the second half. SMI continued to attack with Laura Walshe and Aisleigh Normoyle but Colaiste defenders Siobhan McCarthy, Sarah Redmond and Aisling McMahon kept the score to one further point. Aoife O’Connor, the Colaiste goalie had a solid performance while Ria Flanagan kept the SMI defender Siobhan McMahon busy. Colaiste finished the game with two more pointed frees to seal the merited victory and deliver Munster glory for the county.

Colaiste Mhuire
Aoife O’Connor, Ria Flanagan, Niamh O’Donnell , Siobhan McCarthy ,Aisling McMahon ,Aoife Sheehan , Jane Flanagan (1-3, 2f), Leigh-Anne McMahon (1-0) (capt.), Lauren O’Donoghue, Sarah Redmond (0-1), Rebecca Windall, Eimear Neilan, Caoimhe Hoey (1-0)

Scoil Mhuire agus Ide
Mary Quilligan,Yvonne Lee, Siobhan McMahon,Aisleigh Normoyle, Jenny Hannon,Aoife O’Sullivan,Karen O’Leary, Sarah Corbett, Laura Walshe, Julia Kennedy,Abbey Butler, Liz Carmody, Emily Upton

Referee
Ger O’Dowd (Limerick)

LAST week it Ennisman Luke O’Dea who was the toast of Munster rugby on his debut when he crashed over for a try in the province’s victory for Edinburgh in the Rabo Direct Pro 12 league.

This week it was the turn of the father figure of Clare rugby, Marcus Horan, as he reached the landmark of 200 appearances for the province in Saturday’s clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

It may have ended in 19-13 defeat for Munster ahead of their crunch back-to-back Heineken Cup games against Scarlets in Thomond Park, but it was still Horan’s day as the legendary front row from Clonlara joined a select club of players in the province.

“Having played and worked with Marcus, I’ve seen the work ethic and application he brings to the game,” said another 200-club member Anthony Foley in tribute to his fellow Clareman.

“He’s been doing that week in week out over the past 13 seasons. Remember too he’s had his share of time out with illness and injury. We recognise the test of endurance he’s had to face,” added Foley.

St Ma r y’s Nenagh 1-12 St Fla nna n’s College 1-08 at Bur gess GAA Gr ounds, Tipper a r y IT SEEMED for long periods as if nothing could separate these sides as they entered the final minute of this replay on level terms once more. Indeed, it took the intervention of a 16th man to finally send the title Nenagh’s way in what was one of the most bizarre finishes in the competition’s history.

Intrigued? Well, Brid Quinn’s superb 59th minute solo and point edged Nenagh in front for the first time in 35 minutes but true to form, Niki Kaiser-led St Flannan’s were not about to give up without one hell of a fight. The Newmarket starlet’s injury-time shot for goal was somehow tipped away for a ’45, one which the unerring Kaiser would have put over in her sleep to send the game into a deserved period of extra-time.

Instead, the scorekeeper’s miscalculation, whether intentionally or not, gave St Mary’s an extra point on the scoreboard, thus lulling St Flannan’s into the false presumption of being two points down and thus needing a goal. As a result, instead of Kaiser taking a equalising point, influential centre-back Aoife Keane was nominated to drop the ’45 into the square in search of a goal. A move that ultimately proved fruitless as Nenagh eventually cleared and even managed to goal with the last move of the game on the counter-attack.

It was an exceedingly cruel way for the Ennis side to exit the championship and after 120 minutes of compelling action, both sides deserved to battle it out further in extra-time. After all, St Flannan’s had somehow recovered from an uncharacteristically sluggish start to lead for the majority of the second half, with Niki Kaiser imperious throughout in grabbing all of her side’s scores.

But perversely, perhaps that overreliance on the 16 year old was part of the reason St Flannan’s found themselves in such a precarious position late on. In the drawn game, four others had chipped in with a combined total of 3-1 but on this occasion, the scoring duties were solely left to Niki Kaiser who had to endure a lot of punishment from Nenagh in the process. Instead, St Mary’s, backed by a more balanced scoring division, proved the more rounded threat, with six different players sharing the scoring duties.

That threat was most felt early on as the home side hit the ground running to open up a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage by the 12th minute, with Brid Quinn leading the charge. St Flannan’s were stuck to the ground but by bringing out Kaiser to the wing, they did finally gain a foothold in the game.

Also instrumental in that comeback was the Kilnamona half-back duo of Aoife Keane and Sinead Quinn, with the latter in particular halting Nenagh’s charge. Four more Niki Kaiser points, allied to Nenagh’s seven wind-assisted wides and a superb reflex save by St Flannan’s goalkeeper Suzy O’Shea saw the away side only trail by two at the break at 0-7 to 0-5.

That advantage was cancelled out only five minutes after the restart when Niki Kaiser’s 30 metre pull was fumbled by goalkeeper Ciara Holohan. Inspired by this, two further frees from the Newmarket senior pushed the Ennis side 1-7 to 0-8 clear by the 39th minute.

Inevitably however, the home side came charging back once more with main performers Brid Quinn and Tara Kennedy gaining parity by the turn of the final quarter to set up another grandstand finish.

And it didn’t disappoint either as Niki Kaiser earned and converted a 51st minute free to give her side the edge only for Ciara McGrath and Brid Quinn to turn the tie on it’s head again by the 59th minute.

At this stage, the scoreboard was correct but what would happen between then and St Flannan’s injurytime ’45 can only be answered by the scorekeeper as the final minutes played out to it’s cruel end.

Had that been St Flannan’s final act of the year, it would have been trully heartbreaking. However, with an All-Ireland quarter-final to come in January, St Flannan’s still have another opportunity to display their undoubted, true potential. Whether against 15 or 16.

St Mary’s Nenagh
Ciara Holohan (Burgess-Duharra), Rachel Kennedy (Silvermines), Roisin Ryan (Moneygall), Mary Walsh (Kilruane),Alanah Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg),Aisling Cremin (Burgess-Duharra), Paula Kelly (Silvermines), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess-Duharra) (0-2), Leah McKeogh (Portroe),Aileen Duggan (Nenagh Éire Óg) (0-1), Brid Quinn (Silvermines) (0-5 1f, 1’45), Ciara McGrath (Nenagh Éíre Óg) (1-1), Claire Kearns (Burgess-Duharra), Sarah Cunneen (Silvermines) (0-1),Tara Kennedy (Burgess-Duharra) (0-2)

IN A detailed Clare Senior Camogie Report compiled by selector Sinead Donovan, a dramatic year in which there was a change of management midway through the season was honestly reflected.

“Season 2010/11 was a moderately successful season despite management changes mid-season. In all 34 players were involved in the Clare panel throughout the season. With what would be considered bad results in the league and Munster Final, the team overcame these set-backs to perform well in the All Ireland Series. Clare finished fifth with two wins from seven including a first win over Tipperary at senior level. Although aiming to achieve more wins, the panel of players performed extremely well in a number of games; specifically against Galway, Kilkenny and Wexford.

“With the confidence and belief gained following these performances during the championship the future looks bright for Clare Camogie at senior level. The key to further success next season will most certainly be the migration of a very successful minor team to the senior set-up while maintaining the current experience within the squad and increasing the intensity levels in training.”

Aided by statistics of player training attendance records from April to July that averaged only 52% and only six players with an 80% training record or over, individual perform- ances were examined before outlining the challenges for the incoming senior management team of John Carmody (Kilmaley), Flan McInerney (Sixmilebridge), Trisha O’Grady (Newmarket-on-Fergus) and Peter Casey (The Burren) and Patricia McCarthy (Inagh).

“Certainly the biggest challenge will be maintaining full panel commitment for the entire season. With those players who have leaving certificate and college exams in addition to those working weekends, it becomes difficult for those players to commit fully during this time.

“The challenge will be to ensure there is sufficient numbers outside these girls to ensure healthy numbers can be maintained so the quality of training sessions does not suffer. This is important to ensure continuity and tempo at training during one of the critical stages prior to the start of the championship.

“Another challenge will be balancing the girls’ club commitments and those of other sports with the county teams’ schedule. This certainly proved a problem during last season with many players displaying signs of fatigue during the championship series.

“It would be beneficial if an agree- ment could be reached with all clubs as to their expectations of their county players with respect to training and match involvement. This is vital to ensure players are in the best condition possible for competitive matches and also to keep injuries to a minimum.

“In summary 2010/11 was a season where the Clare Senior team saw glimpses of what was possible. With a core group of dedicated and experienced players, a very talented minor team emerging and following a very successful club season in Clare Camogie, it is certain there is a group of players capable of achieving a break- through season for the Clare Senior Camogie in 2011/12”

LOOKING TO the future was the main thread emanating from the Bord na nÓg Peil annual convention on Tuesday evening in The West County Hotel. Along with launching Clare Football’s Development Pathway that saw six new Under 14 divisional sides set up as well as Under 14 and 15 Regional and County Development squads, the AGM also embraced the recommendations of the recent Juvenile Football Club Forum that has paved the way forward for Clare football.

A new look Bord na nÓg Peil executive was also unveiled. Doonbeg’s John Smith assumed the position of chairman after outgoing chairman Billy Archbold had served the maximum five year term. However, there were also changes at vice-chair where St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield candidate Sean Lyons filled the role vacated by John Smith, and at PRO where Kilkee’s Jane Larkin replaced Anne Hayes who withdrew her candidacy just before the vote was taken, amidst allegations of pre-election canvassing on her opponent’s behalf. It was a claim that was vehemently denied by both St Senan’s Kilkee delegate Dominic O’Shea as well as Larkin herself who contemplated withdrawing her nomination as well over the allegation.

“If there is an impression out there”, stressed Kilkee delegate Dominic O’Shea, “ that there was a canvass done on behalf of Kilkee for Jane’s name to be put forward for the position of PRO, I can guarantee that is mistaken because we haven’t. The only reason that Jane Larkin is going forward for this position is not because somebody else is in that position but because it is something that she has expressed an interest in doing.

“And it’s not in any way a reflection of the way that Anne Hayes has done her job in the last year or over the last number of years. Everybody knows that Anne has worked tirelessly for the GAA and we feel the same way about that in Kilkee. There is only one reason that Jane is going forward for this job and that is becuase she is enthusiastic about doing it. There was no blanket canvass done by anyone in Kilkee and I can guarantee that one hundred per cent. So in the interest of democracy, we would love Anne to put her name forward for a vote to be taken by the delegates here tonight.”

The outgoing PRO repeatedly refused the request and after an appeal by chairman John Smith, Jane Larkin eventually agreed to accept the post.

Incoming chairman Smith in his inaugural speech, called on the clubs to aid Clare football’s cause in the wake of the forward thinking forum.

“This year we are embracing the forum which Eamon Keane set up. I think the recommendations that have come out of that forum are certainly a blueprint for Bord na nÓg to carry us forward. I think a lot of good work has been done with the divisional squads, the work with the colleges has been also done by John Enright where they are competing now at the top level. You have North Clare and West Clare who are competing at a high level and that is only going to be good for football in Clare.

“Before I was living in Clare, I came from Meath where football was very strong as you all know. My father was secretary of the club for years so I grew up with it. Football is like a religion to most of us and without football I don’t know where we would be. But we are depending on the clubs to carry us forward as well. And that came out in the forum. It’s important that clubs get in behind this, get coaches in and get the training because that’s the only way we are going to continue to grow in football in Clare. So I will do my best as chairman of Bord na nÓg Peil to carry us forward and to implement the recommendations of the forum.”

“PINCH ME,” says Sean Stack. “This is not happening. This team has come from absolutely no where.”

Sean Stack has brought them there – it’s no wonder captain Kieran Bermingham has just bellowed from Semple Stadium’s Ard Comhairle that “he’s the greatest man to walk in the gates of Na Piarsaigh. He’s Sean Stack. He’s a legend”.

He was before this day, from his days as a swashbuckling centre-back with Clare and his beloved ‘Bridge. “We won’t compare it to the ‘Bridge,” he says of club he won seven county titles and a Munster with in a 20something year career. “The ‘Bridge are the ‘Bridge to me and always will be, but his is a very special day and let’s savour it,” he adds.

And why not, given the journey Stack has brought them on since that 2009 county final defeat to Adare. Stack sifts through the stops on the journey like the teacher he is working out a lesson plan.

“Take us back to when we played Croom in the first round of the championship in Limerick and now we’re Munster champions,” he says. “No one would have dared to dream that even.

“We were lucky to get over Croom, but they’re serious, serious guys and they buy into everything they’re told and asked to do and they improved and improved and improved. To beat Crusheen, a serious team, I really stand back and admire them. To win a contest like that makes it all the more special.

“The final (2009) against Adare. Sad day. Twenty four months ago and to get a huge cheer from everybody there, having scored our third point in the hour and the hour almost up and we down 17 at the time. To come from that to this. I mean, is it happening? I don’t know if it is happening. It has to sink in. It’s dreamland.”

It’s happened alright, just as Stack sensed it might when wishing out loud after the drawn game that “maybe the tide is turning in our favour”. It did, especially in the final 15 minutes when Na Piarsaigh scored 17 without reply.

“Crusheen have a 45-minute spell in a match and then they start running out of petrol a bit,” he says. “That came to the fore the last day when they were tested by us. In last quarter of an hour the last day we were unlucky to draw the match – they realised that and we were very much adamant to grind it out as much as we could until that 45-minute spell was over.

“When they took off Davie Forde it was a bad sign for them and a huge lift to the opposition to see their main source of energy going off the pitch. That was a turning point.

“We had more on the bench and we knew that, but you have to be in the contest to bring them off the bench. Adrian Breen is seasoned and he was very disappointed not to be on the team today and he played brilliantly when he came in,” he adds.

As did those around him as Na Piarsaigh completed a remarkable year that has brought them county titles at under 14, Féile na nGael, under 16, minor, senior league and championship and now the Munster club.

“It’s a city club and how many city clubs are left in Ireland that are GAA strongholds, says Stack with pride. “Galway has been emptied for years, Cork is emptying out, thanks be to God we have Kilkenny and we’re hoping that we’ll start a new trend in the city.

“All we can do is work in our part of it and we’re working seriously hard there. There are great men in the club, men from rural origins, urban origins and they’re all dug in with kids from the age of six upwards.

“We’ll get our heads around the All-Ireland semi-final. We’re going to have a right rattle at this for the week, we’ll see after Christmas where it takes us.”

IN AN effort to alleviate the increasing problem of player numbers especially in rural clubs, Bord na nÓg Iomaint have put a motion into this Thursday’s AGM to allow clubs to play 11, 13 or 15 aside in all C and D grade underage hurling competitions.

If passed, the motion would help tackle the crippling problem of play er numbers that has previously prevented clubs from participating fully in competitions at the lower grades.

In line with the Bord na nÓg Peil convention last Tuesday that debated playing the Under 16 football championship during the summer, Sixmilebridge and Meelick are also looking for change in the Under 14 and 16 formats in hurling.

Both clubs have put in motions to switch the two competitions, with the Under 14 hurling championship proposed to move to the summer months and the Under 16 hurling championship to revert to its spring slot.

Clooney/Quin have also looked to bring forward their hugely successful Under 13 hurling tournament to early September ‘to improve the chances of playing hurling in more favourable weather conditions and that these Under 13 fixtures be included/incorporated into the overall Bord na nÓg fixtures programme for the season.’

After a mass turnover of officials on the Bord na nÓg executive for 2011, the current Bord na nÓg Iomaint officers under the chairmanship of Martin Reynolds are set to remain in situ for the coming year as they look to build upon the success of the backto-back Munster minor champions.

The Bord na nÓg annual convention will take place in The Auburn Lodge Hotel on Thursday at 7.30pm.

St Fla nna n’s College 5-7 St Ma r y’s Nenagh 4-10 at Fr Mur phy Memor ia l Pa r k, Newma r ket -on-Fer gus THE GAMES keep coming thick and fast but St Flannan’s continue to find the answers. Take this game as a prime example. Less than 24 hours earlier, ten of the side played in the Munster Colleges Senior B Ladies Football Quarter-Final but still had the stamina to pick off the last four points on Saturday and force a replay in this encounter.

That’s a remarkable resilience from a group of girls who refused to throw in the towel at any stage and in the overall analysis, they fully deserved another bite of the cherry.

In what was a compelling contest throughout, the Ennis college led by five points as late as the 34th minute after hitting five goals in a 17 minute period.

Nenagh had started the brighter with freetaker Brid Quinn converting three out of their first four points by the 12th minute to take a three point advantage. However, once St Flannan’s settled with Aoibheann Malone’s superb opportunist goal at the turn of the opening quarter, they quickly gathered momentum.

Tara Kennedy immediately replied with a goal for the Tipperary side but St Flannan’s were unpeturbed and after 1-1 from captain Niki Kaiser, they added further goals by the 30th minute from Sinead O’Keeffe and Rachel Mulcaire, whose lineball deflected off a defender’s hurley past her own goalkeeeper.

That gave St Flannan’s a 4-2 to 16 cushion but they were to be reeled in once more in injury-time when Kennedy again found space to bat to the net and cut the interval deficit to two.

St Flannan’s restored their five point advantage just after the break when another deflection helped Niki Kaiser’s shot find the net but that was as good as it got for the home side.

Instead, Nenagh found another gear and after hitting 1-3 without reply by the 40th minute to take the lead, a fourth goal in the 47th minute from Sarah Cunneen seemed to have knocked the heart out of St Flannan’s challenge.

Nenagh must have thought so as well as Brid Quinn chose to put a penalty over the bar in the 50th minute to build up a four point advantage instead of going for the jugular.

However, somehow, defying the odds and their previous footballing exploits in Limerick, Flannan’s rallied. With Aoife Keane constantly controlling the half-back line, Niki Kaiser an inevitable threat and Orla Devitt constantly driving at the Nenagh defence, they began to up the ante once more and slowly the lead began to topple.

Niki Kaiser (2) and Devitt slashed the deficit to just a point by the 61st minute before substitute Lauren McGuane teed up Kaiser for a worthy equaliser in the 62nd minute.

It wasn’t over yet as Brid Quinn, Nenagh’s most impressive performer made one last driving run up the field but her shot was repelled by goalkeeper Suzy O’Shea to save the day.

While relief was the overriding feeling leaving Newmarket, the fixture congestion doesn’t get any easier for St Flannan’s this week as they prepare for their football semi-final before having to replay this game next Saturday in Nenagh at 2pm.

St Flannan’s College
Suzy O’Shea (Ballyea), Chloe McAleer (Kilmaley), Clodagh Lawlor (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Claire McMahon (Éire Óg), Sinead Quinn (Kilnamona), Aoife Keane (Kilnamona), Rae AliceWall (Éire Óg), Rachel Mulcaire (Newmarket-on-Fergus) (1-0),Alanna O’Brien (Éire Óg), Orla Devitt (Éire Óg) (0-1),Aoibheann Malone (Corofin) (1-0), Kate O’Neill (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Shaunagh O’Brien (Éíre Óg), Sinead O’Keeffe (Kilmaley) (1-0), Niki Kaiser (Newmarket-on-Fergus) (Capt) (2-6 4f, 1’45)

Subs
Rebecca Crowe (Ruan) for McAleer (24 mins), Lauren McGuane (Kilmaley) for Wall (40 mins), LaurenTuohy (Clarecastle) for S. O’Brien (56 mins, inj)

St Mary’s Nenagh
Ciara Holohan (Buress-Duharra), Rachel Kennedy (Silvermines), Roisin Ryan (Moneygall), MaryWalsh (Kilruane), Paula Kelly (Silvermines),Aislin Cremin (Burgess-Duharra),Alanah Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), Caoimhe Maher (Burgess-Duharra) (0-1), Leah McKeogh (Portroe), Ciara McGrath (Nenagh Éíre Óg) (0-1), Brid Quinn (Silvermines) (0-7 6f, 1 Pen), Sarah Cunneen (Silvermines) (Capt.) (1-0),Aileen Duggan (Nenagh Éire Óg) (1-0),Tara Kennedy (Burgess-Duharra) (2-0), Claire Kearns (Burgess-Duharra) (0-1)

Player of the Game
Aoife Keane (St Flannan’s College) Referee Donie Browne (Limerick)

Kilkee Communit y College 3-9 Kilr ush Communit y School 2-8 at Coor acla r e DESPITE THE conditions, it was a cracking final between these great rivals. A strong wind dictated the flow of the game and Kilkee capitalised on this to the full in the first half.

An exceptional performance in attack by Shauna Harvey saw her rack up 2-5 (2f) before the break while Olive King contributed three points and Amy Keane took a great goal to boot.

Kilrush goalie Hazel Baumann was very good and put in several blocks to deny a very goal hungry attack. In fairness to the Shamrocks, they worked very hard to bring the game up field and some good performances through the middle via Sinead Burke, Roisin O’Looney, Aine O’Looney and Aoife O’Gorman saw a hard fought 2-2 being accumulated to keep the Kilrush girls in contention.

Aoife Carraig pointed first for Kilrush, a solid Aine Browne took 1-1 and Aine O’Looney’s rocket was palmed over by Rianna Lillis for a point to give a nine point gap when Barry Kelly called for the break at 38 to 2-2 in favour of the Blues.

After the break Kilkee went into defensive mode and Shauna Harvey dropped back to play as an extra defender.

Kilkee were to score only a solitary point by King again after 55 minutes with this strategy and decided to weather the Kilrush onslaught which did come. Kilrush lived in the Kilkee side for the most of the second half but didn’t convert.

Kilrush’s Aoife O’Gorman was outstanding as she launched several attacks at speed but Shauna and sister Grainne Harvey, Collette Keniry and Ailish Brew soaked up a lot of the pressure for the Blues. After 20 minutes of the second half, Kilrush had narrowed the gap to six points through Lisa O’Dea and Aoife Carraig who also converted a free. King was back to push the gap out to seven points for Kilkee Community College but Kilrush responded with three points courtesy of Aoife Carraig and Jenny Ryan.

When referee Barry Kelly blew it up the score was 2-8 to 3-9 and Kilkee Community College (below) were the Clare Schools Senior C Champions.

Kilkee Community College
Rebecca Harte, Ellie O’Regan, Michaela Lynch, Grainne Harvey, Lauren Keane, Ciara McQuaid, Rachel Clancy, Olive King, Emma McMahon, Rianna Lillis, Amy Keane, Deirdre Maguire, Saoirse Maher, Rebekkah Flanagan, Rebecca Madigan, Mary Beth Downes (joint capt), Martha Hanrahan, Collette Keniry, Rose Marrinan, Shauna Harvey (joint capt), Ailish Brew, Emma Naughton, SineadWalsh, Áine Murphy. Agnes Hehir (trainer), Michael Carmody (trainer)

Kilrush Community College
Hazel Baumann, Sarah Quinlivan,Anna Hayes, Eva Hayes, Sinead Burke, Roisin O’ Looney,Aine O’ Looney, Aoife O’ Gorman,Aoife Conway, Jenny Ryan, Aine Browne, Ronya Baumann, Lisa O’ Dea,Aoife Carrig, Grainne Howard Subs: Shauna OBrien (for Grainne Howard), Carla Behan, Kayla Crowley, Stephanie O’ Donoghue, Louise Hall, Louise O’ Gorman, SarahThornton, Caitriona Crowe, Nicole Burke, Emma McInerney, Shannon Carroll, Cliona Bond

Referee
Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)

CLARE’S latest addition to the Ladies Football calendar of events reached its conclusion last Saturday when the finals of Cooraclare’s Peggy Kelly Memorial Shield for Under 15 players were played out. In the B shield final, host club Cooraclare had a win over Doonbeg and in the A Shield, West Clare Gaels had a victory over the Banner to take the title.

The competition, co-ordinated by Cooraclare’s Joe Downes, was played out over the last three weeks and also included teams from Fergus Rovers, Éire Óg and Doora/Barefield. Peggy Kelly gave many years of service to the Cooraclare GAA and Ladies LGFA clubs and this competition in her honour is a mark of the club’s respect and rememberance.

Peggy’s brother Tommy Clune presented medals and shields to the teams and paid tribute to her memory.