Category: Sport

Sixmilebridge 8-11 – Wolfe Tones 0-17 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

NO, IT isn’t a misprint. Sixmilebridge did manage to put eight goals past neighbours Wolfe Tones on Sunday but that said, it was only in the final 20 minutes that it started to go pear-shaped for the depleted Shannon side. 19 scores to 17 reflects more on a game that Sixmilebridge clearly deserved to win despite missing the majority of their Under 21 contingent who were rested after their heroic exploits in the last four on Saturday.

Sixmilebridge only led by 2-7 to 0- 9 at the break following goals from Brian Culbert and Danny Morey but through Garret McPhillips (2) and Declan O’Rourke, the Shannon side had reduced the deficit to only three within five minutes of the restart. It’s astonishing to think how it went so wrong after that but with every goal, the life was simply sucked out of Wolfe Tones’ challenge. Tony Carmody accelerated through the defence to raise Sixmilebridge’s third green flag in the 36th minute but even then Tones replied to reduce the deficit to four.

However, the floodgates opened soon afterwards as Niall Gilligan (3), Danny Morey and David O’Connor breached Wolfe Tones last line to complete the rout and extend their unbeaten run in the competition.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan, Eoin Quinn,Tommy Morey (0-1), Caimin Morey,Trevor Purcell,Anthony Liddane, Paul Fitzpatrick, David O’Connor (1-2), Niall Gilligan (3-5 5f),Tony

Carmody (1-3) Danny Morey (2-0), Brian Culbert (1-0), Declan Morey

Subs
Jason Murphy for Quinn (52 mins), Daniel Collins for Declan Morey (54 mins)

Wolfe Tones
Paul Hogan Brendan Hughes, Joe McGauley, George Justice Stephen McInerney, Bobby McPhillips (0-3 1f, 2 65’s), Barry Loughnane Shane Chambers, Daithí O’Connell (0-3) Sean Brennan, Declan O’Rourke (0-4, 1f), Garret McPhillips (0-7f) Gary Leahy, Ronan Hehir, Daniel Gallery

Subs
Niall Murphy for Justice (48 mins), Richie Lillis for Hehir (53 mins) Kevin McCafferty for G.McPhillips (53 mins),Alan Hehir for O’Connell (57 mins) John Madigan for McInerney (57 mins)

Referee
Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)

IN THE END, It was only a 63rd minute point from Conor McGrath that got Cratloe out of Dodge after being pushed all the way by a stubborn Newmarket side. Cratloe were hot favourites entering the game but never got into their stride and indeed could have been severely punished had Newmarket converted even a small fraction of their 14 wides.

A draw would have been the fairest result for Newmarket’s stirring late fightback but in the end, it was the experience of Conor McGrath who got his side out of jail and into the final against Sixmilebridge.

It was too close for comfort for Cratloe who could have never imagined such an eventuality once Joe O’Connor goaled after only 19 seconds. With Liam Markham starting strongly at centre-back, Cratloe were 1-2 to 0-1 clear by the seventh minute and seemingly cruising.

However, a slice of fortune got Newmarket back into the game when a Sean O’Connor free from 65 metres was allowed to travel to the net and it rallied the side to three more frees to hold a 1-4 to 1-3 advantage by the 20th minute.

Cratloe goalkeeper David Collins did make amends in the 28th minute when somehow keeping out a rasping shot from Shane Cusack and in the next passage of play, Podge Collins handpassed inside for Conor McGrath to rattle the net down the other end on their way to a 2-5 to 1-6 halftime advantage.

Early points from dominant midfielder Conor Ryan and Conor McGrath on the restart put Cratloe four points clear and in total control once more while Newmarket were becoming increasingly frustrated with their mounting wide tally as well as a Shane Cusack goalbound shot that full-back Sean Hynan threw himself in front of to keep out.

Cratloe didn’t push home their advantage however so when Darren Duggan pulled to the net in the 50th minute to cut the deficit to the minimum, the momentum was suddenly all with Newmarket.

Conor Ryan expertly pointed from the right wing to give his side a two point cushion but two equally impressive strikes from Tommy Griffin and a Liam Clancy lineball from 30 metres tied up the game for the fourth time two minutes into injury-time.

It seemed enough to earn a replay but there was still time for Conor McGrath to gather possession 60 metres from goal and fire his relieved side into their first Under 21A final in seven years.

O’Callaghan’s Mills 3-10 – Corofin 0-10 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

O’CALLAGHAN’S Mills eased their way into the Under 21 B decider thanks to a three-goal victory over a disappointing Corofin side on Saturday afternoon, as goals either side of half-time turned the tie decisively in their favour and helped them book a final berth against Ballyea.

Corofin’s failure to use the first half wind advantage was their undoing – despite the strength of the gale and ample possession they could only eke out a 0-9 to 1-5 interval lead that was never going to be enough once the Mills settled into their stride.

Stephen Heagney’s accuracy from placed balls in the first half helped Corofin build up a 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 20tth minute. Centre-back Luke O’Loughlin was very much to the fore in this period while Gearóid Kelly, Kevin Heagney and Declan Stack contributed points from play as Corofin hit four unanswered points to open up a double-scores lead.

However, just when it looked as if Corofin were firmly into their stride and had the momentum to kick on to build up sizeable advantage, O’Calllaghan’s Mills struck for the all-important first goal.

It came from Jamie Lynch after 25 minutes and with that Corofin’s race in this championship was eventually run, even though they responded with another Heagney point just before the interval to give them the lead by the narrowest of margins.

Corofin battled bravely in the early exchanges of the second half, but ul- timately it was a lonely 30 minutes for the men in red – they could add one point to their total while the Mills gradually found their rhythm and hit 2-5 to record a comprenhensive win.

Again, it was a goal that kickstarted the half for the Mills’; again it was Jamie Lynch who worked the oracle, this time finding the net ten minutes in to put daylight between them and Corofin for the first time.

That daylight was extended thanks to Christy Philpott’s 48th minute goal, while Ian Donnellan, Aidan O’Gorman and the impressive Aidan Donovan also chipped in with points as the Mills won as they pleased.

Two late points from Aidan O’Gorman left left three goals in it at the end.

O’Callaghan’s Mills
Henry Skehan, Sean O’Gorman, Gerry Cooney, Michael McGrath, Darren Cooney,Adrian Donovan (0-3,2f),Aidan Fawl, Eoin McInerney, Kevin O’Callaghan, ColmMcHugh, James McMahon (0-2), Eoin McGrath, Jamie Lynch (2-1), Ian Donnellan (0-1),Aidan O’Gorman (0-3). Subs Christy Philpott (1-0) for Eoin McInerney,Jamie Heffernan for O’Callaghan, Eoin McNamara for Donnellan.

Corofin
Patrick Burke, Keith O’Loughlin, Eoin Malone, Manus Malone, Ian Corbett, Luke O’Loughlin, Darren Malone, Fionn Clancy, Stephen Heagney (0-7, 5f), Declan Stack (0-1), Eamon Malone, Jamie Malone, Killian O’Loughlin, Kevin Heagney (0-1), Gearoid Kelly (0-1). Subs Willie Neylon for Eoin Malone, Killian Malone for Killian O’Lgouhlin, Oisin Long for Ian Corbett

Man of the Match
Adrian Donovan (O’Callaghan’s Mills) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

Sixmilebridge 1-17 – Inagh/Kilnamona 2-12 at Clarecastle

SIXMILEBRIDGE HAVE reached the under 21 A final for the third year in a row after seeing off a strong Inagh/Kilnamona side in Clarecastle on Saturday.

Sixmilebridge managed to finished strong in this close encounter thanks to a Declan Morey goal on 46 minutes which edged them in front but there was never more then a puck of a ball between these sides for the best part of the game.

It was clear early on that ill discipline would prove costly for both teams as Inagh/Kilnamona’s Niall Arthur and Sixmilebridge’s Jamie Shanahan were both on form as they battled it out from placed balls.

Points from Shane Golden and Pa Sheehan aided the sharpshooting of Shanahan for Sixmilbridge but it was Arthur’s goal 12 minutes in that was the difference at half time. He had tried for another goal from a 21 yard free soon after but his shot was stopped and cleared. After playing with a strong breeze, his side looked in control, and led Sixmilebridge, 1-8 to 0-9.

A few positional switches at the break brought Sixmilebridge back into the game with scores from Seadna Morey and Sam O’Sullivan. Then when Jamie Shanahan found Declan Morey in front of goal he buried it into the net to give his side a three point lead and the boost they needed.

Seadhna Morey and Shanahan added two more as Sixmilebridge then went five ahead going into injury time. A Sean McConigley goal is all Inagh/Kilnamona could manage in the closing stages as Sixmilebridge claimed a final spot winning on a two point margin, 1-17 to 2-12.

Sixmilebridge will now face Cratloe in this year’s under 21 Championship Final and they will be looking to rectify last year’s final defeat to Eire Og as they go in search of a second title in three years.

Ballyea 0-14 – St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 1-8 at The Éire Óg Grounds, Ennis

ST JOSEPH’S Doora-Barefield saw red on the double during the game when the sendings off of both Niall Hassett and Shane O’Connor and saw it the same colour again after the ball game was over when a flurry of people vented their spleen at referee Kevin Walsh

But it was Ballyea who saw the promised land of a county final for the second time in three years as they withstood a late surge by the men from The Parish to book a final berth against O’Callaghan’s Mills.

Ballyea were the better team, but St Joseph’s weren’t slow in letting it be known that they had their grievances with Kevin Walsh after they received six yellow cards and two red ones over the course of the hour.

Niall Hassett was marched in the 41st minute after a challenge on Ca- thal Doohan, but by that stage the game was already slipping from St Josephs’ grasp as Ballyea cranked up their performance considerably in the early exchanges of the second half.

In the first 20 minutes of the half they restricted St Joseph’s to just two points, while adding seven of their own to move into a commanding 013 to 0-7 by the 50th minute as they closed in on a final berth.

The first half had been an even affair, with points from Niall Deloughery, Ian Lyons and Cathal Duggan helping St Joseph’s into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead inside ten minutes.

However, as in previous games in the campaign Tony Kelly prodigious scoring talents helped Ballyea play their way into the game.

The Clare minor captain landed two frees by the 15th minute and then hit one from play after good work from Paudge McMahon.

Further points from Paul Flanagan and Niall Deasy in response to a booming point from distance by Alan O’Neill helped Ballyea into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead before an injury time effort from Ian Lyons left only the minimum between the sides.

Jarlath Colleran’s equalising point a minute into the second half hinted at a battle to the death, but it was as good as it got for St Joseph’s for much of the half.

Seven points in a row from Ballyea decided this contest – Martin O’Leary, Niall Deasy (2) and Tony Kelly (4) were all on the mark.

A 58th minute goal scrambled to the net by Cathal Duggan after a long free from Alan O’Neill briefly put the game back in the melting pot, but when St Joseph’s had their claims for a 21-yard free ignored a few minutes later, their cause was lost.

Ballyea
Shane Harkin, Cormac Ryan, Jack Browne, Eanna McInerney, James Murphy, Gearóíd O’Connell, David Sheehan, Paul Flanagan (0-1),Tony Kelly (0-9, 6f), Niall Deasy (0-3), James Murphy, Cathal Doohan, Martin O’Leary (0-1), Paudge McMahon, Declan Keane.

Subs
Niall Griffin for Doohan, Eoghan Donnellan for McMahon.

St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield
Michael Rosengrave, Darragh Murphy, Stephen Collins, Killian Griffey, Niall Hassett,Alan O’Neill (01), Eamon Clohessy, Leo Duggan, Jarlath Colleran (0-1), Ian Lyons (0-1), Niall Deloughery (0-1), Aaron Landy, Barry Mullane, Shane O’Connor (0-2, 2f), Cathal Duggan (1-2).

Subs
Stephen Barron for Griffey, Donal O’Halloran for Mullane.

Man of the Match
Tony Kelly (Ballyea)

THE CLARE Minor Footballers head to Pairc Uí Rinn on Wednesday evening in their first game as they look to overcome last year’s AllIreland finalists Cork in the quarter final of the Munster Minor Championship.

Clare will look to make a mark on this years Minor Championship and hope to set the trend for Clare football this year as they try to overcome Cork.

A task the Clare Seniors also face in the Munster quarter-final in little under six weeks. The Clare People caught up with Minor Manager Michael Neylon ahead of tomorrow nights game.

Michael says he is happy with the current form and that things have been looking good for his side over the past few weeks.

“We’ve had a full turnout for the last month or so with lads coming into good form from a winter gym programme” he said.

Everyone is available for selection and injury free after the weekends under 21 hurling championship where five players were involved.

This side first got together when they took part in a Munster under 17 tournament last November where they played four competitive games winning the Shield Final against Waterford.

“That was the first time lads would have met, then they were given a gym programme which they worked away on until we started training as a county panel there in March. We’ve had five or six weeks together now and we’ve played Kerry, Galway and Kildare in challenge games” he said.

There are several players from last year’s panel that Clare will be looking to ahead of tomorrow nights game including; Darren Sexton, Niall Hickey and Adrian Murrihy from Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Ennistymon’s Oisin Vaughan, Wolfe Tones Craig O’Brien, Jarlaith Colleran from Doora/Barefield and Stan Lineen from Kilmihil. Stan’s clubmate Martin O’Leary will also be hoping to bring his recent form with St Flannan’s college into this game tomorrow night.

Michael Neylon is joined on the managment panel by Ennis man Noel Normoyle, Morris Reidy from Miltown and Lee O’Donoghue from Kildysart.

They met on Monday night for a light session ahead of Wednesday’s game where the team was also named. They face a tough task of reaching the semi-final stages but he believes his side have what it takes.

Clare
Darren Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Conor Gavin (Clondegad), Craig O’Brien (WolfeTones), Oisin Vaughan (Ennistymon), Jarlath Colleran (Doora/ Barefield), Stan Lineen (Kilmihil), Darragh Bolton (Kilrush),Alan O’Neill (Doora/Barefield), Darragh McDonagh (Miltown), Eoin Cleary (Miltown), Conor Cleary (Miltown),Adrian Murrihy (KilmurryIbrickane), Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil), Niall Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Jamie Malone (Corofin).

THERE seems to be no stopping Clare’s juvenile handball players as they captured yet another title at the weekend, adding to the previous weekends tally of five titles.

Last out for Clare last weekend saw Aine McInerney and Hannah O’Brien take on a formidable Kilkenny pairing in the under 17 girls doubles in Goresbridge, Kilkenny.

The Clare girls were going in as underdogs but were quietly hoping to emulate their Clare comrades in Alice Akers and Stacey Wright who captured this same title twelve months previous.

Kilkenny started the strongest and forced their way into a 6-0 lead, but the clare girls were resilient and battled back to draw level.

It was a nip and tuck affair with points and hands exchanging on a regular basis. Kilkenny went in to serve for the first game with two hands at 20-18, but the Clare duo fought back to regain the service advantage and clinch a very close first game. What now originally seemed a mountain to climb now seemed to be a great possibility.

And the Clare girls were not to dis- appoint as they started the second game as they finished the first and gained a blistering 12-0 lead.

The finishing line was in their sights and while the Kilkenny girls tried to rally back, it was Clare who took the game and the title to make it an historic 40×20 season for Clare juvenile handball.

Clare juvenile handball is now by far the strongest in Ireland and this is evident by the number of All-Ireland Titles that Clare have won this year – an incredible six out of a possible 15 which makes the county the envy of every other centre in the country.

At local level, the Clare county B doubles get under way this week in all divisions and clubs have been notified of fixtures.

Clare 0-20 – Wicklow 1-17 at Aughrim Park, Wicklow

THAT Clare saved best to last is reflected in the score on the board that when broken down looks mightily impressive.

Fifteen of the points came from play in as free-flowing a performance produced under Micheál McDermott’s watch as manager, but it could have still been the same old story of going home empty handed from a game that they dominated for long stretches, yet failed to apply the killer punch they needed to secure the two points.

All because they let Wicklow off the hook when Leighton Glynn got a slip on the defence and stroked home an equalising goal two minutes into injury time.

It was rough justice on Clare to have the win snatched from them in the final seconds, rougher justice still on keeper Joe Hayes, because but for his heroics right throughout the game this could have been another chastening National League experience for Clare.

He came to his side’s rescue on no less than four occasions when Wicklow carved open the Clare defence and created goal chances – he was the human shield that kept the citadel intact for so long and in a way inspired those outside him to produced their best display of the year.

If Hayes was the cog in goal, Gary Brennan was the lynchpin further afield as he showcased once more that midfield is his natural hinterland – whatever about his abilities as a full-forward target man, the engine room is where he has to be for Clare going forward.

And it was Brennan who got Clare off to a flier with a point inside 30 seconds, while they added three more from Cathal O’Connor, Ger Quinlan, making his first start of the season and David Tubridy to lead by 0-4 to no score inside 15 minutes.

Wicklow did hit back with points from Tony Hannon and Austin O’Malley, but Clare drove forward and points by Conor Ryan, Kevin Hartnett and a David Tubridy sideline effort had them 0-7 to 0-5 clear by the 25th minute. Another spurt before half time yield points for Graham Kelly, Gary Brennan, Alan Clohessy and David Tubridy to give Clare a 0-11 to 0-7 interval lead, but not for the first time they were thankful to Joe Hayes in goal as he foiled Dean Odlum with a point blank save in injury time to ensure Clare had a four-point cushion. David Tubridy extended that lead to five soon after the resumption, only for Wicklow to hit back with points from Seanie Furlong (2) and Austin O’Malley, but Clare’s resolve against he wind saw them hit points through Gary Brennan, Gordon Kelly and Michael Foran to lead by 0-15 to 013 by the 55th minute. Brennan’s continued hegemony in midfield ensured a steady of scores didn’t dry up, with Graham Kelly, Alan Clohessy (2), Brennan and David Tubridy making sure that Wicklow were kept at bay despite the scoring efforts of Austin O’Malley and Tony Hannon. Wicklow had got it back the bare minimum, but points Clare looked to have secured their fourth win of the campaign when David Tubridy hit his seventh as the game edged into injury time. However, Leighton Glynn had other ideas with his last gasp effort that left both sides happy with their efforts at the end.

Wicklow
J Flynn; C Hyland,A Byrne, P Higgins; P Dalton, B McGrath, DHayden; J Stafford, R Finn;T Hannon (0-3),A O’Malley (0-4), DSiney; DOdlum(0-1), S Furlong (0-8), L Glynn 1-1).

Subs
S Kavanagh for DSiney (half-time), P Burke for DOdlum(half-time), MMcLoughlin for C Hyland (51 mins)

Clare
Joe Hayes (9) Barry Duggan (6), Laurence Healy (7), MarkTubridy (7), Kevin Hartnett (7) (0-1), Gordon Kelly (7) (0-1), Martin McMahon (7), Niall Browne (7), Gary Brennan (9) (0-4), Graham Kelly (8) (0-2), DavidTubridy (8) (0-5, 1f), Cathal O’Connor (7) (0-1), Conor Ryan (7) (0-1), Ger Quinlan (7) (0-1),Alan Clohessy (8) (0-3).

Subs
John Hayes (8) for B Duggan (half time), Michael Foran (7) (0-1) for C Ryan (40 mins).

Referee
K O’Brien (Tipperary).

THE Ennis Track Club are celebrating the foundation of its club this Friday night to mark its 20th anniversary as they take a look back on their success and it’s athletic endeavors to date.

A club that started out in 1991, when twelve members came together in James O’Keeffe’s pub to form the Ennis Track Club can now be proud to be the starting point of an organisation that currently boasts over 120 members. Five of the original twelve founders still remain involved with the club including Gerry Hayes the current President of the club who spoke with The Clare People ahead of Friday’s event.

He told us he is delighted with the progress the club has made over the last two decades and the great heights it has achieved along with many of their members going on to compete for Ireland. Most notably Rory Chesser who has been very successful in European competitions in recent years. Gerry has coached Rory, along with many other athletes since a very young age and has watched them prosper over the years.

The Ennis Track club started out in the Fairgreen running track as it was the only available one to them in the Ennis area.

While he is thankful for the use of the track down through the years he has credited the Ennis Town Council for the building and development of Lee’s Road and says the track and cross country course there

have benefitted the

club greatly and

he hopes this will

continue for many

years to come. The Anniversary

night will take

place this Friday in

the Old Ground Ho

tel and will be kick

ing off at 8.30pm.

Tickets are still

available at € 20

for the night’s food

and entertainment.

They are hoping the

night will be a great

success and are encouraging everyone to come along and join in the celebrations. THE Johnny McMahon Healty Heart 10k Charity Fun Walk and Road Race will take place on Saturday starting at noon at Kilmaley School and there will be an option of taking a 3.5k walk and fun run and all proceeds will go towards the Ray of Hope Hospice Jinja, in Uganda, and to Kilmaley Voluntary Housing Assocation. This event will see many special guests taking part from soccer, GAA, rugby, athletics and many Meet and Train groups from Ennis, Shannon, and North Clare. The race will start just below the church in Kilmaley and take the 3.5k loop towards the main Ennis to Kilmaley Road and out on to the Miltown Malbay Road back to the Kilmaley Inn turning left on up towards the school. For the 10k loop you will continue on towards Darragh and turning left over towards Dr Hennessy’s House and left and going back all the way and finishing at the School. The leading contenders for this 10k title will be Kenneth Rodgers St Cronans along with Michael Shannon Kilnaboy, Brian Murphy Ennis Track, the local man Terry Hennessy St Cronans with Veronica Colleran Ennis Track and Tracy Guilfoyle Kilnaboy along with the 2009 champion Loretta Duggan St Marys defending her title and in close pursuit will be Sharon Rynne Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, Mary Lynch Marian and Marian Burke St Marys,

For any further contact phone Terry Hennessy (087-9091436), Gerry Keane (087-2714716) or Martin Clancy (087 6355933).

Prizes
The first Three senior men and ladies Tee Shirts to the first 300 entries. Meanwhile, the eighth Annual Matt O’Connor Memorial and Marian AC Open Sports day will take place on Sunday at Lees Road with a starting time of 2pm. The organising committee have drawn up a very attractive programme of over forthy events, catering for U7 Boys and Girls races and that will be followed by U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U14, U16, Boys and Girls races plus Junior Men and ladies 1500m also the Girls 100metres (Confined) for the Ciara Conroy Memorial Shield. Programme: U7 girls and boys 60mand 100m U8 girls and boys 60mand 200m, 4 x 100mRelay. U9 girls and boys 80mand 300m. U10 girls and boys 100mand 400m. 4 x 100m Relay U11 girls and boys 100mand 400m. U12 girls and boys 100m, 600m. 4 x 100mRelay U14 girls and boys 100m, 800m. U16 girls and boys 100m, 4x 100mRelay Junior ladies and men 1500m.

Fixtures
April 15 EnnisTrack 20th Anniversary celebrations at the Old Ground Hotel Ennis. (Tickets €20) 16The Johnny McMahon Healty Heart 10k Fun Run and 3.5k Walk all in Aid of two Charities KilmaleyVoluntary Housing and Uganda Rays of Hope Hospice Jinya starting at Kilmaley school at 12noon.Tee Shirts to the first 300 entries. 17 Marian ACand the Matt O’Connor Memorial Open Sports at the Lees Road starting at 2pm. 17 National Road Relays Championships in Raheny Dublin 17 Coole Park, Gort 10kTrail Walk, Jog, Run, starting at 11am 23 (Saturday) Clare Sports Partnership and Clare AAI 5k road series No 1 Scariff Rugby Grounds starting at 11am. 25 Clare Crusaders 10k and 10 Mile Road Race in Ennis. 30 Munster Masters and Juvenile Multi EventsTrack and Field Championships in CIT Cork.

May
1 Clare Athletics Association Sports Star Awards at the Auburn Lodge Hotel at 8pm

NIALL MALONE and Diarmaid Nash are All-Ireland Intermediate Doubles champions after an epic win over Kilkenny in Cappagh on Sunday. On a proud and memorable day for Clare handball, the Tuamgraney pair overcame Nicholas Anthony and Brian Manogue in a two and half hour marathon to progress to the ranks of Senior handball, the first Clare pair to do so in a long number of years.

The Kilkenny pair had the better start at the Limerick venue and dominated much of the first game to win 21-17. Manogue and Anthony looked a fair bet to finish the job but it was the Clare lads who started the second game the brighter and led 8-3 early on. Kikenny rallied to level at eight all and from here it was tit for tat as the lead swung over and back. There was never more than two aces between them until Clare pushed into an 18-15 lead and eventually won 2117 to set up a grandstand finish.

At the start of the third game, Clare again raced into an early lead and were up 6-1 and 10-5 but again Kilkenny came back to level and then lead 14-10. With the match hanging in the balance as the clock ticked over two hours, it was here that Nash and Malone found an extra gear.

The Tuamgraney pair battled back to lead 16-14 and with real pressure on their shoulders, powered on to the win. Malone in particular showed nerves of steel to rattle of three exceptional match-winning shots at the end to seal the 10-21, 21-17, 2117 victory and spark scenes of great celebration from the sizeable Clare following.

In presenting the winners’ medals, Munster Council Chairman Willie Roche paid tribute to the standard of handball played, calling it “the best final in many a year”. Even taking into account all the county, provincial, national and world titles won in singles and doubles since Nash and Malone first teamed up aged 14 and 15, this was an enormous achievement and a very special day. The Tuamgraney pair will only relish the major challenge of moving up to Senior grade handball for 2012.

John Cawley’s Golden Masters B Singles All-Ireland final in Monavea, Laois on Sunday also went to three games but unfortunatley the Shannon man came out the wrong side when he lost 21-20, 19-21, 16-21 to Jimmy Reilly of Meath. Like the match in Cappagh, this was another marathon and, after two and a half hours of a battle, Shannon man Cawley will be disappointed having come so close.

This coming weekend brings the curtain down on the 40×20 championship season for 2011 (apart from senior and minor finals) and Clare are involved in three more finals, all on Saturday.

Diarmaid Nash will be looking for an Intermediate double when he takes on Ruairi Kelly (Tyrone) in the All-Ireland Singles final at Roscommon. Tulla’s Cathal Hannon travels to Nenagh for his Junior Singles final against Wexford’s Paul Lambert and hopes are high that the Clareman can secure the win. John Cawley will be hoping to make up for his Singles defeat when he and Tuamgraney’s Teddy O’Hanlon play the Doubles final at O’Loughlins, Kilkenny against Kildare’s Paul Ruane and Cyril Carr. Fixtures All-Ireland 40×20 Adult Finals (Weekend 2); Saturday 16th April, in St. Coman’s, Roscommon, 3.30pm: Ladies Minor Singles:Armagh (Fionnuala McKenna) v Cork (Catriona Casey) – Emerald Masters A Doubles: Mayo (Kevin Geraghty, Martin Cronin) v Offaly (Billy Mullins/Jim Kilfoyle); Intermediate Singles: Clare (Diarmaid Nash) vTyrone (Ruairi Kelly) Saturday 16th April, in Nenagh,Tipperary, 5pm: Diamond Masters A Doubles: Sligo (Seamus Duffy/ Pat O’Sullivan) v Wexford (Ned Buggy/Gareth Somers); Junior Singles: Clare (Cathal Hannon) v Wexford (Paul Lambert) Saturday 16th April, in O’Loughlin’s, Kilkenny, 1pm: Junior B Doubles: Cork (Arthur O’Neill,Arthur McDonagh) v Carlow(Daniel Fenlon/Oliver Ryan) Golden Masters B Doubles: Clare (John Cawley/ Teddy Hanlon) v Kildare (Paul Ruane/Cyril Karr) Silver Masters A Doubles: Dublin (Egin Jensen/ Frank Daly) v Cork (John Herlihy, John Hedigan)