Category: Sport

THE INTERMEDIATE and senior leagues commence this weekend with the intermediate matches on Saturday and senior games on Sunday. There are eight teams in both competitions this year, divided into two groups of four. The top two teams in each group will progress to the semi-final stages of competition, with finals for both competitions fixed for the weekend of the May 21/22. I nt er mediat e Lea gue Round 1 Gr oup 1 Cla r eca st le v Tr uagh /Clonla r a Sat ur day, 4pm TRUAGH begin the defence of their league title away to Clarecastle. They will be looking to county players such as Michelle Caulfield and Ellen Horgan to lead the team to backto-back league titles. After reaching last year’s championship final, the team will be hoping to improve on performances throughout the year to help them to a second county final. Truagh’s experience should see them as one of two teams to come out of the group. Clarecastle are setting out to rebuild their team over the course of the league this year and will be ea- gerly awaiting championship action in August. With a mixture of youth and experience, they will be hoping to compete well in this year’s competitions. Whit egat e v Sca r iff, Sat ur day, 4pm WHITEGATE’S experience in contesting the intermediate championship cup semi final last year should stand to them in this tie. St Joseph’s are in a rebuilding process and will hope that the league will give them an opportunity to get this process off to a good start.

The other game in this group, Scariff v Inagh, was played last Sunday, with Inagh running out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 8-20 to 006. Gr oup 2 Cr usheen /Killa nena v Ogonnelloe, Sat ur day THE amalgamation of Junior sides Killanena and Crusheen will add an interesting mix to this year’s Intermediate League. Crusheen contested the junior league and championship finals last year, conceding defeat in both to Kilnamona. Killanena won the intermediate shield final in 2010 and will be hoping to get their year off to a good start, with a least a semi-final spot in their sights. Senior League Gr oup 1 Sca r iff/Ogonnelloe v Kilkishen @ Ogonnelloe, Sunday 12pm THIS IS a repeat of last year’s senior B championship final that saw the amalgamated side claim the spoils. Kilkishen will not want a repeat of this, and though currently in a period of transition, will be hoping that the experience this youthful side gained from last year’s encounters will see them through to the latter stages of this year’s league. Sixmilebr idge v Cor ofin @ Sixmilebr idge, Sunday 4pm, Refer ee J im Hickey (Cr at loe) SIXMILEBRIDGE will have been disappointed not to have lifted silverware last year in adult competition, and will be hoping that 2011 will be their year. Promoted to senior status, after the successes of last year, Corofin will be looking to use the league as preparation for senior championship. Gr oup 2 Clooney/Quin v Kilma ley @ Clooney, Sunday 3. 30pm A REMATCH of last year’s league final, which saw Kilmaley run out winners. Clooney will want to build on last year’s performance and go one step further this year in clinching the title, however Kilmaley’s blend of experience and youth will not be easy to overcome. Newma r ket on Fer gus v Wolfe Tones, Sunday 3. 30pm NEWMARKET will want to make up for last year’s league performance and are strong contenders for a final spot. Wolfe Tones, whose poor showing over the last number of years, are currently rebuilding. They will be hoping that the league experience will give them a strong foothold to hold their own in the championship later in the summer. J unior Fixt ur es Gr oup 1 Fea k le v Ba llyea @ Fea kle, Sunday 4pm Éir e Óg v Killa nena @ Éir e Óg, Sunday 12pm Tr ua gh /Clonla r a v Sixmilebr idge, Sunday 12. 30pm Gr oup 2 Kilma ley v Cor ofin @ Kilma ley, Sat ur day 3. 30pm, Refer ee Noel McI ner ney Cr usheen v Kilkishen (post poned t o weekend Apr il 2/3) Tulla a bye

Liscannor 0-8 – Miltown 1-4 at Liscannor

DEFENDING champions St Joseph’s Miltown have yet to register a victory in the 2011 Cusack Cup after suffering defeat to Liscannor by the narrowest of margins on Sunday.

After an opening day draw with Kilrush, Miltown were embroiled in another tight contest with county finalists Liscannor who held on to secure their first competitive win of the year.

With weather conditions dominating proceedings, it was the proverbial game of two halves as backed by a strong wind in the first half, the home side stormed into a five point lead, with their triumvirate of Alan Clohessy (3), Ronan Slattery and Kieran Considine getting on the scoreboard.

Miltown on the other hand, found the going tough early on but were handed a major lifeline when a defensive error allowed Enda Malone to goal for the holders. Liscannor did recover with points through Davy McDonagh and Clohessy to lead by 0-7 to 1-0 at the break but that goal took the gloss off the home side’s first half display, with Miltown having the strong wind at their backs for the second period. The expectant fightback was severely hampered however only minutes after the restart when Kevin Keavey was dismissed for a second yellow but Miltown eventually set tled through a Joe Curtin point to cut the deficit to a goal. Further drama ensued for Miltown when Curtin earned his side a penalty only to see Sean Malone put the resulting kick wide while up the other end, county senior Clohessy scored what was to prove a crucial point for his side at 0-8 to 1-1.

The introduction of talisman Dessie Molohan saw the lead slashed to only the minimum with time running out but they could not get the crucial score to get anything out of the game, including a late Joe Curtin shot that was saved by goalkeeper Noel Kilmartin. He gave Liscannor their first win of the campaign and leapfroged their opponents in the process.

Liscannor
Noel Kilmartin, Shane Canavan, Davy McDonagh (0-1), Michael Foley, Robbie Lucas, Ronan Slattery (0-1), Denis Murphy, Joe Considine,Alan Flaherty, Niall Considine, Johnny Considine, Ger Considine, Kieran Considine,Alan Clohessy (0-5), Kieran Considine (0-1)

Sub
David Commane for Nagle

St Joseph’s Miltown
Niall Quinn, Enda Malone, Gordon Kelly, David Cleary, Gearoid Curtin, Kevin Burke, Ian Sexton, Sean Meade, Darragh McDonagh, Brian Curtin, Garry Egan, Kevin Keavey, John Meade, Sean Malone, Joe Curtin (1-1)

Subs
GrahamKelly for Burke, Martin Barry for Egan, Dessie Molohan (0-3) for S. Malone, Enda O’Gorman for McDonagh

Man of the Match
Alan Clohessy (Liscannor) Referee Pat Cosgrove (Corofin)

Clondegad 1-10 – Kilrush Shamrocks 0-9 at Michael Tubridy Memorial Park, Kilrush

A LITTLE piece of football history was visited upon Kilrush’s ‘Cricket Field’ on Sunday afternoon when intermediate operaters Clondegad scalped another senior championship side in impressive fashion.

History because in getting the better of the Shams by four points thanks to Shane Brennan’s thumping goal a couple of minutes before the end, Clondegad recorded what their local football historian Seamus O’Reilly reckoned to be their first Cusack Cup win over the most storied senior championship team in Clare football.

And it was a deserved success too as Dermot Coughlan’s charges laid the foundations for their success in the first half when playing against the wind before kicking on to victory on the turnover when aided by the elements.

County Under 21 team captain Paudge McMahon was the man, bagging six points over the hour as Clondegad came from 0-7 to 0-4 adrift at the interval to notch their second brace of points in their 2011 campaign.

Kenneth Kelly had opened the scoring for Clondegad inside the first minute with latching on to a pass from Shane Brennan, but with Peadar McMahon showing well for the Shams at full-forward they were back on terms by the fifth minute.

Three McMahon points inside the first 15 minutes to a replay from his namesake, Paudge McMahon, left the Shams 0-3 to 0-2 clear.

Ruairí O’Connor landed a great point in the 16th minute for the home side before an opportunist effort from Colm Gavin after 21 minutes ensured only point separated the sides once more. The Shams finally pressed home their first half wind advantage with points from Stephen Sweeney, Pat Joe McGrath and a Ruairi O’Connor free to a lone response by Paudge McMahon left three points between the sides at the interval.

The fact that the Shams were restricted to two second half points, both of which came in the final five minutes via Paddy Clancy and Donal O’Sullivan tells its own story.

Clondegad dominated, with the Paudge McMahon show in the early stages of the half turning the tie decisively in their favour.

Three McMahon points, two of which were from play, inside the opening 12 minutes had the sides level, while Clondegad hit the front on 49 minutes when a quick free by McMahon teed up Gary Brennan for his opening point.

McMahon’s third pointed free gave them a two-point lead entering the last ten minutes, while the Shams’ challenge was finally killed off in the 59th minute when Eoin O’Donnellan’s rasping goal effort that was saved by Tony Burke was volleyed to the net by Shane Brennan to seal Clondegad’s day.

Clondegad
Declan O’Loughlin, Flan Enright, Pat Coffey, Conor Gavin, Francie Neylon, Kieran Browne, James Murphy, Eoin Griffin, Gary Brennan (0-3), Paudge McMahon, ColmGavin, Shane Brennan, Kenneth Kelly (0-1), Eoin Donnellan, Francis O’Reilly

Kilrush Shamrocks
Tony Burke, Niall Gilbride, Niall Clancy, Cathal Lyons, Donal Madigan, MatthewMoloney, Darragh Bolton, JimYoung, Paddy Clancy, Pat Joe McGrath, Paul Heaslip (0-1), CalumBond, Ruairi O’Connor, Peadar McMahon, Stephen Sweeney

Subs
Donal O’Sullivan for Bond, Seamus Bolton for Heaslip.

St Joseph’s Doora- Barefield 0-08 Shannon Gaels 0-07 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown

ST JOSEPH’S Doora-Barefield are settling well into the rigours of Cusack Cup football – first day out they shared the spoils with bluebloods Kilmurry Ibrickane, while on this day they edged past Shannon Gaels by the minimum margin.

It was a dour affair throughout, with nothing between the sides until county senior panellist David O’Brien eventually popped over the winner for the visitors just as the game drifted into injury time.

It was hard luck on the Gaels, but just desserts for a St Joseph’s team that has certainly hit the ground running in Cusack Cup competition, the first time they’ve played in the premier division of the football league.

And, given that these two are also grouped with each other in the championship, St Joseph’s, who are remarkably on offer at 50 to 1 for Jack Daly, will gladly take the psychological advantage that goes with this dress rehearsal for championship.

The sides were locked at 0-3 apiece at half-time. John Bermingham and John Paul O’Neill were on the mark from play for the Gaels, while Bryan Cunningham hit a free. For St Joseph’s David O’Brien, Cathal Duggan and Johnny O’Brien scored points, while goalmouth action at both ends saw Declan O’Keeffe make a brilliant save from John Paul O’Neill and Keith Ryan foiled Cathal Duggan down the other end.

However, Duggan emerged as the game’s most influential figure in the second half, hitting three points, two of which were from play edged his side ahead entering the last ten minutes. The Gaels were restricted to scores from frees via Brian Cunningham and John Paul O’Neill (2) and an effort from play by O’Neill, but still looked set for a share of the spoils until David O’Brien landed the winner in the 59th minute.

St Joseph’s Doora- Barfield
Declan O’Keeffe, Ger Fannin, Mark Rafferty, Niall White, Eanna ÓBraonáin, Stephen Collins, KeithWhelan,

Mark Hallinan, Kevin Dilleen, David O’Brien (0-2), Cathal O’Sullivan, Christy O’Brien, Enda Lyons, Johnny O’Brien (0-1), Cathal Duggan (0-4, 2f).

Subs
Gavin O’Sullivan for Chirsty O’Brien, Don Barron for ÓBraonáin

Shannon Gaels
Keith Ryan, John Neylon, Fergal Kenny, John Bermingham(0-1),Tomás Madigan, Francis Cleary, Fergal O’Neill, Noel Kennedy, John Paul O’Neill (0-4, 2f), Michael O’Donoghue, Stephen O’Shea, Bryan Cunningham(0-2f), Sean Reynolds.

Subs
Declan Power for O’Shea, Shane Tubridy for Reynolds.

Man of the Match
Cathal Duggan (Doora- Barefield) Referee Damian Fox (WolfeTones)

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-11 – Doonbeg 0-8 at Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty

WITH a very strong wind blowing in from Mutton Island direction, this meeting of the two best football teams in Clare always threatened to be the proverbial game of two halves.

And, so it proved as 2008/09 county champions Kilmurry Ibrickane held 2010 champions Doonbeg scoreless in the second half to claim the two Cusack Cup points on offer.

It was Kilmurry’s ability to use the wind to their advantage in the second half and Martin McMahon’s manmarking job on the Magpies’ dangerman David Tubridy that helped them turn a 0-8 to 0-3 interval deficit into a three-point win over the team that ended their three-in-a-row championship hopes last Autumn.

Kilmurry’s blistering start to the second half when they hit three points inside the first five minutes was key to their recovery as they went on to reel off eight points without reply to earn the early bragging rights over their near rivals.

Doonbeg had held sway in the first half thanks to the mercurial talents of David Tubridy, as fresh from exploits for Clare the previous afternoon when he hit 2-7, the corner forward rattled off six points in the half hour.

His first came from play after two minutes in response to Noel Downes’ opener for Kilmurry as both sides settled down to produce a competitive first half.

Doonbeg gradually gain the initiative, with Frank O’Dea’s point from play after five minutes giving them the lead for the first time, an advantage that was extending by a Tubridy free on ten minutes before Ian McInerney landed the first of his five points from placed balls.

The Magpies had moved 0-6 to 02 clear by the 20th minute thanks to points from play by Colm Dillon and Tubridy before the latter booted over a 45.

Another McInerney free reduced the margin to double scores by the 25th minute, but it was Tubridy who put his side in firm control by the break when he landed another from play and then hit the point of the hour via a free from the hands to extend their advantage to five points.

Tubridy was on fire, but such was Kilmurry’s dominance after quickfire points from Niall Hickey and Stephen Moloney (2) in an impressive start to the second half that Doonbeg’s fire gradually petered out.

Suddenly Kilmurry were only two adrift and by the 45th minute they had the Magpies reeled in after Michael O’Dwyer opened his account.

With Martin McMahon marshalling Tubridy and Declan Callinan and Enda Coughlan also to the fore in defence and Paul O’Connor and Peter O’Dwyer holding sway in midfield, Kilmurry gradually turned the screw on their deadly rivals.

And in this about turn, Ian McInerney emerged as the game’s most important figure. With 11 minutes left he landed a 45 to put his side ahead for the first time, while they then eased their way to victory with sub Mark McCarthy and another McIerney free giving them their three point win.

Kilmurry Ibrickane
Peter O’Dwyer, Martin McMahon, Darren Hickey, Declan Callinan,Thomas Lernihan, Enda Coughlan, EvanTalty, Paul O’Connor, Peter O’Dwyer, Michael O’Dwyer, Ian McInerney (0-6, 4f, one 45), Stephen Moloney (0-2), Niall Hickey (0-1), Noel Downes (0-1) Johnnie Daly.

Subs
Mark McCarthy (0-1) for Downes, Shane Hickey for Daly,Adrian Murrihy for Niall Hickey.

Doonbeg
Nigel Dillon, Conor Whelan, Padriag Gallagher, RichieVaughan, David Downes, Brian Dillon, Paraic Aherne, Frank O’Dea (0-1), Enda Doyle, Brian Egan, ColmDillon (0-1), Shane O’Brien, Shane Ryan, DavidTubridy (0-6, 3f one 45), Kevin Nugent.

Subs
Joe Blake for Downes, Conor Downes for Egan

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.

WITH TWO successive wins under their belt, the pressure eases somewhat heading into a brace of home fixtures against the more unfancied hurling counties of Down and Kerry. Not that Clare will underestimate either side as Down put up an admirable display for 60 minutes against Limerick on Sunday, leading for much of the game before eventually being comprehensively overturned.

Of course, that game was at home in Ballygalget where Down can make life rather uncomfortable for visiting sides but as proven in last year’s campaign, Down are poor travellers down south only beating subsequently relegated Kildare last year and going down to Kerry in the opening round of this campaign.

Clare also hosted Down last year in their opening round, with Mark Flaherty picking up 2-11 out of the 2-20 to 0-06 result. The final scoreline suggests a relative walk in the park but what it doesn’t tell you is that Down hit 20 wides on the day, a colossal total for any team.

Clare will be expected to put their Ulster opponents to the sword in a similar fashion this Sunday as anything less will not be deemed satisfactory.

Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin hopes to have a full squad to pick from this Sunday, with Diarmuid McMahon expected to return from a hamstring concern while Conor McGrath may also play a part despite having a chipped bone in his hand as doctors haven’t put on a cast. Indeed, his appearance may come down to whether or not he has enough strength in the hand.

Whatever the line-up though, Clare should easily secure the points, with arguably more interest for Clare supporters in the Limerick v Laois and Antrim v Carlow games later in the afternoon. Verdict: Clare

IT WAS pretty much a carbon copy of last year’s game in that Clare were always in control of their own fate without ever decisively closing the door on Westmeath. And despite conceding their highest total of the year, in the end Clare managed to ease to a seven point victory.

However, while last year was all about the result as Clare just needed a victory to guarantee their place in the Division 2 final, Sunday’s game was all about the performance and showing a marked improvement from their opening ties and on that score, manager Ger O’Loughlin was predominantly satisfied.

“1-27 was a good score and again we looked good at times, especially for the first ten minutes of the second half when we came out of the traps great and we got some great scores. But again we just made life a bit uncomfortable for ourselves by letting them back into it and I think just when we drop our workrate, we invite teams onto us and most teams, even the likes of Westmeath, will capitalise on it so we have to just learn that lesson.

“We scored 1-27 which is brilliant and I’m delighted with that and I think there was a good improvement again there today. The conditions and the field were fine and going forward, I think the better the ground the better for us but I also think conceding 2-17 is a concern again so we have to try and work on that.

“Overall we are delighted that at least we are back on track and things are in our own hands again.”

Now back in control of their own fate, Clare now have two home games to further stake their claim for a final place.

“We have Down next Sunday and Kerry the following week and as I was saying to the lads, we just have to treat every game in the league as a knock-out game and we have to try to win every one of them. But it is in our own hands and as I say I thought we saw an improvement but we knew we also have to work on conceding 2-17 because if we don’t, it’s going to cruxify us somewhere along the way.”

If they are to tighten up at the back, another carbon copy of their 2-20 to 0-06 demolition of Down on Sunday would be greatly welcomed this Sunday.

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