*Ronan Monahan weaves through the Smith O’Briens defence of Evan Connolly, Cian Nolan and Mark Stritch. Photograph: Ruth Griffin TWO MORE teams will be relegated from the senior ranks this season so the opportunity to jump from the intermediate grade to the top tier is all the greater for the fifteen teams in action.
REPEATED CRITICISM with the “sub-standard” motorway exits in Co Clare has been voiced.
*Fergus Madden puts the sliotar past Paul Madden. Photograph: Ruth Griffin WINNING their opening senior championship encounter for the first time since securing promotion from the intermediate ranks in 2020 heralded a “huge victory” for Scariff.
*Scariff’s Keelan Hartigan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill SCARIFF BECAME the first side to put points on the board in the Clare senior hurling championship accounting for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield on Saturday afternoon.
*Darragh O’Shea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Any thoughts of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield gradually assimilating themselves back at senior level quickly evaporated last month when pooled in the dreaded group of death alongside back-to-back county champions Ballyea, then reigning Clare Cup champions Kilmaley, 2021 county finalists Inagh-Kilnamona and 2020 intermediate winners Scariff.
*St Joseph’s Miltown captain, Enda O’Gorman. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill They left it late but better late than never for St Joseph’s Miltown to snatch the Garry Cup honours for the first time in 18 years after a compelling extra-time battle with St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
*David McNamara holds off Denis O’Callaghan. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography With the opening rounds of the Clare senior football championship just a month away, this weekend’s league finals will give clubs a better indication of where they are in terms of preparation for the Jack Daly.
*Photograph: John Mangan CLARE DISTRICT SOCCER LEAGUE “is fighting a losing battle against mindless vandalism” with the actions blamed for delaying a number of projects planned for the County Grounds.
*An artist’s impression of the Plaza. PAT MCDONAGH’S plans for a €10m Barack Obama style Supermac’s motorway plaza outside Ennis off the M18 motorway linking Galway to Limerick are being stalled by a High Court challenge.
Éire Óg celebrate winning the U15A football championship. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ÉIRE ÓG completed a championship and Féile double claiming the U15A championship at the expense of neighbours St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.