Clare overcome Sligo challenge to claim All-Ireland U18 ‘B' crown
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Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Motorsport: Stafford and Cleary hang on to win in Midleton
With a 15.3-second lead entering the final stage, the Wexford crew of James Stafford/Richard Cleary (Darrian T90 GTR) almost backed off too much but did enough to win the Midleton-based CDE Imokilly Rally by 4.4s. Armagh's Jason Black and his Cork based co-driver Karl Egan took second place as they pushed hard on the final stage and while they almost caught Stafford/Cleary, they deprived the Monaghan/Cavan pairing of Johno Doogan/Paul Lennon (Ford Escort) of the runner-up spot by 4.7s. Doogan led after the opening 15.5km stage where Stafford, who reckoned the dust on the stage was more that he anticipated, took time to get into a rhythm and finished just 1.1s in arrears. Gary Kiernan (Ford Escort) in third struggled with brakes that overheated. Top seed Rob Duggan lost time when he had to reverse after he spun his Escort, he ended the stage down in seventh - 12.7s off the lead. Stafford set a strong time on the second stage to move into the lead - 5.7s ahead of Doogan, who wasn't committing as it would involve some risk. Kiernan slotted into third but continued to have brake issues. An untroubled Michael Cahill (Escort) was fourth followed by the Toyota Starlet of Armagh's Jason Black and the Escort of Clare's Padraig Egan (Ford Escort). Although Duggan partially sorted some issues, he withdrew at the Midleton service park leaving Stafford tackle the repeated of both stages as rally leader. The Wexford driver was best on SS3 to move 9s ahead of Doogan while Egan crashed out. On the fourth stage Black, who struggled on the opening stage, showed a fine turn of speed and topped the time sheets to move up two places to third - a mere 1.1s behind Doogan. Stafford reckoned the dust on SS4 prevented him from posting a better time, nevertheless, he led by 13s. Kiernan attributed his time loss on SS4 to having stiffened the front of his Escort too much as it was "lifting off the road" on the high speed sections. Cahill in fifth was a little concerned about some differential issues while Peter Wilson, who posted good times on both reckoned his Escort was running a little too hot. With the brake issues sorted, Moffett was pleased with his performances on both stages, he was seventh in a top ten that also featured Vincent O'Shea (Darrian T90 GTR) and the Escorts of Cian Walsh and Mark Dolphin. Walsh, in the Tom Randles Escort, was happy with his performance while Dolphin was unhappy when he encountered a stricken Escort being removed on SS3. Protecting his lead position Stafford stretched his advantage to 15.3s on the penultimate stage. Doogan tried a harder compound that took a few kilometres to work properly as Black trimmed the margin between them to 0.9s. Kiernan and Cahill followed with the latter closing to within 5.3s as Kiernan tried some different tyre options. Moffett had a big moment on the stage and decided to call it a day. At the latter end of the top 10 Cian Walsh and Mark Dolphin battled for local bragging rights as the latter cut the deficit to a mere 0.7s. Stafford arrived at the end of final stage a trifle worried as he reckoned he had backed off too much, to his relief, his victory was confirmed within a few minutes. Elsewhere, Kiernan and first time co-driver Jake O'Sullivan (Escort) managed to fend off Cahill for fourth with Meath's Peter Wilson (Ford Escort) sixth. Kenmare's Vincent O'Shea (Darrian T90 GTR) took a trouble-free drive to seventh as Dolphin reeled in Walsh for eighth and top Cork driver by just 0.2s. Youghal's Jason and Ross Ryan (Toyota Starlet) won Class 11F and the Castlemartyr/Ardfield crew of Darragh Walsh/Gary Lombard (Honda Civic) took the Junior honours. CDE Imokilly Rally, Midleton: 1. J. Stafford/R. Cleary (Darrian T90 GTR) 41m. 08.2s; 2. J. Black/K. Egan (Toyota Starlet)+4.4s; 3. J. Doogan/P. Lennon (Ford Escort)+9.1s; 4. G. Kiernan/J. Sullivan (Ford Escort)+38.3s; 5. M. Cahill/C. Smith (Ford Escort)+44.1s; 6. P. Wilson/J. McCarthy (Ford Escort)+1m. 19.2s; 7. V. O'Shea/E. O'Donoghue (Darrian T90 GTR)+1m. 38.6s; 8. M. Dolphin/T. Delaney (Ford Escort)+1m. 55.2s; 9. C. Walsh/D. Doonan (Ford Escort)+1m. 55.9s; 10. D. Hickey/R. O'Riordan (Ford Escort)+2m. 11.5s.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Heartbreak for Sligo's minors as Clare run out four point winners in All-Ireland final
There was heartbreak for the Sligo minor girls on Saturday afternoon as Clare ran out four point winners in the ZuCar All Ireland Under 18 'B' final at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan. Trailing by two points at half-time, reigning champions Sligo brought the game level with seven minutes to go, but Clare pushed on and added four further points, with Sligo's last score coming on 53 minutes. Ellen Giblin hit five of Sligo's seven points, in a game where Keith McLoughlin's side were second best despite a determined and gutsy performance. It was a third consecutive All Ireland 'B' Under 18 final for Sligo, who had hoped to make it two-in-row after creating history to win the title last year with a victory over Tyrone. Nerves would not have been a concern for this Sligo side, with the experience of finals behind them. And they got off to a good start with Giblin getting them in front with two minutes on the clock from a free. Sligo looked determined to start this game fast, and were getting bodies forward early. A block from Clare's Aisling Kelly blocked a threatening shot from Caoimhe Crawley before Clare levelled the score through Aoibheann Ryan. Giblin teed up Drumcliffe/Rosses Point's Gemma O'Callaghan to put Sligo in front again. The crossbar denied Ria Meaney, but Barry Donnelly's side were back on level terms on eight minutes courtesy of Maeve Clancy. ADVERTISEMENT The sides again exchanged scores with nothing separating the two sides after 16 minutes with the score level at three points apiece. Giblin's third of the afternoon, again from a free, had Sligo leading again but Clare were looking increasingly threatening as they got forward, playing some free-flowing football. Although, they were still trailing by a point after 26 minutes, with Sophie Culleton forcing a save from Catherine Gallagher in the Sligo goals. A foul on Aoibheann Ryan put an end to another lovely Clare move, and Sligo should have extended their lead moments later. Caoimhe Crawley drove forward and probably could have gone for a point, but selflessly tried to find a team-mate with Clare managing to clear the danger. And just before half-time, Clare got the goal that would prove crucial. A superb finish from Doonbeg's Ryan after intricate build-up play had Clare leading by 1-4 to 0-4 at the half-way point, but Sligo were not panicking. The sides again exchanged scores after the restart, with Keith McLoughlin shuffling his pack and making changes seven minutes into the half to try and change the direction in which this game was heading. Sligo were unhappy when Kate Smith's goal on 42 minutes was disallowed for a square ball, with Smith, the hero from the semi-final, getting on the end of Rachel McGoldrick's drilled ball into the danger zone. There was 12 minutes between Culleton's last point for Clare and the next score of the game, which arrived via substitute Katie McDonagh on 49 minutes to put just a point between the sides. Ciara Gilligan almost had the game level, but somehow her attempt at a point hit the post and bounced out, with the Clare rearguard making the clearance. With seven minutes to go, Sligo were back on level terms thanks to Giblin from a free. The game was there for the taking, but Sligo couldn't match Clare who pushed on and added four further points, with that score from Giblin the final point of Sligo's afternoon. Culleton and Hazel Keating brought Clare's lead to two, and Abi Kelly stretched that lead to three points on the hour mark. Clare were defending for their lives and while Sligo fought hard, they were finding Clare difficult to break down. And a late point brought Clare's lead to four at the death, with the trophy going back to Clare. Scorers for Clare: Aoibheann Ryan 1-1, Hazel Keating 0-2, Sophie Culleton 0-2, Abi Kelly (0-1), Maeve Clancy (0-1), C Mescal (0-1). Scorers for Sligo: E Giblin 0-5, Gemma O'Callaghan (0-1), Katie McDonagh (0-1). Clare: Nicole Clark, Abbie Cahill, Aisling Kelly, Eimear Burke, Abi Kelly, Hazel Keating, Leah Daly, Ali Talty, Aisling Crowe, Kayla Darcy, Ria Meaney, Sophie Culleton, Aoibheann Ryan, Aine McNamara, Maeve Clancy. Subs: Shannon Cagney for Ali Talty (43), Serena Clancy for Maeve Clancy (43). Sligo: Catherine Gallagher, Kathryn Feeney, Leanne Galvin, Caoimhe Morgan, Aoibheann Durcan, Tara Hastings, Ruth Killoran, Lucy Henry, Laura McGuire, Anna Breheny, Gemma O'Callaghan, Kate Smith, Ellen Giblin, Grainne Smith, Caoimhe Crawley.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Clare pip Sligo to LGFA U18B title
ZuCar All-Ireland U18 B Ladies Football Championship: Clare 1-8 Sligo 0-7 Clare are this year's ZuCar All-Ireland B champions after they overcame a battling Sligo side who came into the match as reigning champions at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Mayo. The sides were very well matched throughout the course of the game with both being made to work for scores during the contest. Sligo opened the scoring through a free from Ellen Giblin who was their main scoring threat throughout the match. The sides were level for the first time on five minutes with Aiobheann Ryan pointing for Clare. Sligo restored the lead a minute later when Gemma Callaghan was on target after some excellent build-up play from Giblin. Caoimhe Crawley of Sligo in action against Aisling Kelly, left, and Abi Kelly of Clare during the ZuCar All-Ireland U18 B Ladies Football Championship final match between Clare and Sligo at Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Ria Meaney was unlucky not to draw her side level on seven minutes with her effort coming off the crossbar but Meave Clancy had the sides level once again. The sides were level again at the midway point in the half but Sligo retook the lead on 20 minutes with Giblin adding her third free of the half. Ryan had claims for a penalty but after consultation with his umpires match referee Kevin Phelan deemed the Clare forward to be charging. Ryan got the only goal of the match before the half-time break when she cut through the Sligo defence before finding the back of the net. A point after the restart from Sligo's Giblin left just a point between the sides at 1-3 to 0-5. Sophie Culleton restored a two point for Barry Donnelly's side after 37 minutes. Sligo looked like they had got a goal on 41 minutes when Rachel McGoldrick set up Kate Smith but the goal was disallowed for a square ball. But Sligo hit back and drew level with points from Kate McDonagh and free from Giblin. Clare went 17 minutes without a score but a point from Culleton edged them back in front. The Clare defence was impressive in the final five minutes with some key turnovers proving vital and they added three points to seal the win. Scorers for Clare: A Ryan 1-1; H Keating 0-2, S Culleton 0-2 (1f), A Kelly, M Clancy, C Mescal 0-1 each. Sligo: E Giblin 0-5 (4f), G Callaghan, K McDonagh 0-1 each. CLARE: N Clark; A Cahill, A Kelly, E Burke; A Kelly, H Keating, L Daly; A Talty, A Crowe; K Darcy, R Meaney, S Culleton; A Ryan, A McNamara, M Clancy. Subs: S Clancy for M Clancy (44), S Cagney for Talty (44), C Mescal for Kelly (60). SLIGO: C Gallagher; K Feeney, L Galvin, C Morgan; A Durcan, T Hastings, R Killoran; L Henry, L McGuire; A Breheny, G Smith, G Callaghan; K Smith, C Crawley, E Giblin. Subs: C Gilligan for McGuire (37), K McDonagh for G Smith (37), R McGoldrick for Breheny (38), S McDaniel for K Smith (47), A Canning for Killoran (60). Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).
