The Clare Echo

*Éire Óg’s Jarlath Collins and Danny Lyne swarm Cian O’Mahoney of Doonbeg. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CHAMPIONS Éire Óg survived a stern test from Doonbeg as they came moments from suffering their first championship defeat in the county in normal time in five years. Éire Óg 2-15 Doonbeg 3-9 Venue: Páirc na Muintire, Lissycasey A three point final margin doesn’t even come close to underlining how narrow the gap was between Éire Óg and Doonbeg in round two of the Clare SFC.

*St Joseph’s Miltown goalkeeper Cóilin Hayes gave a man of the match display between the posts. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography Goals wins games but so do goalkeepers as Cóilin Hayes proved more difficult than the Strait of Hormuz to pass for St Joseph’s Miltown to maintain their perfect start to the Clare SFC as Cratloe fell to a second loss.

*Kildysart goalkeeper Conor Cusack collides with his defender Cillian Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. FOR THE second year in a row, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Kildysart have finished all square in the Clare SFC. St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 3-12 Kildysart 3-12 Venue: Clarecastle Though they were level just three times over the hour, as ever there was very little between Kildysart and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who met in the Clare SFC for the third year running.

A PETITION from residents of a West Clare community calling for a footpath and traffic calming measures has renewed concerns over speeding on the approach to Kilrush. The issue was raised by Cllr Dinny Gould (IND) at the July meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, where he called for a review of speeding and traffic calming measures at Leadmore, as well as the exploration of a footpath with public lighting linking the area to Kilrush.

SIXMILEBRIDGE is a community to be proud of, says Hazel O’Callaghan, owner of KV Hair by Hazel. Originally from Ennis, O’Callaghan says that establishing her own business in 2023 was one of the biggest milestones of her career but she could not have anticipated the level of support she would receive from the Sixmilebridge community. “The support that I’ve got from the local community has been quite overwhelming and I’m very grateful for it.

THE reopening of Ennistymon’s public toilets has been sought, with councillors arguing the facilities are essential for a town that is “extremely busy” year-round. The issue was raised by Cllr Shane Talty (FF) at the July meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, where he called for immediate measures to reopen the public toilets, arguing that the recent investment in the facilities “cannot just be abandoned”.

*Darragh Conneely and Michael Cotter in action. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ENNISTYMON head into the second round of the Clare SFC against Kilmihil “with our eyes wide open” in what is a derby duel on the double. For the second year on the bounce, round two pits Ennistymon and Kilmihil. Last year, a Dan Keating inspired Kilmihil caused one of the shocks of the Clare SHC when overturning their North Clare opponents 0-16 0-13.

PJ RYAN has been in business in Sixmilebridge for more than 35 years, seeing “massive growth” in the village’s population while running PJ Ryan Oil alongside a tractor and machinery operation. As chairman of the Sixmilebridge Town Team, Ryan takes an active role in community development in the area and notes that The Bridge’s population has grown significantly in recent years. “The population of Sixmilebridge has increased massively over the last few years.

Winner Mary Carroll [Sponsor] Shauna Moylan Pauline Nally [Lady Vice Captain] Mary Fitzgibbon and Lady Captain Joan Hoctor. Photograph: Joe Buckley SHANNON Golf Club’s course development classic attracted a huge entry last weekend. The winners, with 137 points, were Brian Begley, Brendan Markham, Herbie Burke and Mike Ryan and they won on a countback from Aidan and Ray O Halloran, Frank Kavanagh and Christy Earls.

*Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Daniel Walsh gets away from Lissycasey midfielder, Ben Skerritt. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. KILMURRY IBRICKANE are the first side assured of a place in the knockout stages of the TUS Clare SFC after dismantling Lissycasey in comprehensive fashion. Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-16 Lissycasey 0-12 Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis Back to back wins have Kilmurry Ibrickane sitting top of Group 3 in the Clare SFC and on their way to the knockout stages.