*Sign Our Guestbook*

The Senior hurlers face Crusheen this Friday 14^th August in the third round of the hurling championship. To date they have recorded one win and suffered on loss to Corofin & Clooney-Quin respectively. All support much appreciated

The Junior B footballers have started the championship campaign well with two wins from two played. Moy were beaten in Gurteen by 2-11 to 0-4, with former Munster Captain, Anthony Foley bagging the goals. In the first round Shannon Gaels were beaten in Killaloe 2-9 to 0-9.

The Junior hurlers lost the county Junior A league semi final to St Josephs Doora Barefiled They were also defeated in the first round of the Junior B championship by Tubber.

The Under 16 hurlers have qualified for the A division county semi final. They defeated Eire Óg in Killaloe 3-14 to 0-14. Well done to their management of Arthur Stritch, Charlie O Connor & Robert McNamara. The team is assisted by five Broadford players.

The minors are hoping to qualify for a county B semi final in the coming weeks. They have some group games left and have recorded a recent win over Whitegate.

Cyclist Mike Culhane is back from his Epic Voyage to help the hurlers in the Championship Campaign  (www.thaireland.ie )

Corofin rue missed frees as Killaloe snatch dramatic lifeline win.
County senior hurling championship rd 2
SMITH O BRIENS............3-8
COROFIN................2-10
By Michael O Connor.

A gem of a game. This outing in Tulla will be chronicled in depth by few when the 2009 hurling year is researched in November yet it had all the positives required for a championship game with the loser out of contention facing relegation and for the winner hopes of better days to come in August. Passion was on display from the opening exchanges. Two goals after five minutes from Kevin Heagney and Liam Walsh allied to an opening minute Neil Killeen points plus a 6th minute Walsh point had the sides level. The ball flowed from end to end and whilst mistakes were made the game was all the more entertaining even though hurling purists may disagree. Patrick Aherne struck for the second Killaloe goal with Corofin corner forward Donnacha Kelleher responding with a point to leave the East Clare side three clear at the end of the first 15 minutes action. Liam Walsh, Kevin Heagney and Gerry Quinn tagged on points as Quinn missed four first half frees to leave Corofin two behind, (2-3) to (1-4) after 18 minutes. A minute later a well finished goal by Heagney swung the game Corofin’s way 23rd and 26th minute scores from Heagney and Pat Vaughan allowed Corofin a one point advantage, (2-5) to (2-4) at the break but the predict the winner at this stage would have been foolhardy in the extreme. Four quickly snapped scores seven minutes into the second half with both sides grabbing a brace of scores. Shane O Brien, John Cusack and Heagney (2 frees) were the target men. Liam Walsh levelled proceedings after 41 minutes but two scores from Quinn and Heagney restored a two point lead with 13 minutes to go. Killaloe emptied their bench as John Cusack cut the deficit to the minimum in the 55th minute. When Eamonn Dunne became only the fourth Corofin scorer after 58 minutes it appeared as if the North Clare side would hold out yet a fatal twist in the story was coming for one side. Three minutes of sustained pressure by Killaloe on the Corofin goal appeared ended as Gerry Quinn raced out but lost out possession. The ball was sent in one last time broke in the square and Pat Vaughan was on hand to billow the net to seal a late late one point win for Killaloe as Corofin were effectively removed from this years championship. Best for the winners were John Culhane, Mark McInerney, Seamus Gleeson, Pat Vaughan, John Cusack and Liam Walsh. Corofin could ironically have won two games in the championship with preparation and good fortune and now they are on the sidelines. Kevin Heagney scored the biggest personal tally of the weekend but it was not enough.

SMITH O BRIENS: Mark McInerney, Michael Flynn, Shane Touhy, John Culhane, Paul McKeogh, Seamus Gleeson, Trevor Howard, Pat Vaughan (1-1), Liam Walsh (1-4), Sean Conway, John Cusack (0-2), Kevin Stritch, Shane O Brien (0-1), Kevin McCarthy, Patrick Aherne (1-0). Subs: Kevin Walsh for McCarthy, Willie Neary for Conway,
COROFIN: John Williams, Shane Neylon, Luke O Loughlin, Paudie Barry, Martin Tierney, Gerry Quinn (0-2), Darragh Shannon, Ollie O Loughlin, Michael Shannon, John Shannon, Declan Lee, Neil Killeen (0-1), Donnacha Kelleher (0-1), Kevin Heagney (2-5), Eamonn Dunne (0-1),