The quarter-final pairings for the Clare SFC were finalised at the weekend.

Lisselan, the picturesque little nine-hole club just outside of Clonakilty, savoured a little piece of national success in 2010 when they reached the final of the Irish Mixed Foursomes Championship at Castlerock.

Two years ago, the little nine-hole Spanish Point links in West Clare didn’t have a pennant of any kind.

Last year’s beaten finalists, Cratloe, were knocked out of the Clare SHC on Saturday when their final group game against Crusheen finished in a 0-16 apiece draw.

Growing up in Shannon, Rachael English had heroes on her doorstep. Well, in the class next door at primary school.

Champions Crusheen crashed out of the Clare SHC when Inagh-Kilnamona beat them in Saturday’s quarter-final at Cusack Park, Ennis on a scoreline of 4-10 to 1-17.

Three of the four Clare SFC semi-finalists are now known as a result of four last-eight games played at the weekend. Holders Kilmurry-Ibrickane will face Kilrush Shamrocks, but St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield will have to wait to and see as Doonbeg and Éire Óg Ennis played out a 2-11 to 3-8 draw.

The Clare SFC got underway at the weekend with some excellent football served up.

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE manager John Kennedy summed it up neatly. This was one of those days that those patrolling the line dream of.

THERE’S roughly 137 miles separating Liam McHale’s home in Ballina in north Mayo and the village of Cooraclare in the west of Clare. In the winter he embarks on that route two nights every week to the pitch which is the epicentre for the Banner county’s football preparations.

INTERMEDIATE School Killorglin fought back to subdue the challenge of newcomers West Clare Colleges and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Corn Uí Mhuirí after a hard fought contest at Croagh yesterday.

IT’S as inevitable as death and taxes – we are going to have more wind farms as the Government strives to meet renewable energy targets.

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE, the Clare and Munster football champions relinquished their titles as they lost to rivals Doonbeg in Saturday’s county semi-final in Cooraclare (1-6 to 0-8).

AT the time it was a shattering experience, but St Gall’s club final loss four years ago has proven to be a defining moment in their football history.

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE are a formidable footballing outfit and St Gall’s will be under no illusions about that fact when they go head-to-head in today’s All-Ireland Club final.

KILMURRY-IBRICKANE boss Michéal McDermott dedicated yesterday’s All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final triumph to defender Declan Callinan, who missed the game through a controversial suspension.

CROKE PARK bosses are set to investigate claims from Tyrone boss Mickey Harte that the county may refuse to allow their games be televised as the row over retrospective disciplinary action intensifies.

KILMURRY IBRICKANE coach Micheál McDermott is relishing the challenge of Kerins O’Rahillys in tomorrow’s AIB Munster Club SFC final at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

DAVID MORAN will be available for Kerins O’Rahillys’ Munster club decider with Clare champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.

AFTER the inter-county championship where anything could happen — and usually did — say hello to the predictable club championship.