Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.

Cryptic clues

ACROSS

1 Bat makes noise (6)

4 Second taxi for blackleg (4) 7 Cry when wife has

trouble (4)

8 Quiet lift gets

commendation (6)

9 Most unexcited about

ditty (4)

10 Help make a wager (4)

12 Fill a keel with some

water (4)

14 Payment method for fish (3) 16 Insect of character, say (3) 17 Flutes around another

instrument (4)

20 Sense fellow swimmer (4) 23 Ingredient in his pudding (4) 24 Policeman in his element (6) 25 Auction ales off (4)

26 Most employees have to

stop (4)

27 Terrible to rent out (6)

DOWN

1 Drive back to see film about

parking (5)

2 Crustacean scrabbles

around (4)

3 The first feeble

adjustment (5)

4 Location of spectacle,

say (4)

5 Hold some chicks (6)

6 Bishop gets loan for

mixture (5)

11 Inclination to be corrupt (4) 13 Sailor finds the French

skilful (4)

15 Deny it’s rubbish (6)

16 Singer has one platform (5) 18 Cruel sort of complaint (5) 19 Advantage to have right

element (5)

21 Dame mad for cheese (4) 22 Tops up hot water (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Irish Mirror

Quick clues

ACROSS

1 Badminton tool (6) 4 Strike-breaker (4) 7 Howl (4)

8 Extol (6)

9 Melody (4)

10 Aid in crime (4)

12 Body of water (4) 14 Food fish (3)

16 Hive dweller (3)

17 Stringed

instrument (4)

20 Sense (4)

23 Potato (4)

24 Metal (6)

25 Transaction (4)

26 Stalk (4)

27 Decaying (6)

DOWN

1 Repulse (5)

2 Crustacean (4)

3 Minor

adjustment (5)

4 Venue (4)

5 Grip firmly (6)

6 Mix (5)

11 Crooked (4)

13 Competent (4)

15 Disobey (6)

16 Foundation (5)

18 Painful

affliction (5)

19 Non-metallic

element (5)

21 Type of cheese (4) 22 Notice (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Irish Mirror