Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Note poor performance and wilt (5) 4 Bake off British food (5) 7 Compete with luvvies (3) 9 Snail sent by daughter to Australia, say (6) 11 Dratted mend (4) 12 One politician is scoundrel (3) 13 Cheer near the construction (7) 15 Allowed force and shouted (7) 18 Animal in glasses (3) 19 Language in another sentence (4) 20 Walk like small ogre (6) 23 Get oysters with trifle (3) 24 Let it alter heading (5) 25 Deserve new remit (5)
DOWN
1 Examination taken on the way (7,4) 2 Removal includes eggs (3) 3 Hoping to get fastener (3) 5 Snakes have time for crow (5) 6 Leave fruit first for dessert (6,5) 8 Border of hedges (4) 10 Clapped around course (3) 13 Strike is success (3) 14 Join a religious man (3) 16 Tessa returned something valuable (5) 17 Point a set out (4) 18 A turn previously (3) 21 Cat to get married (3) 22 Very excited about whiskey (3)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Sag (5) 4 Skewered meat (5) 7 Contend (3) 9 Sicily, eg (6) 11 Sew (4) 12 Rascal (3) 13 Boost morale (7) 15 Bequeathed (7) 18 Donkey (3) 19 Gaelic (4) 20 Amble (6) 23 Plaything (3) 24 Name (5) 25 Commendation (5)
DOWN
1 Motoring exam (7,4) 2 Egg cells (3) 3 Brooch (3) 5 Brag (5) 6 Sundae (6,5) 8 Margin (4) 10 Circuit (3) 13 Punch (3) 14 Append (3) 16 Thing of value (5) 17 Sunrise direction (4) 18 In the past (3) 21 Male cat (3) 22 Grain (3)