Sports

CONNOLLY native Aidan Clarke departs for Russia as only the third Irishman to ever compete in the men’s sabre competition in the World Fencing Championships. The event will take place from Monday next to Sunday, July 19, in the famous Olympic Stadium in Moscow. Twenty-six-year-old Aidan will compete on Monday and Tuesday in what is the largest indoor arena in Europe, seating an impressive 35,000, or more than twice the seating capacity of Thomond Park. The world championship titles will be decided between 912 men and women fencers from 108 countries and also at stake is qualification for the Rio Olympics next year. Aidan is a member of the Irish team consisting of four other athletes. Two of these are also taking part in the men’s sabre section of the competition. The sabre has a total length of 105cm, its blade is 88cm long and a hit can be made with the cutting edge, as well as the point. Qualification …

The Clare senior hurling team is unchanged for Saturday’s eagerly awaited qualifier clash with Cork at Semple stadium in Thurles (throw in 7p.m.) from the side which easily accounted for Offaly last week With a full squad available, manager Davy Fitzgerald and his selectors have opted to again keep Colm Galvin, recently returned from a spell in the U.S., in the reserves where, this week, he is joined by joint captain Pat Donnellan who missed last week’s win due to suspension. The team named for duty is Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon, Capt. (Crusheen), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge): Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Jack Browne (Ballyea): Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Tony Kelly (Ballyea): John Conlon (Clonlara), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge): Darach Honan (Clonlara), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Conor McGrath (Cratloe). By Seamus Hayes  

After just a year in the job, Ephie Fitzgerald has resigned as trainer of the Clare senior footballers. His decision comes in the wake of Clare’s disappointing exit to lowly Longford in the qualifiers. The former Cork player and Nemo Rangers clubman cited “family and work commitments” as the reason for his decision to step down from Colm Collins’ management team. Fitzgerald, who has coached Nemo Rangers to four Cork senior football championship titles, succeeded fellow Corkonian, Paudie Kissane in the job at the start of the year after he too hadvacated the position after one year in the role. And things may get worse for football boss Colm Colins as selector Ger Keane has strongly hinted that he may call time on his involvement with the squad. After Saturtday’s match with Longford, Ger Keane told The Clare Champion that “it’s more than likely I will step down. I have three years done and with family and work commitments, it …

Clare Camogie Board has responded to a statement issued by the Camogie Association on Tuesday regarding the clash of fixtures with the Clare ladies football side on Saturday next. In a statement, the Clare board said, “The All Ireland Camogie Championship draft fixtures are issued in October each year for consultation to all county boards. These issued in November to the LGFA. The best opportunity to avoid Camogie/LGFA fixture clashes is when the fixtures of both associations are at the planning/consultative stages. Clare Camogie Board notified the Camogie Association on Tuesday, November 11 of the potential clash of various fixtures in the 2015 season, including that of the 11th July 2015.” The statement noted the Clare board again notified the Camogie Association of the clash within 48 hours of the Clare ladies footballers having qualified for the Munster Intermediate Final on Saturday, June 20. “The board are extremely disappointed that having taken the appropriate actions within viable timelines to avoid …

On Wednesday evening Clare camogie board issued a statement in which they clearly take issue with the camogie association’s comments concerning a clash of fixtures involving the association and the ladies football association on Saturday July 11. Clare are scheduled to play round 2 of the All-Ireland senior camogie championship on Saturday afternoon when they host Dublin while the Clare lady footballers will play the Munster intermediate football final against Waterford in Mallow on the same afternoon. Four players are common to both panels In their statement the national body suggested that the best opportunity to avoiding such fixture clashes is when both associations are at the planning/consultative stage According to the Clare statement, issued through the board’s public relations officer Brid McNamara “Clare Camogie Board notified the Camogie Association on Tuesday 11th November 2014 of the potential clash of various fixtures in the 2015 season, including that of the 11th July(next Saturday). “Clare Camogie Board again notified the camogie …

  Clare will play Cork in round 2 of the hurling qualifier on this Saturday. It’s expected that the game, a repeat of the Al-Ireland final of 2013, will form part of a double header with the Limerick v Dublin tie. Venue and times will be announced after a meeting of the CCC in Croke park this Monday afternoon. Cork, beaten by Waterford in the Provincial semi-final, bounced back into contention with a big win over Wexford at Wexford park on Saturday. Clare and Cork last met at the end of February in the league when Cork emerged with a comfortable 1-24 to 0-17 victory at Pairc Ui Rinn. In 2013 the teams produced two thrilling contests in the All-Ireland final with Clare emerging as winners in a replay By Seamus Hayes  

Clare 3-26 Offaly 0-15 Clare had their expected easy win over Offaly in this qualifier tie played before an attendance of 14,268 at Cusack Park on Saturday evening A lively start which saw them go 1-5 to 0-1 ahead after just eight minutes laid the foundation for Clare’s victory Three in a row in as many minutes helped Offaly close the gap but excellent scores from Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath kept Clare ahead and when the half time whistle sounded they were 1-13 to 0-9 ahead Two goals inside the first eight minutes of the second half killed off any hope of an Offaly rally. As Clare opened up a big lead they were able to give game time to five substitutes including Colm Galvin who came in for the last seven minutes much to the delight of the big Clare following at the game Scorers—Clare Tony Kelly 0-8; Conor McGrath 1-4; John Conlon 1-2; Shane O’Donnell 1-0; Conor …

Longford 2-12 Clare 1-12 THE Clare footballers exited the All-Ireland qualifiers following a very disappointing loss to Longford in Cusack Park on Saturday evening. The kicking of 12 wides was a huge factor in Clare’s demise. However they also made poor decisions on the ball, conceded scoreable frees and generally did not look as sharp as Longford, who were slicker and much more economical in possession. Following a season of progress in 2014, where they won promotion and played five championship games, 2015 will go down as a year in which Clare stood still, albeit they did retain their division 3 status. However championship wise, while they beat Limerick in Ennis, they have since lost heavily to Cork and now at home to Longford. Jack Sheedy’s team were reduced to 14 men when Diarmuid Masterson was sent off on a second yellow card 12 minutes from time but the extra man seemed to make no discernible difference. Dessie Reynold’s second …