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No de-nine the Banner in Munster Senior PPS

Clare’s interests in the Munster Senior Post-Primary Schools Championships remain strong in the concluding stages as nine teams are still in the hunt for hurling and football silverware extends over seven different competitions. Having garnered a memorable Munster Senior C double last year, CBS Ennistymon have impressively maintained that dual mandate as they compete in the final four of the hurling (Senior C) and football (Senior B) in the last two Saturdays of January. Remarkably they could be facing the same opposition in both as while a CBS Ennistymon v CBS Mitchelstown football pairing is guaranteed on Saturday, January 28th, Scariff Community College can put a spanner in the works next Monday (January 16th) when taking on the Cork side in the Munster Senior C Hurling Quarter-Final in Cappamore at 12.30pm. Rice College, Ennis were the only other Banner school on track for a provincial double but would be agonisingly edged out by Charleville CBS in UL on Wednesday afternoon …

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Clare players to fore for Munster in interpro trouncing of Ulster

There was no shortage of Clare representation on the Munster side that overcame Ulster 34-0 in the opening game of the Interprovincial Championship. Former Ennis RFC player Aoife Corey started at full back as Kilkishen’s Clodagh O’Halloran packed down in the second row. Ireland international Maeve Óg O’Leary started in the back row while former Shannon RFC player Aoife Doyle lined out on the wing. Doyle cut through the Ulster defence in the opening period to cross the whitewash. Chloe Pearse, who also came through the ranks at Shannon, came off the bench as did Ennis’ Alana McInerney. Eilís Cahill made her senior Munster debut as she replaced fellow UL Bohemians club woman Fiona Reidy in the front row. Munster got off to a great start as O’Leary claimed a lineout 5m from the Ulster line before a powerful maul effort saw Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird peel off the back and crash over the line. Nicole Cronin was unsuccessful with …

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Clare boxer nominated for Irish pro debut of the year award

CLARE professional boxer David Ryan has been nominated for the irish-boxing.com Professional Debut of the Year Award. David is one of five nominated and describing his debut, the irish-boxing.com blurb said, “The Shannon kickboxing convert was thrown straight in at the deep end in November when he was matched with Nicaraguan dangerman Brayan Mairena in Belfast. Ryan rose to the challenge in a fun war and we can’t wait to see him in domestic fights at light welterweight.” David’s professional debut was televised on TG4 and he won on points after a hugely entertaining four rounds. Speaking to the Clare Champion in the aftermath of the fight, he said he hadn’t found it very taxing. “Not at all. The fight was actually fairly easy. The first three rounds I won fairly handily and in the fourth I took the foot off the gas and counterpunched a small bit, let him come and do the work, I didn’t have to chase …

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Considine keen to see rugby continue to grow in Clare

Irish rugby star Eimear Considine believes that the game is in a healthy place within the Banner county. Considine spoke to The Clare Champion after a recent open night for women’s rugby within the county, hosted by Ennis RFC. New and current players from Ennis, Kilrush and Lisdoonvarna descended on Lees Road to meet Considine who was in attendance alongside Ennis RFC alumni Alana McInerney, Aoife Corey, Eilís Cahill, Chisom Ugwueru, Emily Murphy and Aoibhinn O’Loughlin. Considine stated that for rugby to truly develop in the country, counties such as Clare need to do everything possible to encourage the next generation to take up the sport. “It is fantastic to see the growth of rugby in Clare. Lisdoonvarna, Kilrush and Ennis all coming together and representing the county will lead to better standards. Players can learn off each other and create a better standard. It’s something I would have only dreamed about growing up.” The Kilmihil native feels that if …

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Magpies win that started three-in-a-row recalled 50 years on

THIS year marked the 50th anniversary of Doonbeg’s 1972 county championship, an era when the Magpies were a huge force within Clare football. They had already won a three in a row (1967, 68 and 69), and the 72 championship was the start of another one, as they were also champions in 1973 and 74. Tommy Comerford was corner back on all of those six championship winning sides. “It was an exceptional team and it’s 50 years ago now, as you know there’s a lot of changes in 50 years! It’s nice to remember what happened,” he says. Beside him in the full back line was Senan Downes, who he says was an outstanding footballer who looked after the side’s physical preparation. “He played for Clare and he played in the Railway Cup. Senan was an army man and he was actually our trainer. He used to have us very fit, we’d get the army touch, there was no let …

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‘I got what I wanted early off Santa’ Conor McNamara

This Scariff/Ogonnelloe team had been the main crest of the rising tide that has swept through both clubs in recent years. However, after cutting their teeth at B level up along, it was a blossoming achievement for the amalgamation to finally secure a first prestigious Under 21A title according to manager Conor McNamara. “I think Mark [Rodgers] mentioned in his speech there that this is the fruit of years and years of hard work in both clubs. There’s trojan work going on and that’s very important because at the end of the day, it’s all about preparing players for the senior grade. “Look, it’s always sweet to win a final, we don’t win too many of them so credit has to go to the players, they are a great bunch. Everyone knows the big names we have but what people don’t realise is the not so big names and the work that they did in that first half because that’s …

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First Under 21A crown for Scariff-Ogonnelloe

Under 21A Hurling Championship Final Scariff-Ogonnelloe 2-17 Corofin/Ruan 1-12 Christmas came early to Scariff-Ogonnelloe as they fired the last ten points to cement their first ever Under 21A crown in Clarecastle on Friday afternoon. 35 years after Scariff’s sole Under 21A success, their blossoming underage partnership with Ogonnelloe ensured that the current crop finally fulfilled their destiny after rising meteorically through the ranks before exacting full revenge on Corofin/Ruan who had edged them out in a five goals thriller at the penultimate stage twelve months previously. Despite soaring seven clear against the strong conditions in the opening period following quickfire goals through inside assassins Mark Rodgers and Patrick Ryan, Scariff-Ogonnelloe were still forced to demonstrate their title-winning character by the two-thirds mark as they trailed the defending champions by two points. The turning point was undoubtedly a double save from a miserly Scariff-Ogonnelloe defence at the turn of the final quarter that prevented Diarmuid Cahill as well as Jack McDonagh’s …

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Clare’s king and queen of currachs enjoy big year on the water

With currach racing fitting the category of a niche sport, the achievements of those competing can often be overlooked. However, as the year draws to a close, it is impossible not to be impressed with the medal haul that Eoin Coyle and his wife Leah racked up on the water in 2022. The pair won six All Ireland titles between them while they have experienced unprecedented levels of success at the regattas across Ireland including in Doonbeg and Querrin. Before we focus in depth on their various achievements and accomplishments, how did this come to be? Eoin states his own journey in to the currach was one which started by chance outside Comerfords Bar in Doonbeg. “I started back in 2008. I was just meeting a few lads. A cousin of mine (Jason Honan) knew a bit about it all. I tried it and I knew straight away it was a tough old sport. It is hard on your hands. …

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