Sports

Born a mere ten days apart, it’s not just their proximity of age that continues to bind first cousins Chloe and Séadna Morey together. Their love of hurling and Sixmilebridge were obvious genetic gifts from their families but it’s what they did with those attributes that have shaped their life narrative. Success on the field came early, with both garnering adult All-Ireland honours before finishing their teenage years. Chloe started for Clare’s flagship camogie side, aged 15, in the 2008 All-Ireland Junior Final against Offaly and would be honoured with a prestigious All-Star in 2013. Séadna was part of a historic new crop of hurlers that landed back-to-back Munster Minor crowns at the beginning of the last decade, following up with a hat-trick of provincial and All-Ireland honours before the holy grail was achieved at senior level in 2013. That’s not all though as since November 2021, the Morey cousins are also in business together as they combined their love …

Clare have been drawn to face Kerry and Cork in the McGrath Cup which kicks off on January 9. Colm Collins’ side come up against reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry in their opening competitive fixture of 2023. That game will be hosted at a Kerry venue with details on a venue to be announced in due course. That game is down for decision on Monday, January 9 before a home tie against John Cleary’s Cork outfit the following Saturday, January 14. The winner of the group of three will qualify directly for the McGrath Cup final and face off against the first placed side in the other group containing Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford. Kerry are the reigning McGrath Cup champions as they comfortably dispatched Cork by 2-17 to 0-11 in the final. This was the first piece of silverware they won in Jack O’Connor’s third spell as manager. Clare last lifted the McGrath Cup in 2019 when they defeated Cork 1-9 …

In a top class Munster hurling club final a powerful finish saw reigning provincial and All Ireland champions Ballygunner prevail by 1-23 to 0-17 after a huge battle with Ballyea. Outscoring the Clare champions by 0-6 to 0-1 in the last ten minutes put the icing on the cake for Darragh O’Sullivan’s charges. Tony Kelly was simply majestic for the Banner men scoring 0-11 but it is youngster Patrick Fitzgerald who will take all the plaudits after landing 1-4 from play in a devastating performance. The first half simply flew by such was the non stop action on display. Starting brightly the Waterford champions led 0-4 to 0-2 and only for a remarkable Peter Casey block on Hutchinson the game’s first green flag would have arrived. Five Tony Kelly points though followed including a sensational monster point from distance before disaster for Ballyea in the 20th minute. Pauric Mahony picked up possession just inside the 40 before cutting through and …

Sixmilebridge’s Junior B hurlers embark on a new mission as they aim to come through a Munster quarter final against Kerry’s St. Brendan’s Ardfert this Sunday (throw in 12.30pm). Chaplin admits this competition, hosted by Killeedy GAA club, offers Sixmilebridge’s squad a unique opportunity to sample a provincial competition; one he hopes his squad will embrace. “It’s bonus territory but at the same time when you are in something you want to go far. Lads might not get to compete in Munster again. With Intermediate or Junior A you can’t enter a second team in those competitions. “Even when we won the final we knew before leaving that day of this tournament. “Scariff reached the Munster final last year and we put it to the lads that the opportunity was there if we put our shoulder to the wheel. We are representing our club in Munster so it’s a fantastic opportunity.” With Sixmilebridge fielding four teams at adult level, the …

UNTIL it is surpassed, 2016 will be regarded as Ballyea’s greatest season as breakthrough county and Munster titles were garnered in a fairytale few months that only ended in the All-Ireland Final on the following St Patrick’s Day. Personally however, 2022 has to be Paul Flanagan’s best year to date, with his immense performances for Clare earning him a first ever All-Star nomination before also excelling once more for Ballyea in securing historic back-to-back Canon Hamilton crowns. Understandably therefore, he is not too keen for 2022 to end anytime soon. “The year keeps going and it’s funny because it kind of instills a bit of extra hunger in you too to go up to Dublin for that awards night. It was my first time at anything like that whereas for some guys they’re probably there every year. “So for me it was all new as the All-Stars recipients are the best in the country and to get to that level …

GORT teenager Cliona D’Arcy won the gold medal in the heavyweight division of boxing’s World Youth Championships last Saturday. It sees the Leaving Cert student at Gort Community School add to the European gold medal that she won in April. D’arcy defeated India’s Kirti Kirti in the final, with all five judges giving her the verdict. “It’s absolutely amazing, I actually can’t put it into words. The support from everyone really helps, and the coaches’ advice has really brought me a long way, I’m absolutely delighted!” she said in the aftermath of the final. “We watched a few fights and saw that she kept coming forward, so trying to stay off her and keep angles was my main strategy for the fight. “I was very, very nervous going in. I didn’t know what to expect, I thought that she probably would have the better of me, but as soon as I stepped in the ring my nerves calmed a bit. …

Former Waterford defender Noel Connors believes Ballygunner’s strength in depth will prove decisive when they meet Ballyea in this Saturday’s Munster final. The three time All-Star believes Ballyea will provide a stern examination of the reigning champions’ credentials, but he believes that Ballygunner possess a squad that is deep enough to withstand the best Robbie Hogan’s side can produce. “They probably have a squad of 32, 33, 34 lads at a similar level. They have players who have starred at minor and U20 level and sometimes those guys aren’t making the panel. Fellas can come in if a guy like Dessie (Hutchinson) is being held. “Probably not many people knew Harry Ruddle before his goal in the All-Ireland final but he was exceptional in the Club Championship all along and was probably the best player in the league down here. “They have quality throughout and that’s why I think they can pull away near the end against Ballyea. I think …

FEARS have been expressed that farmers and dwellers in East and North Clare will be forced to take the law into their own hands in a scenario akin to the infamous Padraig Nally court case following a spate of rural crime. Councillor Pat Burke has revealed one farmer told him he has a “shotgun loaded at the head of the bed” at night to protect himself from any intruder, while former councillor Bill Slattery has warned there could be another Padraig Nally scenario involving North Clare farmers who are being “bullied and threatened”. In December, 2006, Padraig Nally was cleared of the manslaughter of John Ward by the Court of Criminal Appeal, which overturned an initial six-year sentence. Mr Nally, of Funshinagh Cross, Claremorris, shot the father of 11 at his farm on October 14, 2004. In court evidence, Mr Nally said he believed Mr Ward had been on his land to commit a burglary and confirmed he had been …