Sports

Clare senior hurlers are two to three years behind the stronger counties in strength and conditioning. That’s the view of Ger O’Loughlin, who recently stepped down as team manager recently after a  two-year term.The All-Ireland-winning forward also revealed that the Clare County Board could not facilitate his proposal for the formation of a development squad earlier this year.In presenting a report on his tenure as manager at this week’s board meeting, O’Loughlin outlined how he envisaged a development squad of players who would have a future at senior level but would not yet have the skill required. “They would train twice a week from February onwards but this would not interfere with club training. It would be a stepping-stone to the senior squad. The county board could not offer this,” he said.Referring to the need for players to improve physically, he stressed that “nothing less than a very serious approach to a winter gym programme will suffice and the fruits …

Davy Fitzgerald will be ratified as Clare’s next senior hurling manager at the October meeting of Clare GAA on Tuesday, October 11.When nominations for the vacant post closed on Friday last, he was the only candidate having been nominated by “10 to 12 clubs”.“I am delighted to have received such strong support. If we are to go forward we will need everyone working together. It’s the only way to progress and I will give the job my all”, he told The Clare Champion.Fitzgerald will address the October meeting of Clare GAA when it is expected that he will name his backroom team. At this week’s meeting, chairman Michael O’Neill said that only one nomination was received. “Every club had the opportunity to nominate someone. I must say I am surprised as I thought there would be more nominations,” he commented.Miltown’s Noel Walsh proposed that the name of Davy Fitzgerald will be put forward to the October meeting for ratification. Sixmilebridge …

AS Davy Fitzgerald sat in the stand in Cusack Park last Saturday watching his beloved Sixmilebridge battle it out with Inagh-Kilnamona in the quarter-final of the senior hurling championship, no doubt thoughts of great days of triumph in both championship and league crossed his mind.However, little did he think that, four years after he last played competitively for the club, an opportunity would arise for him to make a return to the playing field.An unfortunate injury to Derek Fahy, the man who succeeded Fitzgerald between the posts as the Sixmilebridge number one, has resulted in Fitzgerald answering the call and returning to training. Fahy suffered a broken jaw and will be out of action for a while.Whether 40-year-old Fitzgerald will be wearing the number one jersey on Saturday week when the ’Bridge line out against Cratloe in the county semi-final remains to be seen.Asked about his return to action, he replied,  “It wasn’t expected. I am going back to help …

Wolfe Tones 1-10 Kilkee 0-9For the second time within a week, Wolfe Tones built up a sizeable lead over Kilkee in Kilmihil. This time, the Shannon men held onto it and made it back to the senior football county semi-final stage for the first time since 2007.Many elements of Sunday’s replay were similar to the drawn game at the same venue a week before. Wolfe Tones again played with a strong first-half wind, which blew in the direction of the scoreboard end. Like last week, they raced into an early lead and led 1-2 to 0-0 after eight minutes.Darren Ryan’s point, after just 26 seconds, was a portent of how sharp Wolfe Tones were in the opening quarter. The ball was popped to Ryan by Daniel Gallery, who enjoyed a superb first half. In fact, he scored 1-2 from play, with the goal in the seventh minute, having linked nicely with Stephen Monaghan. With Michael O’Shea and David Russell, both …

LAST weekend, the citizens of London were mesmerized as the humble Clare currach cut through the swollen waters of the River Thames, keeping apace with the more conventional and customised fleet of rowing boats.The Great River Race from the Docklands to Richmond over a gruelling 22-mile course with deadly currents and a spring high tide set a fair challenge for the two teams from Fergus Rowing Club, based in Clarecastle.The club, only in its second year, has performed well in county and national leagues throughout the year and the teams had been training for several weeks in preparation for the Great River Race.The annual rowing race had over 330 entries with competitors from England, Holland, Denmark, Canada and France.There was plenty of admiration for the craftsmanship and elegance of the Clare currach and indeed many comments on the style of the oars, which are very narrow at the tip compared to conventional rowing oars.However, the comments were soon retracted as …

AS the 60 x 30 handball season draws to a close, Clare were involved in three deciders on the last weekend of All-Ireland finals, winning two doubles titles, to add to singles medals already captured by Pat Donellan and John Kirby.All three finals were played at St Coman’s, Roscommon town on Saturday and first up was the ladies’ junior singles final between Tuamgraney’s Ashling Fitzgerald and Aoife McCarthy of Westmeath. Fitzgerald won a great first game 21-19 but, despite putting up a great battle, was defeated 21-11, 21-13 in the next two games.Pat Donellan and Stephen McInerney played Cavan pair Andy Clarke and Dermot Dolan in the golden masters’ B doubles final. Similar to Donellan’s epic singles final win two weeks previously, the Clare duo were again forced to go the full distance to claim victory in the third game on a 12-21, 21-9, 21-12 scoreline.After recovering from losing the first game, the Kilkishen clubmen always looked in control and …

A WORKING holiday abroad provided the three young Clare men with the chance to experience playing Australian Rules football.Twenty-four-year-old Gerard Murphy from Lissycasey has played as a forward and back at senior level for his home club. Patrick Looney, 21, a forward and Gearoid Meade, 23, a back, have both played senior level for their club, Cooraclare. Looney was a county minor representative and Meade represented the county a U-21 level.After their arrival in Australia, they learned there was employment available in a grain terminal in the small country town of Beulah in the state of Victoria.Beulah is a town of 200 people located 100 kilometres from the nearest regional city. The main industry is grain farming and the population of the area is declining.The lads immediately impressed the locals with their strong work ethic. They also got along well with the young people from the town. It was through these friendships that the Irish boys got invited to come …

Clare GAA has decided to seek nominations for the position of county senior football manager for 2012. Holder of the post for the past two years, Micheál McDermott confirmed to this week’s special board meeting that he is available to continue for another term and this has led to speculation that he will be the only candidate when nominations close next Wednesday.Miltown delegate Noel Walsh proposed at this week’s meeting that the same selection process as applied for the hurling post should apply now and clubs should be asked to nominate. The proposal was seconded by Clondegad’s Seamus O’Reilly, who went on to ask “the local media to note that his club were of the opinion there is a need for change”.Doonbeg’s Michael Neenan asked the meeting “to go deeper with regard to who is put in place. Put in place a director of football and start from the ground up. Take a leaf from the book of Tipperary in …