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Tag Archives: All-Ireland final

Amy Lenihan

Family bond strong in Clare camp ahead of All-Ireland final

On the eve of Clare’s first All-Ireland Intermediate Final in seven years, the Lenihan family have unquestionably been hugely influential in the Banner’s passage back to the LGFA’s most prestigious annual day. It essentially came down to answering the county’s call as Sean Lenihan admirably stepped up to assume the vacant Chairperson’s position at short notice ahead of the 2021 season while later in the same year, his daughter Amy, a notable forward for her club St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, was asked by new manager Evan Talty to cover as sub goalkeeper despite having never played in that position before. Both have only gone from strength to strength in their respective roles ever since as Sean is now in his third year as Clare’s administrative figurehead while Amy has made the custodian’s position her own since last season. However, while their impacts have emanated from contrasting on and off the field approaches, their goal is certainly common to both as getting …

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Clare Ladies' Football manager Wayne Freeman

Wayne can be a Freeman of Clare with All-Ireland breakthrough

There was almost a sense of inevitability when Kildare eventually overcame chief Leinster rivals Wexford to cement their place against Clare in the All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Final in Croke Park this Sunday. After all, the hand of fate had thrown up a potential revenge mission for the Banner who had agonisingly missed their chance at intermediate glory in the 2016 decider against the Lilywhites. More than that though, having been contentiously edged out twice by Kildare already in 2023 alone including an extra-time National League Division 3 Final reverse back in April, it’s easy to see why Clare are hell bent on redressing the balance. However, the final ingredient of Clare’s date with destiny is the fact that Clare Manager Wayne Freeman and his immediate backroom team of Lee Hunt and Brian Willis are all Kildare natives, albeit that their residency permits could be in jeopardy as the banter levels have intensified over the past three weeks. “I’ve been …

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Clare ladies' football captain Caoimhe Harvey.

Caoimhe eager to scratch a seven year All-Ireland itch

Redemption has been the driving force of many’s a player but the reality is that most don’t ever get the opportunity to make up for a previous failing not to mind fully redress the balance. Caoimhe Harvey is a prime example as having hit the ground running in her first year at adult inter-county level in 2016, the teenager helped Clare to reach Croke Park only for her All-Ireland Intermediate Final dream to turn into a nightmare as the Banner were agonisingly edged out by Kildare. “This is the first time since then so it is a massive day for anyone playing in an All-Ireland Final. I mean emotions are really, really high and for me back in 2016, I had just turned 17 and I definitely let the occasion get to me. “You can’t help yourself. I mean I was a teenager getting a Garda escort down Jones Road, this is the stuff you dream about. And the atmosphere …

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Clare Camogie manager, John Carmody.

Carmody looking to Croke Park bounce for future of Clare Camogie

A rising tide lifts all boats comes to mind when speaking to John Carmody on his hopes for the future of Clare Camogie. Not content to just savour a first All-Ireland Final appearance in Croke Park this Sunday, the Kilmaley clubman, who guided the Clare minor camogie teams to successive All-Ireland deciders at the backend of the noughties, is confident that if the current momentum can raise the bar for all their adult teams. “Look, we’ve a fantastic team, particularly this year as our results have been outstanding. We’ve shown real composure and shown a team ethic that you need to win big games and we’ll need that again on Sunday, We’ve asked the girls for one final push as we’ve focused on improving performances every day we’ve gone out this year and none more so than Sunday week as we’re targeting our best performance of the year. And if we get that, hopefully we’ll be going up the steps …

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From dreams of Cusack Park to the steps of Croke Park

The Clare Junior Camogie team will take to the hallowed turf of Croke Park on Sunday bidding to complete a remarkable journey that has seen them struggle to field teams to now contesting an All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Final. Eoin Brennan spoke with mentor Ann-Marie McGann who revived the county’s second team in 2016 and has been driving it ever since. Cusack Park would have been a major dream when AnnMarie McGann first initiated the re-ignition of a second county team back in 2016. It has been tried and failed before in different guises, most prominently when Clare’s flagship side finally made the breakthrough from junior level themselves after a series of heartbreaking final defeats in 2008. Making up for lost time, the decision was made to catapult Clare up to senior for 2009 while also entering a second team at intermediate level. It was an undertaking that not only drained resources but the management too under Bertie Sherlock who …

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Ogie Fanning of Clare celebrates a goal during their Minor All-Ireland championship final at Thurles. Photograph by John Kelly.

HURLING: Banner blast past Galway to claim All-Ireland victory

All-Ireland Minor Final Clare 2-22 Galway 4-11 At Semple Stadium, Thurles A stunning third quarter paved the way for a glorious afternoon for Clare hurling as the All-Ireland minor title was claimed for only the second time in the county’s history on the back of a famous five-point victory, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh. This was when a rampant Banner side breached the Galway goal on two occasions and turned what was a one-point interval lead into a convincing 2-16 to 2-8 advantage that had Galway reeling, on the ropes, and on their way out. The Tribesmen had laid waste all opponents on the way to the decider, but in Clare they met their match as Ogie Fanning’s goal inside a minute of the restart put a fire under them that ultimately burned Galway’s challenge. The second came via a James Hegarty free that was fumbled to the net by the keeper on 36 minutes and from there it was just …

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LADIES FOOTBALL: Downes strikes late to secure All-Ireland glory for Clare

All-Ireland Minor C Ladies Football Final Clare 3-13 Wicklow 3-12 ABBY Downes’ injury time point ensured Clare were crowned ZuCar All Ireland Minor C Ladies Football champions after a thrilling showdown with Wicklow, writes Ivan Smyth. This was a stunning triumph for David O’Brien’s side as they faced a five point deficit at two separate stages of the second half. They had also shipped 1-2 without reply to go in level at the break despite dominating much of the opening period. Throw in the loss of goalkeeper Katie McMahon, who was withdrawn four minutes in to the second half after landing awkwardly towards the conclusion of the first period and Clare faced no shortage of adversity. The win appeared unlikely when Wicklow scored 2-4 without reply either side of half time to leave Clare trailing 2-10 to 1-8. Even when Abby Downes fired a ferocious left footed effort to the net to slash the deficit to two points after 40 …

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Clare hurlers face a tough Tipp challenge

TIPPERARY did not compete in the recent Munster Senior League, opting instead to concentrate on preparation for what most see as a huge year for the team. Favourites to win last year’s All-Ireland title, there was disappointment amongst their followers when they went out of the race to eventual champions Galway at the semi-final stage. After taking time out to consider their next move, manager Michael Ryan and his team agreed to continue for another term and all reports suggest they have prepared well for the new season. They hammered Galway champions Liam Mellows in a recent friendly and, according to reports, such was their sharpness that Clare will face a tough test when the sides meet in the opening round of the National Hurling League at Cusack Park on Sunday, where the throw-in will be at 2pm. It is expected that Clare will be picking from a panel similar to that which was available for the Munster League final, …

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