Tag Archives: Clare football

Doonbeg scoring machine David Tubridy recently called time on his inter-county career after 16 seasons — a remarkable commitment to the Clare cause that saw him straddle five generations of management in the county from Páidí Ó Sé’s time through to Colm Collins’ stint. He spoke to Joe Ó Muircheartaigh about his treasured time in the saffron and blue.   DECEMBER 30 and Colm Collins was making a few end of year calls — Happy Christmas, Happy New Year and all that, but apart from the festive pleasantries, there was also the business of the call. Manager to player stuff. David Tubridy knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it easier, because with the ring-tone would come the realisation that his ‘make your mind up time’ had landed. Finally. Make his mind up on whether to pull the plug on a way of life since 2007, or make his mind up to go again and turn 16 years into …

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 …

Eoin Brennan previews the Munster senior, intermediate and junior quarter-finals involving Éire Óg, Kildysart and Liscannor this weekend Munster Senior Club Football Championship Quarter-Final (Extra Time if Necessary – Result on the Day) Éire Óg v The Nire (Waterford) at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1.15pm (John Ryan, Cork) The mere mention of Ballymacarbry around Ennis tends to evoke great memories of ladies football clashes between Banner Ladies and the perennial Waterford champions. Indeed, only last weekend Ballymac edged out the Clare champions to win back the prestigious Munster Senior Club honours after a 22 year gap but their winning legacy hasn’t exactly transferred over to their male counterparts in recent years. The Nire, based on the Waterford/Tipperary border have a unique GAA Club relationship as their three codes are spread into as many entities, with Ballymacarbry (ladies football), Fourmilewater (hurling) and The Nire (men’s football). Up to this year, one man predominantly oversaw all three as former Waterford hurling manager …

Ivan Smyth speaks to Clare defender Cian O’Dea who insists his side are prepared for the challenge of trying to secure promotion to Division One. WITH the old format for the league returning whereby the top two teams out of eight secure promotion, the margins will be fine as Clare go in search of a place at the top table. Cian O’Dea knows his side are not among the favourites for promotion but after coming up short against Mayo last year, he insists belief among the group remains high as they commence their campaign this Sunday against Offaly (throw-in 2pm). “We’ve been back since December and have had a couple of challenge matches. Things have been going really well. The depth we have on the panel right now is really good. We have new lads pushing old lads like myself,” says The Kilfenora man. “We love playing the league. The matches come thick and fast as you have a match …

Eoin Brennan previews today’s McGrath Cup clash between Clare and Cork After two false starts, the Clare Senior Footballers will be eager to make it third time lucky on Saturday as they finally look to kickstart their 2022 season. A combination of Covid-19 cases and injuries prevented Waterford from fielding against the Banner last Sunday while the prevalence of the Omicron variant in the Cork squad also delayed this tie from proceeding as initially planned on Thursday evening. It’s a scenario that will be commonplace in the first quarter of 2022 it seems as squads’ strength-in-depth will be tested. However, craving some competitive action before the commencement of the National League at home to Offaly in three week’s time, it’s important that Clare can finally get the opportunity to blow off the cobwebs on Saturday. With little time to rearrange the Waterford tie, this will more than likely make Saturday’s latest showdown with Cork a winners-takes-all tie for a place …

Eoin Cleary tells Ivan Smyth Clare are keen to kick on in 2022, beginning with the McGrath Cup LAST year, Eoin Cleary became the first man from St Joseph’s Miltown to be shortlisted for an All Star as he followed in the footsteps of Gary Brennan and Jamie Malone who received nominations in 2016 and 2019 respectively. The 27-year-old is quick to spread the praise for his performances after a 2021 campaign in which he scored 0-35 across Clare’s five games last year. A memorable point from a sideline ball which he shot in to the town goal in Cusack Park against Laois highlighted Cleary’s form. Before Brennan in 2016, Clare had last received nominations in 1997 when Frankie Griffin and Martin Daly were nominated. Cleary believes the recent All-Star nominations show the talent that exists within the county. “It was very nice for my family, my club (Miltown) and for the county. Gary got one (an All Star nomination) …

National Football League Division 2 South Round 3 Cork 0-22 Clare 1-18 CLARE enjoyed the rarified air of being victorious in defeat this afternoon after securing a National Football League Division 2 Semi-Final spot on score difference over opponents Cork in Cusack Park, reports Eoin Brennan. Level entering the final minute of additional time, Cork dug deep to obtain a last gasp winning point through John O’Rourke but ultimately it needed to be a goal if the Rebels were to leapfrog their hosts in the table after Clare, Cork and Kildare all finished on four points in the group standings. Essentially, Cork required a three point victory to prevent Clare from setting up a penultimate stage clash with Mayo for a place in Division 1 for 2022. It also meant that Clare’s Division 2 status was secured for a fifth consecutive season whereas last year’s Division 3 champions Cork will have to beat Westmeath to avoid dropping immediately back down …

Clare v Cork at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1.45pm (Derek O’Mahoney, Tipperary) An unprecedented start of back-to-back opening victories have placed Clare on the verge of the Division 2 Semi-Finals. With a foot and a half in the knock-out stages, it would have to take an extraordinary series of results to deny Colm Collins’ men from facing either Meath or Mayo in the last four. However, if Division 2 has taught us anything over the past five seasons, it’s to expect the unexpected and therefore Clare will need to maintain their current impetus against Munster rivals Cork who crave victory equally as much. With all four teams involved in either promotion or relegation play-offs after this weekend’s final round, the Rebels are most in danger of becoming embroiled in the nervy demotion series that would halt their rebuilding process. After all, following recent All-Ireland Minor and Under 20 titles, last year’s Munster Senior Final appearance after dethroning kingpins Kerry along …