Tag Archives: clare hurling

IT’S the small things that stick in Anthony Daly’s mind. On Saturday, September 2, 1995, the night before Clare’s first All-Ireland final since 1932, Daly went for a walk through his home village. One last look at the old place before life changed the following afternoon. “Half the village was gone. I went for a walk at about 10 o’clock with a hoodie on me but there was hardly anyone around. The pubs were half empty. Everyone was in Dublin,” Daly recalled, as the 20th anniversary of Clare’s second All-Ireland win closed in. “I stayed at home at my mother’s. My brother (Paschal) was home from England, Lord have mercy on him. He used to come home for all the big games. I went to bed around half eleven and I definitely slept for five hours anyway, I’d say. I was afraid I mightn’t but I nodded off. We had to be up at about half six because the bus …

An iconic figure in Clare hurling,  Brian Lohan has emphasised that playing at third level should not be at the expense of aplayer’s education. When UL won the Fitzgibbon Cup this year, under Lohan’s managment, they featured Limerick goalkeeper David McCarthy and John O’Brien, while current Clare goalkeeper, Keith Hogan, who is now at UCC, has also played hurling for UL. Interestingly, a number of Clare and Limerick U-21s have yet to play Fitzgibbon Cup hurling for UL because freshers are not allowed to play at that level. When Tony Kelly was named hurler of the year in 2013, he had not yet played Fitzgibbon hurling for UL. “You’re marking top fellas from the various counties. Freshers is a very good standard. Moving on to Fitzgibbon, you’re not just marking some of the best young players but the best inter-county seniors. It’s a really good standard and a really good way to test yourself against what are the best players …

AN explosive war of words has broken out between two-time All-Ireland winning manager, Ger Loughnane and Clare GAA County Board chairman, Michael McDonagh. Mr Loughnane has told The Clare Champion that he believes Mr McDonagh’s position as board chairman is “utterly untenable”, while he has also insisted that the Miltown Malbay clubman, who is serving his second term as chairman, is using his GAA role to aid his campaign to seek a Fianna Fáil nomination at this Friday night’s convention in Ennis. Mr McDonagh has denied this suggestion and claims the former Clare manager is setting out to derail his political ambitions. “Comments I have made in my remit as chairman of the county board, during the past fortnight and throughout my tenure, have always been made in the best interests of Clare GAA and in my capacity as chairman only. The suggestion that any comments I have made are self-serving or politically motivated are wrong and appear to me …

Clare senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald and his football counterpart Colm Collins have informed Clare GAA of their intention to complete their managerial terms and remain in charge of the county sides for 2016. In a statement issued through county board public relations officer, Sean O’Halloran the board said it welcomes and fully supports the commitments received from both managers and “looks forward to their review of their respective 2015 campaigns as well as an outline of their plans for 2016”. Board chairman Michael McDonagh was equally delighted with developments. He said, “I am delighted that Colm and Davy are committed to remaining in their respective positions for 2016. Whileeveryone associated with Clare GAA is disappointed with the progress ofboth teams during 2015, we firmly believe that there are better things in store, and both Davy and Colm are the right people to lead their teams forward.”

FOOTBALL and hurling fans going to the All-Ireland qualifiers double-header in Cusack Park on Saturday evening will get a flavour of the annual Ennis Street Festival, while crowning a great weekend in the town will be the Clare County Show in the Showgrounds on Sunday. There will be a number of road closures on Saturday as Superintendent Brendan McDonagh explained. “We would ask people to avoid the town centre if they’re going by car, as the streets will be closed from Saturday lunchtime until 6pm. “We would ask people who are going to the matches to arrive early and to watch where they’re parking, not to block entries or park near roundabouts.” The streets will become a hub for children and adults to explore their artistic side and experience many different events over the weekend, with children’s workshops, poetry, theatre, visual arts, comedy, art exhibitions, street entertainment, music and dance. Thousands are also expected to attend the Clare County Show, …

Senior hurling boss Davy Fitzgerald has named the 26-man panel for this Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier with Offaly at Cusack Park, throw-in 7pm. Brendan Bugler, Conor McGrath, Colm Galvin and Aaron Cunningham all return to the panel, while Cathal O’Connell misses out due to a calf strain. Captain Patrick Donnellan is absent due to suspension. The starting 15 will be announced on Friday night from the panel of Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona), David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon (Crusheen), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Jack Browne (Ballyea), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), John Conlon (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge), David Reidy (Éire Óg), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Conor McGrath (Cratloe), Donal Tuohy (Crusheen), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones na Sionna), Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle), Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara), Darach Honan (Clonlara), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), Conor Cleary (Kilmaley), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara), Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea) and Colm Galvin (Clonlara).

Clonlara hurler Colm Galvin has rejoined the Clare senior hurling panel following a brief sojourn in the States. The 22-year-old Clonlara clubman returned  from Boston this Tuesday morning where he has been playing for the Tipperary club for the past two months. Galvin featured on the Clare teams that won All-Ireland U-21 titles in 2012, 2013 and 2014, while he also helped The Banner County to its fourth All-Ireland senior hurling championship title in 2013. The 2013 All-Star midfielder’s return to the Clare panel has been welcomed by senior hurling manager, Davy Fitzgerald. “Ahead of his departure to the US, the management team assured Colm that the door would remain open for his return to the squad should he decide to come home over the course of the summer. During the past couple of weeks Colm expressed his desire to return and through regular communication with his father Kevin, we were only too delighted to invite him to rejoin the …

CLARE goalkeeper Pa Kelly experienced a mixed 2014. Having played such a key role in Clare’s 2013 All-Ireland success, the Inagh-Kilnamona man, who works as an accountant with Curtin O’Friel & Co in Ennis, lost his place. He insists, though, that he had no issue with the manner of his dropping, although he did subsequently regain his place. “Davy was fair. He made the call. He was pretty honest. Maybe my standards dropped and, in fairness to him, he gave me my chance to get back in. I don’t know whether I took it or not but I have proven since that I probably have. It just goes to show that you can’t let your guard down. If you win an All-Ireland you can’t get complacent. They are the standards he is demanding. He demands that you do the extra stuff and look after yourself. Maybe he thought that I wasn’t doing it but I thought he dealt with it …