Tag Archives: cusack park

CAN Sixmilebridge continue their unbeaten run and justify favouritism by re-claiming a title they last held just two years ago? Will Clonlara deliver on their undoubted potential and atone for the disappointments of recent years since they made the breakthrough and won the title in 2008 How will Sean Stack’s involvement as Clonlara manager impact on the game? Can Clonlara complete the senior/junior double and capture the Canon Hamilton Trophy to go alongside the Junior A Cup won last week? These are just a few of the questions being raised ahead of Sunday’s Clare Senior Hurling Championship final between Clonlara and Sixmilebridge, which has all the ingredients to be one of the best finals in years. Both clubs were on most people’s shortlist for honours when the draw was made back in March. Winning back the Canon Hamilton Trophy has been foremost in the minds of all involved with Sixmilebridge GAA since the beginning of the 2015 season. Disappointed at …

Hot Property is The Clare Champion’s special supplement for the 2015 Clare Senior Hurling Championship Final to be played at Cusack Park, Ennis on Sunday. With previews, analysis and interviews by Sports Editor Seamus Hayes and Peter O’Connell, it sets the scene for one of Clare’s biggest annual sporting occasions. Sixmilebridge, one of the powerhouses of club hurling, meet Clonlara, a team that has grown in strength over the past couple of seasons. Both sides have a wealth of talented players, who play along side each other on Clare teams. With players that have a high skillset, a good sod should make for a thrilling game to showcase the very best of Clare hurling.

It’s a situation that few expected the county to be in, an hour away from a fourth successive provincial U-21 title. Having tasted defeat in 13 Munster deciders, Clare finally made the breakthrough in 2009, when they went on to add the All-Ireland crown. They have repeated this achievement in the last three years and are now just one win away from a record fourth successive title. Waterford came to Ennis as hot favourites to end Clare’s reign as champions. However, a magnificent display from a new-look Banner saw them emerge with a two-point win, 0-23 to 1-18. It was a similar situation for Limerick 24 hours later, as they went into their semi-final against Tipperary as underdogs. They too produced a very impressive display, however and at one stage, they were 14 points clear and coasting. Tipperary fought back to level and this rally, together with Limerick having centre-back Barry O’Connell harshly sent off on a second yellow card, …

Miltown Malbay’s Conor Cleary is honoured to have been appointed as the U-21 hurling captain but the focus, he says, is very much on Limerick and this Thursday’s Munster final. “It’s all about the game. It is a great honour to be captain and a massive one to get but all the focus is on Limerick. We have seen how impressive they were against Tipperary and how hungry they were. We know the challenge that is ahead of us and we know it’s going to be a very tough game and we will have to be on top of our game if we are going to compete with them,” he told The Clare Champion. “We have been very lucky with the coaches we have had at U-14, U-16 and minor and then at U-21 with Donal Moloney, Gerry O’Connor and Paul Kinnerk, who have had a great management structure going for the last few years. We are very lucky with …

  Fears that the Munster under 21 hurling final between Shannonside neighbours Clare and Limerick, scheduled for Thursday next, July 30, would be played outside Clare have been removed. A special meeting of the Clare GAA executive on Friday last voted to defer the commencement of renovation works at Cusack Park until after the final. Last month the executive had made a similar decision and deferred the commencement of work at the county grounds for a month in order to host the senior hurling and football Qualifier double header and the Munster under 21 semi-final against Waterford. A home and away arrangement is in operation for underage games in Munster and its Clare’s turn to host Limerick in the under 21 hurling championship, hence the reason for Clare’s latest decision. The Provincial body confirmed this week that the match will have a 7p.m. throw in time and it will be an all ticket game and supporters are asked to pre-purchase …

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).

Davy Fitzgerald spoke candidly to Peter O’Connell when they met on Wednesday morning in Ennis. They talked about their shared past and where Clare hurling goes from here WHEN Davy Fitzgerald entered the Temple Gate Hotel on Wednesday morning, nobody noticed. It wasn’t that people were deliberately ignoring the Clare hurling manager. It was just that his attire would have led them astray. Replacing the Clare top was a sharp-looking jacket, far removed from the dress code Davy dons when patrolling the sideline, lobbing the odd enraged query at referees and sometimes even following them for a quick post-match word. Wednesday’s Davy cut a much more relaxed figure and one that didn’t blink or avoid questions when the conversation flowed. First up, why? Before talk turned to referees, Clare McNamara, Colm Galvin, Clare’s 2015 on-field record and the influence of Davy’s father Pat Fitzgerald, the air had to be cleared somewhat. Given that there has been the odd moment of …

UPGRADING works at Cusack Park in Ennis will begin on June 15, Clare GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald has confirmed “The contractor wants the site handed over in total. It’s an eight-month contract and the work must be completed by the end of the eight months,” Fitzgerald explained at a meeting of the GAA county board. “There are other issues with the Cloister side. We went for planning and there are fairly significant costs involved with preparation, much more than €20,000, €30,000 or €40,000. More information was sought and the cost of preparing that won’t be far off €20,000,” he continued. “Decisions have to be made,” the secretary went on adding, “We would have anticipated that we may be able to use the venue. If we don’t hand it over, the eight months may be much more, maybe 10, 11 or 12 months. The contractor has to be told”. Responding to a query from Clonlara chairman, Flan Mullane, as to where …