Tag Archives: football

IN what will be the counties’ 40th Munster championship meeting, Clare will be looking for their 24th win over Limerick on Sunday when the teams meet for the third year-in-a-row. If Clare win, it will be their fourth successive championship win over Limerick, who operated in Division 4 of the National Football League this season, while Clare played in Division 2. While the Banner County retained their league status, one issue encountered was lack of impact from the bench. Clare made 31 substitutions during the league but none of them managed a score in any of the seven games. At times, Clare were without some key players, which weakened their options on the bench. The fact they have a full panel to pick from this weekend should mean that Clare will have players who can come in and impact the game in the closing 20 minutes. Although Clare were the only county in the entire league to score a goal …

Clare minor football selector Eamon Keane is hopeful that a number of key players will be fit and available to take on Limerick next Wednesday evening. The Shannon Gaels clubman views the game as an equal opportunity for both counties to reach a Munster final and secure a place in the last eight of the All-Ireland series, whether they win or lose the final. “Jack Sheedy (St Breckan’s) suffered a dead leg and Colin McNeilus (Clondegad) injured his shoulder against Tipperary. Joe Miniter (Kilrush) picked up a slight injury at training. We’re hoping that they will be ready,” he said. Clare are well aware that Limerick will view this game as a clear path to what will be the last minor football final. “Limerick will see it as a big opportunity as well, particularly when it’s a home game for them. They’ll put everything into it and I’m sure they’ll be ready for us. We’re really just taking this game …

Clare 0-10 Tipperary 0-5 Clare may have progressed to the semi-final of the Munster Minor Football Championship at Cusack Park on Wednesday evening but anyone from Limerick watching the game would not have been too frightened by what they saw. Clare will meet the Shannonsiders in the semi-final on Wednesday, May 10 at the Gaelic Grounds at 7pm. Cork will play Kerry in the other semi-final at Pairc Uí Rinn on the same evening. That Clare deserved their victory over Tipperary is not in question but it was a poor contest, riddled with 46 frees, while the Banner men did not get a score from play until the 40th minute. Clare dominated the exchanges but they struggled to turn this into scores. Full-forward Gavin Cooney was the game’s top scorer with 0-5, three from play in the second half. Indeed, the Éire Óg clubman was the county’s only scorer from play. Clare hit the front in the opening minute when …

The draws for the junior B and C hurling championships and the junior B football championship were made at a meeting of Clare GAA in Clareabbey this Tuesday evening. Fifteen teams will compete for the B hurling title and they have been divided into four groups, three of four and one of three, from which the top two in each will go on to contest the quarter finals. Eight teams will compete for the junior B football title and they are divided into two groups of four. The junior C hurling championship is a knock out competition in which there will be nine teams. The details are Junior B football; Group 1;–Shannon Gaels, Coolmeen, Clarecastle, Kilmihil Group 2; Doonbeg, St. Breckans, Clonbony, Banner Junior B hurling Group 1; Tulla, Eire Og, St. Josephs, Whitegate; Group 2; Feakle, Smith O’Briens, Tubber, Sixmilebridge; Group 3; Inagh-Kilnamona, Parteen, Newmarket, Scariff; Group 4; Kilmaley, Wolfe Tones, Clarecastle Junior C hurling Preliminary round; A-St. Josephs …

IT IS not too often that a defeated team emerges from any game with their confidence levels enhanced. While a loss is a loss, Clare did play some exceptional football in Newbridge last Sunday. Eoin Cleary gave an exhibition of shooting from play and while he did miss a chance to equalise from a free, he was one of Clare’s standout performers. More impressive than any of their scores was the off-the-shoulder support from players like Cleary, Jamie Malone, Cian O’Dea and Dean Ryan. On several occasions, during the second half in particular, players timed their support run perfectly, so that they broke Kildare tackles without breaking their own stride. Suddenly, they were in space and had time to look up and send decent ball into the inside forwards. The best way to kick quality ball is to use support play to create an opportunity. Kick the ball too early and, have no doubt, it will come back to you …

As Clare prepare to head to Newbridge on Sunday, in Round 6 of NFL Division 2, one statistic from their first five games stands out. While Clare have made 22 substitutions up to now, 15 of which were from midfield up, no substitute has yet kicked a score. Of the 15 attacking players introduced, seven were brought on in the last 10 minutes. The 15 substitutes referred to have played for a total of two hours and 52 minutes, without adding a score to Clare’s tally. This fact illustrates Clare’s lack of impact from the bench and while it is difficult for substitutes to immediately get up to the pitch of a game, particularly if it is getting away from their team, it is an area that Clare must try to improve on. Of course, in recent games they have been down personnel, with Seán Collins injured and Shane McGrath opting out of the panel. Ciarán Russell was a big …

FOLLOWING their three league defeats in 2016, all away from home, Clare won their subsequent games. Their reaction to those losses is why they are currently playing Division 2 football. A similar reaction is now required if Clare are to avoid a struggle to hold their current status. Outside of the panel and management, very few Clare people expected them to beat Galway in Salthill last Sunday. However, there was a definite expectation that Clare would compete hard for the hour and 10 minutes and, at the very least, push Galway. That did not happen, which was the most disappointing aspect of their display. In most of their league and championship games, over the last three seasons in particular, Clare have brought an honesty of effort to the field. Whatever the result, that effort level has not often dipped. It did last Sunday, though. Their tackling, tracking, support play, decision making when in possession and a cutting desire to win …

THE absence of captain Gary Brennan and half-forward Seán Collins has hampered Clare’s panel depth, as they aim for a first league win over Galway since 1995. Both were substituted against Down on February 12, carrying hamstring injuries and neither have recovered, while Brennan is also focusing on preparing for Ballyea’s All-Ireland club final against either Cuala or Slaughtneil. The Clare Champion understands that Ballyea panellists Pearse Lillis, David Egan and Shane Brennan will be available to the footballers this Sunday. “Gary or Seán haven’t trained since we played Down. Both of them came off injured, so I wouldn’t expect to see either of them this week, or maybe not for the Cork game either. Cathal and Kevin Harnett were the two lads with injury concerns going into the Down game. Both of them have got another few weeks under their belts and they are grand,” Clare selector David O’Brien confirmed. Galway are also on three points, having drawn with …