Tag Archives: gaa

U-21A Football Championship Semi-Final Ennistymon 2-4 St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-6 Delayed shock is a medical term to describe if the victim does not process what they have experienced straight away. In Cooraclare this was witnessed under floodlights when Eanna Rouine’s 63rd minute goal did not register immediately with either side and even when it did the Ennistymon management were somehow still wondering how it came about. The end result was a county final place snatched from a stunned St Joseph’s side who had welcomed the Ennistymon side onto them in the final minutes and ultimately costing them a tussle with favourites Corofin next week. Sleet, cold wind and rain coming from the Atlantic on the Tuesday before Christmas may not sound an appetising vision for a county Under 21A semi final and still for such a low scoring event this game did have its moments especially in an action packed final ten minutes. In such a low scoring outing the …

THE changing face of Clare GAA ushered in three new members to the executive committee as Joe Garry, Neil O’Brien and Michael O’Neill were all elected at the annual convention in Hotel Woodstock on Wednesday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. Outgoing Coiste na nÓg Iomaint Chairman O’Brien (O’Callaghan’s Mills) overcame Flann O’Reilly (Cratloe) by 116 votes to 66 to become the new Coaching & Games Officer. Equally Ballyea clubman Michael O’Neill edged out Robert Frost (96 to 86) to succeed Simon Moroney as the county’s Central Council Delegate while Cooraclare native and Clare FM Football analyst Garry was elected unopposed to the Irish & Cultural Officer position. In terms of motions, an annual playing census for clubs (Ballyvaughan) was introduced, a rule dictating that Under 16’s will receive free entry to games organised by the County Board was carried by Éire Óg while at inter-county level, preferential ticketing for club members will also be recommended to Croke Park following successful motions …

“It’s safe to say that no Clareman in modern history has made the same impact on the country as Michael Cusack did.” – Brendan Vaughan, 1984 THE great Clare GAA man that was Brendan Vaughan was chairman of the Munster Council when he uttered those words in Centenary Year as the GAA — locally in Clare, provincially and nationally celebrated 100 years since Michael Cusack had his famous meeting in Thurles that started the association that has now wrapped itself around the world. If he were still alive this week as the GAA marks the 175th anniversary of Michael Cusack’s birth, he’d repeat those words to anyone who was listening, or wasn’t listening for that matter, just because the GAA founder’s impact was that great, far-reaching and beyond any of the wildest dreams he could have had that November 1 day in Hayes’ Hotel that started it all. In the words of An Bráthair Liam Ó Caithnia, the author of …

YOUNGSTERS at one Ennis GAA club are proving themselves to have a lot of ‘bottle’. A joint initiative between Ennis Tidy Towns and Éire Óg GAA has resulted in the creation of very special recycled and reusable water bottles. The bottles, which have been specifically designed to reflect the club’s colours of red and white, have been given to the club’s younger members in a bid to cut back on plastic waste. As well as looking good and helping make sure the kids stay hydrated, they also aim to discourage the proliferation of single-use plastic bottles. According to Cormac McCarthy, chair of Ennis Tidy Towns the young players have been “delighted” with the new bottles which have become a popular accessory at training sessions. He explained, “One of the main focuses of the national Tidy Towns movement, as well as tidying towns is to develop sustainability initiatives. “We are always looking to partner with local groups and organisations in the …

Under 19B Hurling Championship Final Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-20 Kilmaley 2-14 AET IT had to take a gritty showing of character for Newmarket-on-Fergus to finally shake off the obstinate challenge of Kilmaley and secure the inaugural Under 19B Hurling Championship honours in Cusack Park on Wednesday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. Snatching the whip hand for the last 25 minutes of normal time following a rousing Michael Power goal, the Blues appeared to be comfortably cruising towards victory as they led by four points by the hour mark. Within a minute of injury-time, remarkably Kilmaley were level following a 1-1 burst from chief marksman Cian Neylon who also answered a Seadhna Liddy free in riposte to force extra-time at 2-10 to 1-13. Buoyed by that reprieve, substitute Colm Killeen fired an early brace to catapult Kilmaley into the lead for the first time in 30 minutes. However, that was as good as it got for Kilmaley as a patient Newmarket managed to incrementally …

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Semi Final Clare 0-20 Kilkenny 2-26 A disappointing opening half display saw Clare bow out of the All-Ireland Championship as a ravenous Kilkenny proved too much to handle, reports Ivan Smyth. In a first half where little went as planned for Clare, they gave themselves a proverbial mountain to climb when trailing 1-17 to 0-6 at half time. With John Conlon missing out through injury, the Clonlara’s man experience was sorely missed. The Clare defence held up reasonably well but the Clare attack misfired during the damaging opening half as they struck 11 wides and only six points. In what was only his fifth game in Croke Park with the Clare senior team, Tony Kelly was expertly marshalled by the tigerish Mikey Butler. Kelly was kept scoreless from play while Peter Duggan also held to just a solitary point from a free. With Banner hopes high after the rousing come from behind win over Wexford plus …

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final Clare 1-24 Wexford 3-14 CLARE may have gotten out of jail but what a breakout it proved to be as they unearthed an almost incredulous ten point turnaround to knock Wexford out of the championship for the fourth time in five seasons in front of 34, 640 in FBD Semple Stadium, writes Eoin Brennan. Having recovered from a stuttering start, Clare looked to be firmly in the ascendency until being struck by a brace of sucker-punch goals that left Lohan’s men trailing by six points with just ten minutes remaining. It was the fortuitous manner of the goals in contrast to Ian Galvin’s luckless effort at the other end that ricocheted back off the crossbar that would have left most sides feeling as if it wasn’t to be their day. Clare’s character ensured that they made it their day as despite not firing on all cylinders for long periods, they never dropped their heads at …

All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final Clare 0-18 Offaly 2-16 OFFALY advance into the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Final after overcoming Clare, 2-16 to 0-18 at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Friday evening, writes Jamesy McConigley. Adam Screeney and Conor Doyle’s goals proved pivotal for the Faithful, ending Clare’s involvement at the grade. The opening exchanges were a scrappy affair with neither side able to register a shot on target until Jack O’Neill broke the deadlock for the Banner with seven minutes of action played. Brian O’Connell’s outfit hit a purple patch, adding on three further scores. Points from Oisin Whelan (2) either side of one from James Organ propelled Clare into a four point lead, however, Offaly would have a profitable few minutes, tallying 1-3 in reply. Clare were penalised on two separate occasions for illegitimate handpasses which handed the opportunity for Adam Screeney and Dan Ravenhill to point for Leo O’Connor’s team. Donal Shirley landed a long range point before …