Tag Archives: Gary Brennan

Clare 0-14 Cork 0-12 FOR the second successive season, Clare have beaten Cork in NFL division 2. Saturday nights win, in Artic conditions in Pairc Uí Rínn, was Clare’s first away league win in the southern capital for 22 years. It leaves Clare on six points in the division with one game left, at home to bottom of the table Louth, on Sunday. On an evening when every Clare player contributed, Jamie Malone and Gary Brennan were particularly superb, while Cathal O’Connor was immense around the middle and defended magnificently. Malone was deployed as a sweeper in the absence of the suspended Ciaran Russell and the Corofin man put over 0-3 from play. Aside from one misjudged free, which led directly to a Cork point, he filled that role exceptionally well. Cork could not cope with the Clare midfield with Brennan producing his best 70 minutes of the current league, while Cooraclare’s Seán O’Donoghue, who played at wing back, excelled …

Getting the home venue was important was Colm Collins’ view when the draw for round three of the football qualifier pitched Clare against Mayo at Cusack Park. “All three teams in the draw with us are formidable opponents with Mayo, probably, the highest rated. Being involved at this stage of the qualifier means teams are playing good opposition. “They had a tough game with Derry on Saturday and they won’t be taking anything for granted. Mayo bring a tremendous following and, hopefully, Clare can match that,” the Clare boss added, confirming he will have to again plan without the injured Shane Brennan and Liam Markham. Mayo were put to the pin of their collar to get past Derry in Castlebar and indeed, for much of normal time, they played second fiddle to the Ulster side. Once the match went to extra time, they were in control. That scare is sure to have them more alert this weekend and with Ennis …

Kerry 1-18 Clare 1-12 CLARE let slip a glorious opportunity to beat Kerry for the first time since 1992 at Cusack Park on Sunday. The home county made a great start and playing into a strong breeze, they were tied with the Munster champions at half-time. On top of that, Donnchadh Walsh was sent off, on a double yellow card, for Kerry two minutes before the interval. The Kerry wing forward was dismissed for a foul on Martin McMahon. The teams were level, 1-5 to 0-8 at half-time, in a game which was watched by an attendance of 5,786. The first half was very competitive and featured seven yellow and one red card. Gary Brennan set the tone right from the throw in when the Clare captain cut through the Kerry defence from the throw in. He laid off to David Tubridy who fired over a sublime, left footed point. When Tubridy goaled a 13th minute penalty, which was won …

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 …

Clare senior football captain Gary Brennan has been included in the list of 45 players from which the 2016 GAA- GPA football All Star team will be chosen. Brennan is nominated for one of the two midfield positions along with Brian Fenton (Dublin), Peter Acheson (Tipperary), Matthew Donnelly (Tyrone), Paul Conroy (Galway) and Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone). Brennan is rewarded for his prominent role in the Banner’s march to the All-Ireland quarter finals and their Division 3 national league title win. He is Clare’s first footballer to be nominated for an All-Star since 1997 when defender Frankie Griffin and forward Martin Daly were nominated. Clare only football All-Star is Corofin’s Seamus Clancy. He won his award in 1992 following some stellar defensive performances in Clare’s Munster senior championship winning season. All-Ireland finalists Dublin and Mayo have received 11 nominations each, Tyrone have six, Tipperary have five, Kerry and Galway have four each and Donegal have three nominations. The nominees for the …

Clare 2-12 Roscommon 1-9 INCREDIBLE. The Clare senior footballers will hit the road again on Sunday when they head to Croke Park for an All-Ireland quarter-final meeting with Galway or Kerry. Clare played pulsating football in the opening 35 minutes with Gary Brennan ruling midfield and Jamie Malone continually running at Roscommon down the middle. Brennan was imperious in that opening half and although he tired after half-time, the Clondegad man showed the country what he can do.This was the first time Clare have won three All-Ireland qualifiers in the same season since the back door was introduced in 2001. First half goals from David Tubridy and Jamie Malone were the key scores. Malone’s goal was one of the best ever scored by a Clare team playing championship football. Seán Collins, Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton were all involved in setting up the lethal Corofin man who buried a sensational finish into the Roscommon net. Malone was also involved in …

Clare senior football captain, Gary Brennan, will become just the fourth man from the county to represent Ireland in the International Rules series, when he lines out against Australia in Croke Park on Saturday week. The Clondegad clubman, who teaches at St Flannan’s College in Ennis, has been selected on Joe Kernan’s 23-man panel for the one-off test. Kilkee’s Noel Roche was the first Clare man to represent Ireland in the series in the 1980s, while Martin Daly (1998) and Odran O’Dwyer (2003) have also represented the country. Speaking to The Clare Champion on Wednesday, Gary Brennan said he has been helped by many people in his development as a footballer. “I’m delighted but I’m very conscious I wouldn’t be in this position only for my family, all of my football and hurling club mates and my county team mates. “This comes from training all year with the county, playing at a particular standard and being fortunate enough to go …

TRADITIONALISTS will not accept this view but there is a cogent argument that Sunday’s league game is a more important fixture than Clare and Limerick’s Munster Championship date on May 23 in Ennis. If Limerick lose in Newcastle West this weekend, they are very likely to be relegated. They would have to hope that Louth and Wexford don’t win either of their last two games to have any chance of surviving on score difference. Furthermore, Limerick would have to beat Louth in Drogheda in their final league game. If they head to Drogheda on the back of a win over Clare, they might have some chance of beating Louth but if Limerick can’t win at home on Sunday, their two-year stint in Division 3 will come to an abrupt end. With all that in mind, Clare can expect a formidable last stand from Limerick. With key forward, Ian Ryan back from injury and veteran wing-back, Pa Ranahan recently returned to …