Tag Archives: hurling league

Hurling fans faced into the 2018 season with hope more than confidence. The loss of a few regulars to retirement, travel and injury has meant that some key players from the past decade have had to be replaced. Defeat in the final of the Munster league by neighbours Limerick, on a day when the Banner men failed to match the physicality of their opponents, only added to those fears. Fast forward just three weeks and victories over Tipperary and Kilkenny in the opening two rounds of the national league have Clare fans instead dreaming of silverware again. Tipperary and Kilkenny are difficult to beat on any occasion but adding to the excitement about these results is the fact that they were fully merited. Indeed, Clare should have won both by a much greater margin, particularly Sunday’s game in Nowlan Park. While all involved are entitled to be pleased with these results, it must be remembered that their opponents, in both …

Goalkeeper Patrick Kelly and ace forward Conor McGrath will start for the first time this season for the Clare senior hurlers when they open their Allianz league campaign against Offaly at Cusack Park on Sunday. Manager Davy Fitzgerald and his backroom team have named a strong starting fifteen as Clare set out on a road which fans hope will lead to a return to the top division. Goalkeeper Patrick Kelly is the only member of the starting line up that didn’t get any game time in the recent Munster league which Clare won, beating Limerick in the final. Tony Kelly, Patrick Donnellan and Seadna Morey weren’t considered due to injury The team is Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona): Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Cian Dillon, Capt. (Crusheen), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea): Conor Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs), David McInerney (Tulla), Conor Ryan (Cratloe): David Reidy (Éire Óg), Colm Galvin (Clonlara): Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), John Conlon (Clonlara): Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Darach Honan (Clonlara), …

By Seamus Hayes The centre forward position on the Clare team, named on Saturday evening, to play Galway in the opening round of the Allianz hurling league (division 1 A) at Pearse Stadium this Sunday afternoon has been left vacant. It was widely anticipated that Ballyea’s Tony Kelly would be selected to lead the attack but the U. L. student is one of eight panelists named as being unavailable for this game due to injury. Also ruled out are David McInerney, Peter Duggan, Darach Honan, Nicky O’Connell, Jamie Shanahan, Davy O’Halloran and Eoin Enright. Clarecastle’s Bobby Duggan is believed to be in the running to fill the vacancy while Conor McGrath, a surprising omission from the starting line up, is also believed to be in contention. The team named is Patrick Kelly; Domhnaill O’Donovan, Cian Dillon, Jack Browne; Conor Cleary, Conor Ryan, Pat O’Connor; Brendan Bugler, Colin Ryan; Pat Donnellan, A.N.\ Other, Colm Galvin; John Conlon, Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy.