Tag Archives: Magpies

THIS year marked the 50th anniversary of Doonbeg’s 1972 county championship, an era when the Magpies were a huge force within Clare football. They had already won a three in a row (1967, 68 and 69), and the 72 championship was the start of another one, as they were also champions in 1973 and 74. Tommy Comerford was corner back on all of those six championship winning sides. “It was an exceptional team and it’s 50 years ago now, as you know there’s a lot of changes in 50 years! It’s nice to remember what happened,” he says. Beside him in the full back line was Senan Downes, who he says was an outstanding footballer who looked after the side’s physical preparation. “He played for Clare and he played in the Railway Cup. Senan was an army man and he was actually our trainer. He used to have us very fit, we’d get the army touch, there was no let …

Clarecastle 4-13 Doora-Barefield 4-13 When Oisin Casey landed his tenth point, a minute from the end of normal time, Clarecastle led this evening’s under 16 A hurling final by seven points. Seconds after this score ‘at least two minutes of additional time’ was signalled and Clarecastle followers were satisfied that the title was on the way to their club for the first time in sixteen years. Doora-Barefield still believed that they could get something from the final and a goal from their captain Adam Mungovan in the 60th minute gave them hope. As the game went into the second minute of the two indicated, Bruce Piggott pointed a 25m free. They won possession from the puckout and attacked again and Fionn O’Brien gave their followers plenty to cheer about when he blasted to the net for the leveller. There wasn’t time for anymore and mapgie supporters left Cusack Park somewhat shellshocked while Doora-Barefield followers were, understandably, delighted. The big attendance …

It was a weekend of mixed emotions for Clarecastle GAA followers. In their eagerly awaited senior hurling championship first round replay with Clonlara, they had to give best to the South Clare outfit at Cusack Park on Saturday. A strong start by Clonlara put down a marker and while the eventual winners experienced some anxious moments in the opening ten minutes of the second half when the magpies rallies, there is no doubting the merit of their win. First half goals from Darach Honan and Micheal O’Loughlin helped Clonlara to a ten point interval lead with the score at 2-9 to 0-5. A strong display by their half back trio of Neil Ryan and Oisin O’Brien on the wings and John Conlon in the centre laid the foundation for this win. An early second half goal from Pakie Healy, back in the side following injury which had kept him out of the drawn game, sparked off a good spell for …

Clarecastle 0-16 Inagh-Kilnamona 0-15 A haul of eleven points from Bobby Duggan helped Clarecastle to their second successive victory in division 1 A of the Clare Champion cup when they defeated hitherto unbeaten Inagh-Kilnamona at Inagh. The magpies played with the aid of the wind in the first half and they held a four point advantage when the half time whistle sounded with the score at 0-10 to 0-6. Seven minutes into the second half, the home side had closed the gap to the minimum but that was as close as it got as Clarecastle used their greater experience to hold the advantage. Inagh-Kilnamona weren’t helped by the loss of minor Jason McCarthy to injury but it was their concession of frees which proved costly as Duggan ensured that his side stayed in front. In addition to Duggan, the winners had good performances from Gearoid Ryan, Conor Galvin, Jonathan Clancy and Patrick Kelly while Kevin Hehir, Ronan O’Looney, Gerry Coote …

By Seamus Hayes Cratloe 4-15 Clarecastle 1-19 A contribution of 3-4 from All star Conor McGrath helped Cratloe to seal a place in the final of the Clare senior hurling championship when they overcame the challenge presented by Clarecastle at sun splashed Cusack Park on Sunday evening. McGrath struck for the first of his goals in the fifth minute and he repeated the feat two minutes from the break to help his team to a six point half time advantage, 2-11 to 1-8. Clarecastle had the better of the third quarter exchanges and closed the gap to two points entering the final quarter. Cratloe struck for their third goal twelve minutes from the end and McGrath was the provided on this occasion picking out Podge Collins with a tremendous pass and the centre forward made no mistake. Two minutes later Clarecastle’s Jamie Coughlan was picking the ball out of the net again after McGrath punished some slack defending to fire …

By Seamus Hayes Clondegad, Miltown and Doonbeg booked their places in the quarter finals of the Clare senior football championship with confortable victories over Lissycasey, St. Senans and St. Josephs on Saturday evening. Billed as the tie of the round, the meeting of fellow parishioners Clondegad and Lissycasey at Cusack Park failed to live up to expectations. A strong performance by Shane Brennan inspired Clondegad to a marited five point win. Goals in the space of four minutes shortly before half time provded decisive. Tean captain Brian Carigg scored the first from the penalty spot while Podge McMahon quickly followed with the second as the Ballynacally based outfit opened a 2-5 to 0-6 half time lead. Lissycasey had the opening three points of the second half which suggested a rally but the winners regained control and were still five points ahead when the final whistle sounded, 2-10 to 0-11. Fresh from their giant killing act of the opening round when …

By Seamus Hayes An outstanding performance from team captain David Tubridy steered Doonbeg to a three point win (0-15 to 0-12) over Lissycasey in the second of the Clare senior football championship semi-finals on Saturday. The win on a Kilmihil pitch that held up remarkably well considering the continuous rainfall before and during the game means that they will play Cratloe in next Saturday’s final. This was Tubridy’s day and the Clare star kicked ten of his side’s fifteen points. Tubridy’s display allied to a powerful third quarter when they scored 0-6 without reply, turned the tables on a young Lissycasey outfit that had started impressively and raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes. Another key factor in the magpies victory was the introduction of Shane O’Brien for the second half. The dual player came in at centre forward and he helped create a number of the winner’s second half scores on a day when Colm Dillon was …