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Tag Archives: munster championship

A chance for hurlers to experiment

Waterford may only have a very slim outside chance of avoiding the Division 1 A relegation play-off but the fact that they have not managed a home win in this season’s competition is sure to be a major driving force, when they entertain Clare in the final group game in this season’s Senior Hurling League, which is scheduled for a 2.30pm start at Walsh Park on Sunday. After suffering their only defeat in this season’s competition when going down to Wexford on Sunday last, Clare are keen to return to winning ways. Victory on Sunday will keep them near the top and they could well be top of the table come Sunday evening, depending on other results. Last week’s cancellation of all fixtures, due to the heavy snowfalls across the country, will have given players a welcome rest at a time of the year when they are particularly busy, especially those who were involved in colleges competitions. The delay “has …

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Collins must remain in charge

While there were no formal announcements made as to the future, the vibes are strong that manager Colm Collins and some senior players will call time on their involvement with the county senior squad for next season. After Saturday’s defeat, the Cratloe club man said, “I have four years done and they must be getting sick of me but this evening is not the time to talk about that. We will take a bit of time.” There is concern amongst members of the squad that, after four years in charge, he will not seek another term, despite acknowledging on Saturday that “a lot of things are going well and there is more in Clare. There’s a fantastic bunch of players there but that’s no consolation this evening”. When a team bows out of a championship, there is always speculation as to who might call time on their inter-county careers and, this week, it’s no different for the Clare footballers. Gordon …

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Minor hurlers can upset the form book

WHEN Cork stripped their great rivals, Tipperary, of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship title in a semi-final replay at Pairc Uí Rinn on Monday evening, it installed the Leesiders as favourites for Sunday’s final clash with Clare at Semple Stadium. Clare’s progress to the final has surprised some, as their semi-final opponents, Limerick, were fancied to make it a fifth successive provincial final appearance, given that they had a fair scattering of last year’s squad that contested the All-Ireland final in their ranks. However, Clare’s greater hunger for victory proved decisive in last week’s clash and they emerged as deserving winners in a tie that required extra time. The fact the Cork v Tipperary tie was still level after extra-time, which led to Monday’s replay, confirms the view held by the Clare management that the four semi-finalists were evenly matched and that there will not be much between the teams on Sunday. In the drawn tie, Brian Turnbull and Daire …

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Clare and Limerick face-off in Thurles

A NUMBER of cross-overs between Clare and Limerick makes this Sunday’s Munster Senior Hurling Championship semi-final in Thurles even more exciting than usual. Paul Kinnerk, such a central figure in much of the success Clare enjoyed at provincial and national U-21 and senior levels in the past half-dozen years, is now the Limerick coach. Their physical trainer is Joe O’Connor, who trained Clare’s All-Ireland winning team in 2013 under manager Davy Fitzgerald. If that wasn’t enough, there is the involvement of Wolfe Tones clubman from Shannon, Alan Cunningham as part of the Limerick backroom team. He played a key role in the success achieved by Limerick city club Na Piarsaigh in winning the Munster and All-Ireland club titles and is still part of the Limerick city club’s backroom team. On Sunday, the former Clare player and coach finds himself in the opposite camp to his son Aaron, who is a key member of the Clare panel and likely to feature …

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Clare hold on after late Limerick comeback

Clare 1-13 Limerick 1-12 THE Clare footballers have qualified to play Kerry in the Munster semi-final in Ennis on the weekend of June 10/11 but they almost threw the game away in Cusack Park against Limerick. While they led by five points at half time and six 12 minutes from full time, an injury time Josh Ryan goal pulled Limerick to within a point of their division 2 opponents. While Limerick fought hard throughout, Clare held them at bay for most of the game, until Seán O’Dea intercepted a Joe Hayes kick out, which was aimed at John Hayes. O’Dea found Ryan and the Limerick substitute goaled to give his side renewed hope of forcing a replay. Limerick had a chance to create an equaliser but Seán McSweeney’s shot went high and wide, when he could have held up the play and waited for a support run. In a game which was played in front of an attendance of 2,968, …

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Banner to claim 24th championship win over Limerick

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 …

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Clare completely focused on Limerick

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 …

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A big test for Clare camogie

For the sixth year-in-a-row, Clare begin their Munster Senior Camogie Championship campaign against Cork. On Sunday the Banner side will travel to the Cork camogie grounds to take on the Leesiders at 3pm. The same counties will also meet in the curtain-raiser, the first round of the junior championship. If Clare’s task wasn’t hard enough, they face into Sunday’s game without team captain Orlaith Duggan, who is out with an achilles injury. Acknowledging that it is a huge task, Clare manager Trish O’Grady noted, “Cork have been at the business end of both the Munster and All-Ireland championships for the last number of years. They were beaten in the recent league final and they won’t have been happy with their performance on that occasion, so they will be targeting an improved display this week”. Apart from Duggan, Clare expect to have a full strength squad at their disposal. A number of the team that helped Clare get to the All-Ireland …

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