Tag Archives: National Football League

Just moments after the full-time whistle the Clare Senior football manager was extremely disappointed with the performance of his side more so than the actual result. “We didn’t play well at all, whether that’s because Down are a really decent team I don’t know. Look it, Down were good but we were very flat. Even when we got the goal it gave us no real momentum. There was no pace to our play and I’m just disappointed with ourselves. There’s no denying that they are the best team in the division and deserve their promotion. It’s just a pity we couldn’t test them a bit more.” Once Down got their kick out away short it seemed that we were in trouble and couldn’t cope with their running game. “We weren’t getting across the pitch quick enough. I mean they got several points direct from their restarts especially in the first half and we tried to address that at half-time but …

Clare won’t be lacking in confidence going to Páirc Esler on Sunday as they shoot for Division 2 football for 2025, because history tells them the man from the Mournes are always beatable, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh. Hard to believe it’s 31 years ago now, but it’s worth reeling in the years to a memorable afternoon in February 1993 because when this Sunday comes it’s a reminder of what can be achieved when a group of footballers believe. More than that, when they are fully convinced. The last Sunday of the month it was, and to say there was a fever over football because of the Clare team of the day is putting it very mildly. The Banner Ballers were the only show in town, and one of the biggest draws in the country. Just a scan of some of the other big games that were on that same League Sunday proves this true. Mayo played Kerry in Crossmolina in …

It may have been Clare’s biggest victory of this year’s National League to date and back-to-back wins for the first time but new manager Mark Fitzgerald still wasn’t getting caught up in the euphoria or feel-good factor in Cusack Park. You see, what the final scoreline did mask was a painfully slow start for the Banner that despite having a strong wind at their backs were largely chasing a Wicklow side devoid of confidence and points. However, the game changed utterly and absolutely with that rousing brace of Cormac Murray goals just before the break. “We scored 2-15 and conceded 0-8 but when it was a game I felt we were decent without being brilliant.” Outlined Fitzgerald immediately afterwards. “We had some sloppy turnovers early on but we got the goals and they gave us that little bit of comfort really.” Three wins from four puts the Banner firmly looking upwards for the remaining three ties but the Tralee native …

Allianz Football League Division 3 Round 3 Offaly v Clare at Glenisk O’Connor Park Tullamore, Sunday 2pm (James Molloy, Galway) There’s no need for Mark Fitzgerald or Seanie Buckley to script any motivational speech for this Sunday’s return to National League action in Tullamore. Nothing to do with their hosts Offaly, more an inevitable need to itch a scratch caused by the injustice of their last outing on away soil against Mullingar a fortnight ago. What initially seemed and has been since proven to have been a legitimate Cormac Murray match-winning goal was agonisingly ruled out for a perceived square ball by referee David Murnane, a bitter pill for Fitzgerald and his new-look Banner to have to stomach. Every cloud has a silver lining though and unquestionably Clare will be fired up to redress the balance and get themselves back into the promotion mix albeit still without three of their most experienced leaders as captain Cillian Brennan, midfielder Darragh Bohannon …

Details have been confirmed for Clare’s 2024 National Hurling and Football league fixtures. Mark Fitzgerald’s opening league game in charge of Clare will see his charges host Sligo in Cusack Park on Sunday January 28th with the game pencilled in for a 2pm start. Exactly seven days later, the Banner will enjoy their first away game of their Division 3 campaign as they travel to Mullingar for a showdown with Westmeath. Following a weekend off, Clare’s campaign resumes on February 18th with another road trip. This time Clare will head to Glenisk O’Connor Park for a clash with Offaly before hosting Wicklow a week later. In the fifth round of games, Clare will take the short trip to Mick Neville Park as they face Limerick on Saturday, March 2nd. These sides met in Division 2 and the Munster Championship last year with Clare emerging victorious on both occasions. On St. Patrick’s Day, Clare will host Antrim in Cusack Park in …

National Football League Division 2 South Round 3 Cork 0-22 Clare 1-18 CLARE enjoyed the rarified air of being victorious in defeat this afternoon after securing a National Football League Division 2 Semi-Final spot on score difference over opponents Cork in Cusack Park, reports Eoin Brennan. Level entering the final minute of additional time, Cork dug deep to obtain a last gasp winning point through John O’Rourke but ultimately it needed to be a goal if the Rebels were to leapfrog their hosts in the table after Clare, Cork and Kildare all finished on four points in the group standings. Essentially, Cork required a three point victory to prevent Clare from setting up a penultimate stage clash with Mayo for a place in Division 1 for 2022. It also meant that Clare’s Division 2 status was secured for a fifth consecutive season whereas last year’s Division 3 champions Cork will have to beat Westmeath to avoid dropping immediately back down …

Clare 3-12 Louth 1-11 FOLLOWING their seven point win over Louth in Cusack Park on Sunday, Clare guaranteed themselves division 2 status in the 2019 national football league. In what was their first home win of the campaign, Clare were never seriously troubled by Louth who have been relegated to division three. Clare finished on eight points in the table, three more than their 2017 total. The key results in this years campaign were away to Down and Cork, while they drew at home to Cavan and Tipperary. Goals at the start and end of the opening half were pivotal in helping Clare to a relatively comfortable win. Jamie Malone goaled after just 11 seconds, having been put through by a Gary Brennan free. The free was won by Cathal O’Connnor who was fouled immediately after the throw in. Just before the interval whistle, Clare wing forward, Kieran Malone slotted home his first goal of the campaign, which helped the …

CLARE’S Division 2 future is entirely in their own hands. If they can somehow pull out a Newry-like performance in Pairc Uí Rínn on Saturday from 7pm, they have every chance of getting a result, beating Louth at home in their final league game on March 25 and assuring themselves of a place in the same division next year. While Jamie Malone will be available again, following his two-game suspension, Clare will have to plan without Ciaran Russell, who was red-carded against Roscommon. Gordon Kelly is still suspended, leaving Clare scarce, particularly defensively. If Clare lose, which is likely given that Cork will be buoyant following Sunday’s win over Meath, their Division 2 status will rest on beating Louth and hoping that they don’t end up in a three-way tie. Clare have a score difference of -19, which is significantly worse than Meath and Down. If Clare finish level on points with Down, they will stay up, given that they …