Tag Archives: National Hurling League

The quality of games in Division 1A of the National Hurling League has put Clare under pressure in each of their games and, according to selector Jimmy Browne, “ultimately you learn most about yourself when you are under pressure”. Ahead of Sunday’s relegation play-off with Dublin at Cusack Park (throw-in 4pm), he continued, “We have learned a lot this year. We had very good displays against Kilkenny and Tipperary but we did not get the result we wanted and against Waterford for a big chunk of the game. We have a chance to put that back into the mix for Sunday. That is the strength of playing in this league. “The great beauty of playing in this division is that you are testing yourself to the upper limit every day you go out and Sunday is another very important test for us,” added Browne. “We have to perform. There is a lot of importance from a Clare point of view, …

To secure victory over Waterford in the National Hurling League at Cusack Park on Sunday, Clare must hit the ground running, according to defender Seadna Morey. “We know each other well. We have played at underage, as well as at senior in recent years. We all know the way Waterford play and we must focus on that this week,” he said. The Sixmilebridge man went on, “It’s nice to be injury free and getting a chance. There is a great buzz with the team and it’s a great scene.” Acknowledging that it’s a huge game, he said, “Look at the league. We are second at the moment but we can still get stuck in relegation. That shows the competition. Going into the last game, it’s important to get that final win. The competition is very keen, as evidenced by the fact that a team can perform one week and then get turned over the next. “In the Kilkenny game, the …

TWO years ago, Clare and Kilkenny finished up at the bottom of Division 1A in the hurling league, which led to them playing off to determine who would make the drop to 1B. That situation, which saw Kilkenny surviving in the top flight thanks to a one-point win, is sure to be recalled this week as the counties meet in this season’s competition. It may only be Round 2 of the 2017 competition but both suffered defeat in their first outing last weekend, which means there is a little more urgency about getting points on the board this weekend. Of the two, Kilkenny were the more impressive last week, running their neighbours Waterford to a point at Nowlan Park. Clare, on the other hand, were a good bit off the standard required in their clash with Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn and will need to show a much-improved performance if they are to trouble the Noresiders at Cusack Park on …

Contesting the final of the National Hurling League, which required a replay, netted Clare GAA €202,552.51. Clare’s return from the National Football League, where they were crowned Division 3 champions, was worth €28,554.38 to the board. Details of the financial returns from both leagues were revealed by treasurer, Bernard Keane to Tuesday night’s board meeting in Caherlohan. Up to the end of August, the total spend on county teams, Mr Keane outlined, was €449,124.51, of which €258,625 was for hurling, with €190,500 for football. A further breakdown revealed that €222,262 was spent on the senior hurling team and €159,777 was spent on the senior football team. The treasurer stressed that these figures “are what has been paid out in cheques up to the end of August and may not be a true figure but it gives you a feel for where we are. It’s not a complete picture.” Whitegate delegate, David Solan said, “Clubs are being squeezed to the limit …

IT’S 38 years since Seán Stack captained Clare to their last national league title but when he presses the refresh button on the bank of memories, tales flow effortlessly. Most of them are of great times, games and life-long friends but an obstinate regret lingers that Clare failed to deliver a Munster title. The absence of a Munster medal irks Stack and always will. His eyes cannot conceal the hurt. Clare played in three league finals in the mid to late 1970s, losing in ’76 to Kilkenny and beating them in ’77 and ’78. They lost three successive provincial finals in that era. “Frightening isn’t it?” Stack said of the speed with which the years have piled up since. “Would you believe I can still feel the sense in the dressing room, the atmosphere in the camp and the build up to the league finals.” As if they togged together last Sunday, Stack can clearly recall who did what in …

“I’M very immature. I’d happily watch a Disney movie and find it funny. If my mother is coming home from work, I’ll stand in a corner and jump out and scare her.” Not usually the words you associate with a Clare senior player. 2013 All-Star David McInerney has vacated his corner-back position this year for a number six jersey, although unfortunately injury has ruled him out of Sunday’s National Hurling League final. When I meet McInerney he’s a bit late for the interview. He’s just after milking and dosing 85 cows on a Monday afternoon. He’s wearing old farm clothes covered in cow dung but he changes quickly and makes two cups of tea (without electricity today). This week he isn’t teaching primary school children but when you’re from a farm, there’s always something to do. Mind you, he only woke at 8.30am this morning, which is sinful on any farm. The Tulla clubman was quite busy in his younger …

IN many ways Clare’s progress to the National Hurling League semi-final is surprising, given the number of injuries that has deprived the team of many regulars. The side had to face Tipperary in the quarter-final without eight players that were in the team that lost to Cork in the championship qualifier last summer. Considering this, Clare’s progress to this stage of the league has been impressive. Indeed, those that have been called into the panel have made a mark, which means there is huge competition for places in the team. While the situation with injured players is not as bad as in recent weeks, the expectation is the team on Sunday to face Kilkenny will be along the lines of that which lined out Tipperary two weeks ago. Both Clare and Kilkenny have availed of the campaign to give fringe players an opportunity to impress. Clare have used over 30, while Kilkenny have given 28 players an outing. Tony Kelly is …