Clarecastle's Lee Brack, who scored 0-8, in action against Kilmaley's Cathal Darcy during their Minor A hurling final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
A haul of o-8 from Lee Brack played a key role in Clarecastle capturing their fifteenth Clare minor A hurling championship title and their first since 2013 at Cusack Park this Saturday afternoon.
Ronan Donnelly of Clarecastle in action against Cathal Darcy of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tom O Rourke of Kilmaley in action against Stephen Barry of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Eoghan Wallace of Clarecastle in action against Eanna Mc Mahon of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian Donnelly of Clarecastle in action against Aidan Kennedy of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian Donnelly of Clarecastle in action against Aidan Kennedy of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clarecastle manager John Casey on the sideline against Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mark O Loughlin of Clarecastle in action against Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aidan Kennedy of Kilmaley in action against Niall Gavin and Cian Donnelly of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Adam Cassidy and Colin Brigdale celebrate a Clarecastle goal against Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cathal Darcy of Kilmaley in action against Eoghan Wallace, Mark Russell and Niall Gavin of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Killian Mc Dermott of Clarecastle in action against Bradley Higgins of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Kilmaley and Clarecastle players get heated at half time whistle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Kilmaley and Clarecastle players get heated at half time whistle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Hayden Starr of Clarecastle is red carded by referee John Healy during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jack Murphy of Clarecastle in action against Sean Kennedy of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Sean Kennedy of Kilmaley in action against Eoghan Wallace of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tom O Rourke of Kilmaley in action against Cian Mc Namara of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Killian Mc Dermott of Clarecastle in action against Ronan Cahill of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mark Mc Auliffe of Clarecastle and Ronan Cahill of Kilmaley exchange views during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jack Hayes of Clarecastle in action against Sean Crowley of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jack Murphy of Clarecastle in action against Conor Cahill of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jack Murphy of Clarecastle in action against Aaron Moloney of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clarecastle’s Lee Brack, who scored 0-8, in action against Kilmaley’s Cathal Darcy during their Minor A hurling final in Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mark Mc Auliffe of Clarecastle in action against Ronan Cahill and Cathal Darcy of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Conor Cahill of Kilmaley celebrates his goal against Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ronan Cahill of Kilmaley is yellow carded by referee John Healy during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Sean Crowley of Kilmaley in action against Cian Mc Namara of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Sean Kennedy of Kilmaley in action against jack Murphy of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Good sport..Cathal Darcy of Kilmaley helps Eoghan Wallace of Clarecastle with his cramp during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Moloney of Kilmaley in action against Jack Murphy of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian Donnelly of Clarecastle in action against Oisin Cahill of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Moloney of Kilmaley in action against Jack Murphy of Clarecastle during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ronan Donnelly of Clarecastle celebrates a late point against Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jack Murphy of Clarecastle in action against Tommy Barry of Kilmaley during their Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mark Mc Auliffe and Killian MC Dermott of Clarecastle celebrate their victory over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
The lads from Clarecastle celebrate their victory over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Kilmaley disappointment was evident on the field following the loss to Clarecastle in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clarecastle mentor Stephen O Halloran congratulates players following the win over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
An injured Mark Russell of Clarecastle is helped from the field to celebrate their victory over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Owen O Hara and Niall Gavin of Clarecastle celebrate their victory over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
The lads from Clarecastle celebrate their victory over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian Donnelly of Clarecastle lifts the cup following their victory over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
The lads from Clarecastle celebrate their victory over Kilmaley in the Minor A hurling final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Up against Kilmaley in the final for the third time in four years, the magpies were deserving winners on the day. Physically stronger, they held the upperhand in key areas and their goal which was scored by Adam Cassidy, four minutes before the break, proved to be a key score. It helped them to lead at half time on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-6,
Before the second half got underway both sides were reduced to fourteen. A row involving a number of players as the half time whistle sounded led to ;red cards for Sean O’Loughlin Kilmaley and Hayden Starr (Clarecastle) as the teams returned from the half time break
By the end of the third quarter the magpies were five points clear but Kilmaley struck 1-1 in the space of a minute, the goal coming from substitute Conor Cahill, to close the gap to the minimum.
Try as they did, however, they failed to get back on terms and great credit for this must go to the Clarecastle defence who closed out the threat of Kilmaley dangermen Sean and Aidan Kennedy.
This was an impressive team performance by the winners with Cian and Ronan Donnelly, Killian McDermott, Eoghan Wallace, Mark O’Loughlin and Stephen Barry giving great support to top scorer Brack.
Kilfenora and Kildysart will have to do it all again after they shared twenty points in the final of the intermediate football championship. On a day when the lead changed hands on a number of occasions, a draw was a fair result.
The senior B football championship cup is in Lisdoonvarna this weekend after St. Breckans proved too strong for O’Currys at Hennessy Park in Miltown, winning on a scoreline of 2-16 to 2-7. County minor Joe McGann scored both goals for the winners.
Three junior A football championshp quarter finals were decided this Saturday with Naomh Eoin, Ml. Cusacks and Meelick emerging victorious over Ballyvaughan, Cooraclare and Clooney-Quin respectively.
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