Sports

No alteration to form lines as St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield maintained their perfect start to this year’s Clare Cup in a relatively comfortable victory over Wolfe Tones in Gurteen on Friday night. Always an intriguing tie particularly as there’s no shortage of recent history and trauma between this pair in relegation battles, the big difference here was in terms of clinicalness in front of the posts as the Parish were far more efficient than the visitors who will ultimately rue a wasteful first half. The Tones did start with a bang as talisman Billy Connors stunned their hosts with an early goal but by the turn of the second quarter, St Joseph’s not only cancelled it out but powered clear thanks to goals through Eoghan Thynne, following a powerful Alan O’Neill shot, and Cian Barron at 2-6 to 1-4. The home side’s wide spectrum of attacking threats is unrivalled in the county as they can triple aerial threat of Alan O’Neill, …

Mark McKenna’s charges recorded their second victory of this year’s Clare Cup campaign on Friday evening after a lively and highly entertaining battle with hosts Kilmaley. In truth though, had they not won the East Clare club would have left scratching their heads as ten first half wides very nearly proved detrimental. In the end it was a tour de force display from County Senior panellist Patrick Crotty that was enough to deservedly see them claim the spoils and record a three point victory. It was the away side who dominated possession throughout the opening period. First to the ball they also won the midfield battle resulting in a series of opportunities but Scariff just couldn’t convert possession into scores. In contrast to this, Brian Culbert’s Kilmaley side were extremely economical and efficient. So clinical were they that they remarkably scored eight points from nine attempts compared to Scariff’s seven from seventeen attempts. At the interval the blues led by …

Newmarket Celtic 9 – Kilrush Rangers 1 A sun drenched McDonagh Park saw a lovely gesture when Katie Purcell, daughter of Newmarket manager Paddy, walked the whole field giving ice cream to everyone present but that’s where the hospitality ended for the visitors as Purcell’s charges simply ran riot. Earlier in the season these sides drew 3-3 back in Kilrush, a result that has had an impact on the title race but this return fixture was never in doubt as Celtic raced into a three nil lead as quick as it took for spectators to enjoy the ice cream! An Eoin Hayes cleverly taken free kick arrived at the feet of centre forward Tadgh Noonan who swivelled to buy space before firing low and accurate into the bottom corner. Moments later an inswinging Nathan BoaVentura corner was powerfully headed home to the net by Cian Foley and one knew it was going to be a long morning for the visiting …

Munster Under 15B post primary schools hurling final St Joseph’s Tulla 1-17 – CBC, Cork 3-7 “Two in a row” was chanted loud and proud by St Joseph’s Tulla following a thrilling Under 15B Munster final recently. Since emerging just over half a dozen years winning Munster Senior B honours St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla ironically defeating CBC in that final have stayed at the top table regularly contesting finals in B grade and famously winning the 2022 Harty Cup. St Joseph’s were back in a well-appointed Banteer GAA grounds on an astro pitch that was minimum size with the two 65’s meeting in the centre on Wednesday last attempting to retain the Under 15B title. CBC were the prematch favourites, but the Clare school started in some style with scores from Morgan Culloo and James O’Donnell. The intense tackling ability of the Cork school kept them in the game upsetting time and time again the movement of St Joseph’s …

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 Limerick 3-15 Clare 1-18 Early sunstroke for Clare after being blitzed by three final quarter Limerick goals in an unprecedented 12 point turnaround in Ennis, writes Eoin Brennan. In what seemed the real start of the summer amidst soaring temperatures in a capacity 20,055 Cusack Park, Clare seemed to be on track for a rousing opening derby victory when soaring nine clear by the turn of the final quarter. With talisman Tony Kelly also subsequently introduced, the script was written for an early statement of intent from the recently crowned National League champions. However, much like their flooring opening round reverse to a five goal Tipperary this time last year, Clare would be largely the architects of their own downfall as not only were they outscored by 3-6 to 0-3 in a war-weary finish but all three goals were emininently preventable. It makes their trip to Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Sunday all the …

Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-09 A completely different team but admirably the same result as Clare eased into back-to-back Munster Senior Football Finals for the first time in 87 years in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, writes Eoin Brennan. Despite the home side’s current buoyancy following their first Munster Championship triumph in 14 years against Tipperary last time out, Mark Fitzgerald’s side quickly quelled any potential revolt with a clincially professional performance. Indeed, they answered Jason Curry’s opening minute point with the next seven through five different scorers (Emmet McMahon (2), Aaron Griffin (2), Dermot Coughlan, Darragh Bohannon, Mark McInerney) and never looked back over their shoulders thereafter as goals through Emmet McMahon and Mark McInerney either side of the break cemented a provincial final showdown with Kerry long before the turn of the final quarter at 2-13 to 0-5. Even a Tom O’Connell home goal couldn’t rally a downtrodden Deise as Aaron Griffin (2) and Ciaran Downes …

When Clare bring war to Cusack Park it creates a championship atmosphere to rival any other venue in the country, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh ahead of Sunday’s game when the Banner County hope to put a marker down and take the All-Ireland champions’ scalp. “Clare, wearing the old saffron jerseys with blue hoops for the first time in years, crashed into the exchanges from the word go in a manner reminiscent of their ancestors’ assault on the English ranks in Fontenoy.” Gerry McCarthy, The Irish Press, 1972 It’s a war to the power of hurling. Same as it ever was. Febrile, hostile, primal and all topped and tailed by all-consuming bursts of noise to the ebb, and flow and giving it that concertina effect – all somehow self-contained within the airspace of the ground. It’s home to what Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin calls organised ‘chaos’ and ‘markers down’, while Podge Collins cuts to that almost spiritual and awe-inspiring feeling of having …

On the panel for a number of years now Darragh, nephew of manager Brian, made his Championship debut last year when introduced as a substitute in the Waterford game and went on to start in the All Ireland quarter final victory over Dublin. This season the Wolfe Tones clubman has had plenty of game time to try and impress and he has certainly grabbed his opportunity with aplomb. Starting the League final at midfield, Lohan put in a powerful shift and is of course delighted with his National league medal. “It was an absolute fierce battle against Kilkenny as it always tends to be. We didn’t play as well as we have or as we can do but it’s all about the result and we’re delighted with the win. To be honest it’s great to get a reward for the hard work that we’ve put in over the last few years. To win a medal with your county is what …