Sports

THE governance of Clare GAA needs to be overhauled, while a CEO, Finance Manager and Commercial/Brand manager should all be appointed, according to the newly published recommendations report of the independent Strategic Planning Group (SPG). In the appendix booklet of the report it stated that every stakeholder group in the county had prioritised governance as an area requiring immediate change and restructure. It says Clare currently does not have the ability to take advantage of financial opportunities that exist. “The expansion of Clare GAA “business of sport” activity has not been matched by increasing the operational capacity of the organisation. “The structures required to operate a multi million euro operation do not exist within Clare GAA with no capacity to adapt to or respond to many commercial opportunities now available. No structures exist to stimulate activity to generate the essential revenues for ongoing investment across all areas of Clare GAA. This represents a key limitation in the organisations capacity to …

CONTRARY TO reports in some media outlets this week, Davy Fitzgerald will not be taking over as Galway hurling manager. Instead, the Tribesmen will be managed next season by Kilkenny hurling legend Henry Shefflin. Is ait an mac an saol! Tá Anraí an Rí ag teacht go Gaillimh 👌 pic.twitter.com/NqSO4nqVLk — Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 20, 2021 The Cats superstar has 10 All-Ireland titles and 11 All-Stars under his belt and his first foray into management with his home club Ballyhale Shamrocks yielded two club All-Irelands. Sixmilebridge man Fitzgerald had been heavily linked with the role in recent days. The former Clare, Wexford and Waterford manager spoke with Galway officials about the role but has lost out on this occasion. It brings to an end a run of 14 successive seasons in charge of intercounty hurling teams.

Cratloe’s Naomi Carroll has been called up to the Irish women’s hockey squad as they aim to qualify for the World Cup. Carroll is aiming to help Ireland reach the World Cup and keep the momentum that Irish hockey has generated after competing in the Olympic Games this summer. Ireland memorably reached the final of the World Cup in 2018 and will be determined to qualify for the tournament again as they compete in an eight team competition which starts on Thursday, October 21. The eight-team competition will be played in a knock-out format with only one side earning a place at next summer’s World Cup which will be played at venues in Spain and the Netherlands. Ireland face a dangerous France outfit first as Sean Dancer’s side enter the tournament as top seeds. The Catholic Institute player is aware of the challenge her side will face when they commence their quest to compete at the World Cup. “It is …

Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals Newmarket-on-Fergus v Wolfe Tones @ Cusack Park, Saturday 1.30pm A golden opportunity to return to a semi-final that neither side can afford to pass up in what is a unique derby showdown in Ennis on Saturday. It’s novel because at certain stages of their final group matches, the thoughts of staring the relegation play-offs in the face seemed a distinct reality so this is essentially bonus territory particularly after drawing each other in the last eight. Newmarket-on-Fergus’ late smash-and-grab victory over another neighbour Clooney-Quin will have injected a new lease of life into the Blues while Wolfe Tones, despite coming off the back of back-to-back defeats, equally have nothing to lose on Saturday. That Wolfe Tones’ form has fallen off a cliff will be alarming as the first half of their group campaign up to half-time in the Sixmilebridge match, the Shannon side looked like Canon Hamilton contenders only conceding 1-18. However, since then, they have …

Munster U-16.5A PPS Hurling Championship Quarter-Final St Flannan’s College 1-19 Midleton CBS (Cork) 1-11 AN auspicious start for St Flannan’s in their Dean Ryan Cup quest after a powerful second half display brushed off the opening challenge of Midleton CBS on away soil to progress to the last four on Wednesday afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. With 19 Dean Ryan titles between them, this heavyweight contest inevitably began with a blow-for-blow pattern before St Flannan’s had to respond to a Midleton goal to regain parity by the break at 0-9 to 1-6. A miserly full-back line of Joe Casey, Paddy Nagle and Ronan Kilroy were instrumental in keeping the home side at bay while inspirational centre-back James Hegarty and midfield duo Eoin Kennedy and Dylan Keane Hayes were perfect linkmen as St Flannan’s upped the ante to outscore their hosts by 1-10 to 0-5 in the second half. Full-forward Oisin Whelan, who finished with nine points to his name including three …

THE hurling All Star nominations were announced this morning and there are three Clare men on the list, Rory Hayes, Tony Kelly and Cathal Malone. While not nominated for an All Star, Aidan McCarthy is on the three-man shortlist for young hurler of the year, alongside Eoin Cody of Kilkenny and Shane Barrett of Cork. All-Ireland champions Limerick have a full set of 15 players nominated and look set to dominate the team. In all nine different counties are included in the nominations. Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said: “I want to congratulate all of those who have been chosen among this distinguished list of nominees for the PwC All-Stars. To be recognised and shortlisted as being among the cream of the crop from what was yet another thrilling hurling summer is a significant achievement for all the players, and is shared by their families, clubs and the communities they represent. I also congratulate the contenders announced for the PwC Hurler …

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Clare Community Games, Ivan Smyth spoke with Emer Considine about what the Games mean to her As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Community Games in Clare, Ivan Smyth spoke to Emer Considine about what the Games mean to her, her husband competing in the same discipline at the Games and performing for royalty Emer Considine’s passion for everything associated with the Community Games is evident when she lists off the events she competed in. Camogie, athletics, basketball, tennis, and the board game draughts are just a few events she threw her hand to as Emer admits the goal was always reaching Mosney to compete in the Community Games National Finals Her love of the Meath venue is evident throughout the interview. “Mosney was special Getting your tracksuits and staying in the chalets was unique to Mosney. “Those things really made it seem so important because for us it was. It’s where …

Reigning Harty Cup champions St Flannan’s College face a tricky first defence against Thurles CBS when the Munster Senior A Post-Primary Hurling Championship recommences after a two year gap on Wednesday, November 10th. The Ennis school, who bridged a 15 year gap in 2019, will be wary of a Thurles CBS side that were All-ireland Junior A (Under 16.5) finalists as recently as 2018. The other opening round tie of note is the All-Cork rematch of Midleton CBS and CBC Cork that the latter last won to book their place in the 2019 decider against St Flannan’s. Indeed, regardless of the result, St Flannan’s College and Thurles CBS will take on the winners and losers of that Rebel showdown for places in the quarter-finals. St Joseph’s Tulla are the other Clare representative in the flagship hurling championship, with their opener against De La Salle Waterford being a winner-takes-all tie for a direct passage into the last eight. In the Munster …