Sports

After the soothing return of club action last Monday with the commencement of the adult football leagues, it’s all systems go this weekend as all eight divisions of the hurling equivalents get underway. With a guaranteed five match schedule based on last year’s fixtures, there isn’t any scope for knock-out stages this year as instead the table toppers in each division will be crowned champions. There is no promotion or relegation either as it’s essentially a preparatory competition for the championship later in the summer when the stark reality of double demotion will come into force. Clare Cup (Division 1A League) Clonlara v Inagh-Kilnamona, at Clonlara, Saturday, 6.30pm (J Hickey) Two sides that underperformed in 2020 and require a big season to get them back on track. Injuries didn’t help Clonlara’s cause albeit that they did end up with Senior B honours whereas Inagh-Kilnamona bowed out all too meekly at the last eight stage. Consequently, it makes for an interesting …

Clare will aim to bridge a 19-year gap to return to Division 1 for next year when they meet Mayo in Cusack Park, Ennis, on Sunday. Muireann Duffy spoke with Kilfenora’s Cian O’Dea There’s no question that the Clare footballers want to see the heights of Division 1. The only problem is Mayo are the team standing in their way. Despite the tall ask, Kilfenora’s Cian O’Dea remains resolute, the goals they set out to achieve at the start of the year remain firmly intact: “At training we really went through what we want, and said if we want this more than Mayo then we can do it. “Ever since Colm came in, that’s one of the main things he tries to push; leaving the jersey in a better place. Every day you go out you’re bringing the Clare jersey forward with you and you’re not bringing it back to Division 3 or 4. “You’re always moving forward, it’s all …

AFTER a false start in 2020, there was a large sense of deja vu when the Cusack Cup finally recommenced in earnest on Bank Holiday Monday, reports Eoin Brennan. Without any action in over eight months, five adult league games should be sufficient to blow off any cobwebs, with this week’s Round 1 being a repeat of last year’s opening fixtures. Defending champions (from 2019) St Joseph’s Miltown couldn’t have asked for a better confidence boosting start as they blew away the meek challenge of arch rivals Kilmurry Ibrickane by 2-21 to 0-04 in a rare below-par derby showdown in the newly redeveloped Páirc Naomh Mhuire in Quilty. Without their county continents, it was the most recent Clare performer that proved the ultimate difference as Cormac Murray’s remarkable 14 point haul allied to final quarter goals through substitute Micheál Malone and Gordon Kelly saw Miltown exact full revenge for league and championship reverses to their neighbours in 2020. Fortifying last …

National Ladies Football League Division 2A Round 3 Meath 4-18 Clare 0-05 A SOBERING end to an otherwise enlightening National League campaign for Clare as bogey side Meath completed a facile victory to book their place in the Division 2 Semi-Finals in Páirc Tailteann in Navan on Sunday evening, reports Eoin Brennan. Having been unceremoniously dumped out of last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate Championship by the same opposition at the penultimate stage by 21 points, Clare were made to suffer an even greater reverse as the hosts remained relentless throughout. A blistering start of seven points inside as many minutes of the throw-in signalled Meath’s intent with Emma Duggan and Stacey Grimes to the fore. Meath’s disciplined all-out defence and all-out counter-attack style proved exceedingly frustrating for a Clare side that hit a wall every time they attempted to penetrate the home rearguard. Points from Roisin Considine and Roisin Looney at the end of the opening two quarters were in contrast …

National Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 4 Clare 0-34 Dublin 2-23 A MOMENTUM building victory for Clare who secured their first victory over Dublin in Parnell Park since 2005 to leapfrog their hosts in the Division 1 table this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Highlighted by a 20-point haul for talisman Tony Kelly, Clare were full value for victory too after leading for the majority to cement back-to-back league victories for the first time this season. Recovering from a slow start in which the visitors found themselves trailing by 0-5 too 0-2 by the ninth minute, Kelly popped up with three in a row to ensure a 0-6 to 0-6 stalemate by the water break. Despite facing into a stiff breeze, Clare grew in confidence with six of the next seven points including two from Shane O’Donnell to move 0-12 to 0-07 clear by the 23rd minute. However, the Banner would be sucker-punched by a brace of late goals …

Half a loaf is considerably better than no bread as following the postponement of last year’s secondary adult club competitions, a condensed county league schedule is set to commence this bank holiday Monday. Four of the seven football leagues begin their campaigns on the first day possible of the government’s Covid-19 guidelines, with all divisions in both football and hurling limited to five matches which are based on last year’s fixtures. With no promotion or relegation at stake, the county leagues are primarily intended as a reintroduction to playing action following a minimum eight month absence. However, while clubs will be without their inter-county contingents, there’s still silverware on offer to retain a competitive edge remains intact as following the completion of the group stages, the top team in each division will be crowned champions. Cusack Cup – Division 1 Football League Round 1 Kilmurry Ibrickane v St Joseph’s Miltown at Quilty, Monday, 3.30pm (Referee: C Maguire) It’s a post-lockdown …

National Ladies’ Football League Division 2 Round 3 Meath v Clare at Páirc Tailteann Navan, Sunday 5.30pm (Kevin Phelan, Laois) As motivational tools go, there will be no requirement for manager Evan Talty to bring a hair dryer (aside from grooming reasons at least) to Navan this Sunday. After all, Clare should still bear the scars of their meek 21 point championship exit at the hands of the eventual All-Ireland Intermediate champions at the penultimate stage last November. Despite hugely encouraging displays against Wexford and Kerry, Clare’s revenge mission will be far from straight-forward however as new senior side Meath also finally flexed their 2021 muscles with a 7-17 to 0-05 defeat of Wexford last Sunday. However, with his concentration firmly fixed on his own side, that statement of intent is secondary to Clare’s incremental improvement ahead of the All-Ireland series according to Talty after pushing hosts Kerry all the way last Sunday. “I am very proud of the girls …

NOW a semi pro Australian Rules footballer, Ailish Considine has said that Clare Ladies Football manager Evan Talty has been in touch with her, and she may return to the saffron and blue this summer. At yesterday’s virtual launch of Aviva Ireland’s #LaceUpWithPride campaign, she said, “I’m still a bit undecided on what my plans are. I’ve just been here a week yesterday, still pretty fresh off the plane, a little bit undecided in terms of gaelic football and stuff. With the season moving forward it’s a little bit more difficult to make a decision. If I did decide to play I would potentially miss the business end of all competitions. It’s something I need to look into in the next couple of weeks to see if it would make sense for me as a player and for the squad if I was to take part, and potentially leave mid way through. It’s something I have to look at in …