Sports

After Derrick Lynch outlined his selections last week, Eoghan Moloney gives his opinion on the best and worst sporting moments as the year and decade draws to a close. Sports person of the decade I had many a back and forth about this. I asked Clare people, non-Clare people, anyone that would listen, their opinion on this one. And not many will agree with my answer. This man isn’t famous for his exploits in Cusack Park. While he is from the same parish as Clare’s captain, Patrick O’Connor, he has no real affiliation to the two most popular sports in Clare. My third and second are Gary Brennan and Tony Kelly. And when you list their exploits, you could make a case for either, but the reason this man is number one is because the majority of human beings wouldn’t last a New York minute in his shoes. My Clare Sports Person of the Decade is Derek O’Connor. JP McManus …

Clare boss Colm Collins was taking the positives from their first competitive outing of the year after a strong finish from Limerick saw them take the points in their opening McGrath Cup tie. It was a game that was more notable in terms of taking note of those who were stepping in the breach after an Autumn that saw the squad losing leaders like Gary Brennan, Jamie Malone, Sean O’Donoghue and Aaron Fitzgerald for the coming season. Six new faces saw action across the contest with four more making their return after being absent for last year’s championship. Collins feels there was no complaints about the result on the day. “We were a little ring-rusty and Limerick were just that bit sharper on the day. We had a few goal chances there at the end and we could have maybe edged it but overall we got match time into a few young lads and had a look at them so …

Derrick Lynch High point of 2019 There can only be one moment that stands out above all others for Clare sport in 2019, and that was undoubtedly Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s Munster senior camogie success. The East Clare side swept all before them this year in the championship, with that incredible statistic that they were never behind in any game across the campaign being a testament to their consistency. The fact that this was only their third year back up to the senior ranks makes the achievement all the more brilliant, as they established themselves as the dominant force in the province. From the battling qualities needed on the night they took down defending champions Inagh-Kilnamona, to the composure and confidence of their Munster final win, this was a year to remember for Scariff-Ogonnelloe, with hopefully more to come. Low point of 2019 It is hard to choose between the disappointment of the on-field performances for the Banner’s hurlers in 2019, or the …

Derrick Lynch From the outset, let it be noted that no one is questioning the fact that the officers of Clare GAA are hard working volunteers who sacrifice a huge amount of time in the execution of their duties. That is an indisputable and accepted fact. That being said, there are a number of worrying and disappointing issues arising out of last week’s annual Convention that are simply not good enough. Let me make this very clear. This is by no means a personal attack on any individual officer but there are points which must be raised and questioned. The most disappointing aspect on the night has to be the failure of any member of the executive, or indeed club delegates, to pay tribute to the late Kieran Harvey. At the time of his passing, the O’Curry’s clubman was the sitting chairman of the Clare Ladies Football board and deserved to have his achievements noted and his family sympathised with. …

ENNIS welterweight Paddy Donovan has his third professional fight this Friday night in the UK, while he has been installed on the undercard of Michael Conlan’s next fight in New York on St Patrick’s Day. On Friday, he will face Nicaraguan Oscar Amador in Bolton and it should be a relatively easy night’s work for Donovan. The 20-year-old welterweight is trained by former world champion Andy Lee, who acknowledged that Amador is really a journeyman fighter. “He is, yeah, but he has been in with some very good fighters, world-class fighters. This is where Paddy’s at in his career, picking up experience. Right before Christmas, we wanted a fight where he will learn a bit more.” A hugely successful amateur, Lee says that keeping his focus outside of the ring is probably the biggest challenge his protege has had to deal with since turning professional. “The lifestyle, I think, is the biggest adjustment for Paddy; it is something he is …

Derrick Lynch His Banner passport has been stamped with a long time, but the thoughts of facing his native Tipperary in his first competitive outing as new Clare hurling selector is something Ken Ralph is clearly relishing. When asked about the prospect of the new era getting underway with a Munster League opener against the reigning All-Ireland champions, he just grinned and said: “Someone told me we will have to applaud them onto the pitch and I said I had nearly forgotten about that”. His heroics in both the saffron and blue along with the black and white of his adopted Clarecastle means his credentials as a fully fledged Clare man have long since been signed off on. A Munster club championship winner with the Magpies in 1997, he accounted for 1-4 of their tally in that famous final win over Patrickswell. He was captain six years later when Clarecastle won the Canon with victory over Ballyea, with a return …

Derrick Lynch After their historic county and Munster successes, it is no surprise that Scariff-Ogonnelloe lead the way in the 2019 Clare Camogie All-Star team. The initiative has been set up this year by Scariff Bay Community Radio in conjunction with Derg Credit Union, who have also provided the trophies for the 2019 awards. It comes after a year that saw the East Clare based station further expand their coverage of camogie in the county, with commentary of all Clare’s league and championship games along with extensive coverage of the club scene. Scariff-Ogonnelloe climbed the provincial peak at senior level at the first time of asking while their maiden county title came after successive defeats at the last four stages in previous campaigns. The consistency of their performances in 2019 meant that they not only navigated to glory unbeaten, but were never behind in any of their championship outings. They will be bidding to continue that strong run when they …

Derrick Lynch It can be a rare occurrence in the GAA where there is total agreement in a boardroom setting, but this week’s Clare Ladies Football annual Convention was one of them. Tributes flowed on an emotional evening as former chairman and stalwart Kieran Harvey was remembered and honoured by all those present following his untimely passing last month, while his presence still evident with a smiling photo of the Querrin native watching over proceedings from the big screen behind the top table. Munster LGFA President and Cork native Jerome Casey sat in the chairman’s seat for the first half of the meeting, and recalled his memories of Kieran whom he described a great friend and hard-working person. He spent time working with Kieran on the appeals committee at Munster Council level and praised the dedication he showed to the cause.  Secretary Monica Callinan hailed Kieran’s ability to always find the middle ground, even where there was none. She said …