Sports

Clare IFC Football Final Preview: Kildysart v St Breckan’s The decision to cull five teams from the Clare senior football championship in 2018 was as much about strengthening the intermediate ranks as it was about distilling the competition in the top tier. The last of those teams to fall through the trapdoor was St Breckan’s and on Saturday they will face a Kildysart team who just fell short in their bid for promotion 12 months ago. The expansion of the championship to a 12 team format has led to a noticeable increase in the quality of games and both these sides have been impressive in their run to this weekend’s showdown. It has already been a successful year for Kildysart as they gained promotion from the Garry Cup and are now into a third championship decider in the last four seasons. They came through their group campaign with relative ease as they rallied to share the spoils with Doora Barefield …

Kilmihil’s latest giant killing quest sees them take on one of the powerhouses of ladies football not only in Munster but nationally too. After slaying the Goliath that is the Banner Ladies to win their first ever Clare Senior title, the club are now preparing for another maiden experience as they line out in Saturday evening’s Munster Senior B decider. They might have ended the Banner’s bid for a 9th consecutive title, but up next for Kevin Callinan’s side is a showdown with a Ballymacabry side who this year collected their 38th Waterford senior title in a row. Along that journey, the Deise outfit have been crowned All-Ireland champions on ten occasions, while they sit top of the roll of honour for Munster A titles with 14 to their name. Kilmihil booked their spot in the decider with an impressive 6-6 to 3-10 win over Tipperary champions Aherlow last weekend. The Clare side led by 4-5 to 2-4 at the …

We had expected the 2019 Clare senior hurling final to be one that would live long in the memory and while no one in Sixmilebridge will mind too much, I have to say it was disappointing. It was all lined up to be a huge battle but realistically that all finished after only ten minutes. We had spoken about Conor McGrath being the main man for Cratloe in terms of setting the agenda from the middle of the field and being that link man. Once he got injured, it was really ball burst for them. The disappointing thing for Cratloe will be that no one else really stood up to be counted once McGrath went out of the game. Tactically, they played right into Sixmilebridge’s hands. How they could have left Caimin Morey loose for the majority of the game and keep pumping ball down on top of him was hard to believe. There were times late on when the …

Clare GAA referees have been instructed by officials in Croke Park that they are no longer permitted to wear their specially commissioned HPV vaccine jersies while taking charge of games. The initiative was launched by the GAA refs in the county earlier this year to promote the availability of the HPV vaccine with the move being backed by the family of the late Laura Brennan. The Clare Champion understands that a message was circulated to all referees involved in Clare GAA outlining that the wearing of the HPV vaccine branded gear was to cease with immediate effect while officiating at games. It’s not known what the reason behind the move is with some speculation that the tops contravene Croke Park rules due to the absence of the GAA logo while also not meeting association branding regulations.

On this weeks podcast: We look back on the weekend action and assess where things stand as the search for a new Clare senior hurling manager rumbles on. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/696174391?secret_token=s-kjlro” params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Clare SHC Final: Sixmilebridge 0-21 Cratloe 0-15 Sixmilebridge added the 2019 Clare SHC title to the crowns they won in ’13, ’15 and ’17. Cratloe will rue some wayward shooting at crucial junctures late on when the game was in the balance, as poor shot selection and execution proved costly. Sixmilebridge recovered from a slow start to lead 0-11 to 0-9 at the break with 0-5 from Alex Morey frees along with five different scorers from play contributing to their tally. Cratloe settled quickest and led 0-6 to 0-2 after the opening ten minutes, but Sixmilebridge’s influence in the middle third grew as they powered back into the game. Jamie Shanahan and Seadna Morey were controlling proceedings while Brian Corry and Cathal Malone were constant threats for the Cratloe defence to deal with. Sixmilebridge outscored Cratloe 0-9 to 0-3 for the closing 20 minutes of the half as Alan Neville’s side struggled to create the space for their forward line …

Cratloe’s Enda Boyce has served his club with distinction for ten seasons and will be playing with his family and wider community firmly in mind when he lines out against Sixmilebridge this Sunday. “It is great to get into any final but even the family; Dad played for Cratloe, my uncle Seamus did, my brothers played, all my little cousins are playing. Most people have a similar story to me in the sense that their community is nearly built around the club. There are some big families involved in the club with the likes of the Collins’ in the football and that. So, the place is buzzing. We just can’t wait to get out there and give it our all. “To me, there isn’t much pressure on us. This is my 10th year playing for Cratloe and we have a lot of experience. We have done okay in the last few years without winning, but with that comes experience, such …

If ever there was someone who owes nothing to his club, it is Tim Crowe. His first involvement with Sixmilebridge came back in 1975 and since then, he has had a massive input into the development of the club. He has a unique record in the club, as he holds the distinction of having trained each of the five hurling All-Stars that the club has produced with each of those All-Star jerseys displayed proudly in the club house at O’Garney Park. There are also two camogie All-Star jerseys on display with one belonging to Chloe Morey, while ironically the other is that which was presented to Cratloe native Maire McGrath who plays her club camogie with Sixmilebridge. After 15 years away from the senior squad, Crowe was coaxed back in this year when his beloved club came calling. While initially there were some issues to be straightened out, he says everyone came to the table with one thing in mind, …