Sports

On this week’s podcast: We look back on the Clare SHC & Clare IHC Semi-Finals while also asking what is going on with the Clare senior hurling management position. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/689527255?secret_token=s-EeCev” 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” /]

COROFIN’S Jamie Malone is of of 45 players on the 2019 PwC All-Star football short-list. The Clare footballer is one of 18 forwards nominated. The All-Star team will be announced on Friday November 1. Five in a row winners Dublin have 13 players in this year’s list of nominees who come from 11 counties. Munster champions, and beaten All-Ireland finalists Kerry have nine players down for the final consideration, with Ulster champions Donegal the next highest representation with six. The number of exciting games and impressive performances in the 2019 football season is reflected in the breadth of the counties represented, with the full breakdown being Dublin 13, Kerry 9, Donegal 6, Mayo 4, Tyrone 3, Meath 3, Armagh 2, Roscommon 2, Cavan, Clare, and Cork 1 each. As well as voting on the overall Player of the Year accolade, inter-county players will also be asked to vote on who they believe is the Young Footballer of the Year.

ENNIS boxer Paddy Donovan will have his first professional fight when he takes on Eduardo Valverde in Belfast on October 11. Twenty-year-old Donovan signed with Top Rank in June and is seen as a major prospect in the pro ranks, having had a stellar amateur career. He is trained by former WBO world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who said he is glad his fighter will begin his career on Irish soil. “It’s nice to be fighting at home, all Paddy’s family and friends are going to get the chance to see him start this journey which, if it goes to plan, will be long and successful. It’s always good to fight in Ireland.” The fight is scheduled for six rounds and while prospects like Donovan normally start with handy victories, Andy said this challenge is a bit different. “Valverde has two wins and two losses, so he’s got a 50% record. It’s a fight that we’re confident of Paddy winning …

On this week’s podcast: Derrick Lynch & Peter O’Connell are joined in studio by Joe Garry to reflect on the weekend’s action. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/686142346?secret_token=s-I645M” 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 Senior Football Quarter-Final Preview: St Joseph’s Miltown v Lissycasey It is the battle of the maroons as these two go head to head with the county champions bidding for a fifth consecutive semi-final appearance. It is somewhat reflective of the imbalance in the current senior championship structure that Miltown come into this one after two wins and a draw, while Lissycasey lost to Kilmurry Ibrickane before accounting for Corofin to book their spot in the last eight draw. That is a discussion for another day, but it also relevant in the context of assessing where each side stand ahead of this weekend. It has been something of a stop-start championship for both to date, with Lisscasey having their free weekend in the second round meaning they had a month between their first and last group ties. Miltown on the other hand were in the four team group but their last round tie against Naomh Eoin-O’Curry’s was irrelevant in the …

Clare SFC Quarter-Final Preview: Kilmurry Ibrickane v Kilmihil This is one that has all the makings of the game of the weekend as the neighbours do battle for a place in the last four. For Kilmihil it represents the latest point in their development curve since making the step up from intermediate in 2017. As the newest team into the ranks 12 months ago, they survived the culling of five teams from the top tier before going on to contest the Senior B Final where they lost out to Doonbeg. Their task in 2019 was far from straightforward as they were drawn alongside champions Miltown, new intermediate champions Kilrush and the newly formed West Clare amalgamation. Their performances in the group stages were solid as they lost out narrowly to Miltown before getting the better of a tight battle with Naomh Eoin-O’Curry’s. It set up a winner takes all showdown with Kilrush, and there was no doubting the winner as …

Clare SFC Quarter-Final Preview: Eire Óg v Doonbeg Both these sides will come into this contest in a confident mood with both enjoying positive campaigns to date. Eire Óg have been arguably the more impressive side as they announced themselves as one of the top contenders for the title with eye-catching wins over Cratloe and Clondegad to finish top of the Group of Death. It means they will carry good momentum and a lot of confidence into this quarter-final showdown where a different type of challenge awaits. Doonbeg already have silverware on the sideboard after adding the Garry Cup title to their Senior B crown from 2018, and they will be hoping to continue that form this weekend. They were unlucky not to get something from their opening round defeat to Ennistymon as a strong closing quarter from the North Clare men saw them over the line. Two weeks ago saw them grind out a draw with their neighbours and …

Clare SFC Quarter-Final Preview: Cratloe v Ennistymon It is a familiar fixture at this stage of the championship in the last decade as these sides lock horns for the third time in that period. Cratloe are the masters at the moment with victory in their two previous encounters with the last one coming in 2017 when the South-East Clare men recorded a 3-13 to 1-10 victory. After breaking their quarter-final glass ceiling last year, Ennistymon have developed into front-runners for the Jack Daly cup and have been consistent in their performances across league and championship to date in 2019. They secured a semi-final spot in the Cusack Cup and while they shipped a heavy defeat to Clondegad that day, they bounced back well to pick up two wins from two in their group campaign to seal a knock-out spot as group winners. Any fears of complacency were put to bed early in their last outing against Cooraclare a month ago …