Sports

On this week’s podcast: Former inter-county referee Rory Hickey joins Derrick Lynch & Peter O’Connell to look back on the weekend’s action and gives his thoughts on where officiating in the GAA is going. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/664759868?secret_token=s-EoTIU” 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” /]

Colm Collins has revealed it is looking likely that he will remain in charge of the Banner’s footballers for next year. Speaking after watching his Cratloe side cruise to victory over Clondegad in the Clare SFC, he said while nothing has been confirmed, he expects to spend another season on the sideline with the county team. “We are meeting the week after next but it is looking like we will be staying on. We have been asked to stay and it’s looking like we will. We just want to make sure everything is right. It was an enjoyable year and they’re a tremendous bunch of lads. We would have met before now only for championship was on. I’m away on holidays next week and we will meet when I get back but it’s looking we will be there again” he revealed.

The opening round of the Clare senior football championship gets underway this weekend and marks the beginning of the latest era in the race for Jack Daly. 2018 was the year of the big cull as five teams were chopped from the top tier, with just 13 now in the hunt to be crowned champions. It also meant a reshuffling of the structures with group stages coming back into play. The intrigue increased when a new group team emerged as peninsula neighbours Naomh Eoin and O’Curry’s joined forces to have a crack at the senior championship, and the draw saw them pitted against defending champions St Joseph’s Miltown along with 2018 intermediate champions Kilrush and 2017 intermediate champions Kilmihil. A major talking point in this group has been the issue of how the relegation process will work, with confusion still surrounding how it might play out. The notes which accompanied the 2019 Master Fixtures suggested that the new group team …

Clare SFC Round One Preview Group One St Joseph’s Miltown v Kilmihil It is a sign of far each club has risen that this senior championship opening round is a repeat of the 2013 intermediate final. On that day, Miltown were comfortable winners and their curve has been on the upward trajectory ever since. 2015 and 2018 saw them crowned champions with the core of that team being with them throughout that journey. They have also got the man who led them to that intermediate title back in their corner as David O’Brien takes up the reins once more. Kilmihil eventually got over the line after consistently contesting for intermediate honours, and built on that last year by consolidating their senior status. Club legend Mark O’Connell is the man on the line and along with former international rules star Odran O’Dwyer they will have Kilmihil well primed for this test. It has already been a successful year for Miltown as …

The 2019 Clare Senior Camogie Championship gets underway on Monday evening, with Inagh-Kilnamona bidding for a fourth consecutive McMahon Cup. There are plenty contenders lining up to have a crack at the champions who have contested every final since 2015. Joining them in Group One for this year’s championship are Kilmaley, Truagh/Clonlara and newly crowned intermediate champions Kilkishen-Bodyke. Clare Senior Camogie Championship Group One  Inagh-Kilnamona After overseeing the most successful period in their history, Margaret Lafferty called time on her spell on the sideline after guiding her side to another title last year. A new management team led by joint managers Eugene Foudy and Paul McInerney take over the reins for the coming season, and will bring plenty experience to the role.  Along with dominating the county scene over the last few years, Inagh-Kilnamona have also made real strides on the provincial front and have come agonisingly close to summiting that peak in recent times. The champions will be strongly …

It is a new look Clare SFC in 2019 with 12 teams competing for the top prize Group One: St Joseph’s Miltown, Kilmihil, Kilrush, Naomh Eoin-O’Curry’s Fixtures Round One: St Joseph’s Miltown v Kilmihil; Kilrush v Naomh Eoin-O’Curry’s; Round Two: St Joseph’s Miltown v Kilrush, Kilmihil v Naomh Eoin-O’Curry’s; Round Three: St Joseph’s Miltown v Naomh Eoin-O’Curry’s, Kilmihil v Kilrush. Group Preview St Joseph’s Miltown are the defending champions and on all known form this year, they have no intention of letting that title slip. The Cusack Cup and Jack Daly are now sitting together at Hennessy Park and there is a very strong possibility that scenario won’t change come Christmas 2019. The presence of the last two intermediate champions in the same group adds to the intrigue as both will be confident of taking a top two spot. That intrigue is deepened with the addition of the newly formed Naomh Eoin-O’Curry’s group team, with the clubs bidding to transfer …

13 teams will make their bid to be crowned the 2019 Clare SFC champions when the first round gets underway this weekend. We have profiled each of the teams involved as the countdown to the opening game gathers pace. Group One St Joseph’s Miltown Last two years: 2017 saw Miltown just fall short at the semi-final stage as they lost out to Clondegad. They atoned for that last year as victory over Ennistymon in the decider gave them a second title since 2015. Players Out for Round One: Seanie Malone (knee injury), Colin Hehir (travel). Key Men: County duo Eoin Cleary and Gordon Kelly will be central cogs at either end of the field. Kelly continues to defy Father Time with outstanding displays while Cleary consistently justifies his rating as one of the top forwards in the province. With Conor Cleary, Cormac Murray, Oisin O’Looney and Sean O’Brien all providing real leadership, the champions have plenty to call on. Manager: …

Clare’s Junior Camogie side go in search of a place in the All-Ireland Premier Junior final this weekend when they take on Kerry in their last four showdown in Cusack Park on Saturday at 2pm. The Banner’s second string come into the game on a strong run of form, as they recovered from an opening round loss to Roscommon to record impressive wins on the road against Tyrone and Armagh to seal their spot in the knockout stages. Two of Clare’s key players for Saturday’s showdown are Broadford’s Niamh Mulqueen and Rebecca Crowe of Ruan, who will soldier together in the saffron and blue before lining out in opposition for their clubs in the championship 48 hours later. Mulqueen is confident they can get the result to see them into the All-Ireland decider. “We have worked really hard since mid-October. The group has gelled really well together, so much so that everyone nearly knows everyone’s dogs names at this stage. …