Sports

2019 Irish Open host Paul McGinley is heaping praise on the local community and the local authority for the works undertaken to get Lahinch ready for this week’s historic event. With the eyes of the sporting world set to fall on Clare over the next few days, a huge programme of works have seen the village and its environs undergo a major face-lift in preparation for the spotlight to come. Some of these including works on the main promenade in Lahinch along with works to improve the approach roads to the area and painting of buildings. McGinley joked: “Someone said to me at the airport that if a dog sat down for five minutes he would have been painted because there were so many things been painted so the whole engagement from the local community has been tremendous and we really appreciate that”. The Dublin native has a long tradition with Lahinch and is proud of how the event is …

Home favourite Shane Lowry is among the early starters for the opening round of the 2019 Irish Open in Lahinch. The Clara man will get his bid for a second title underway at 8.40am on Thursday morning, alongside defending champion Russell Knox and Tommy Fleetwood. The trio will play together for the opening two rounds. Graeme McDowell is out 10 minutes earlier and he will be alongside Martin Kaymer and Thorbjorn Olsesen. A full list of the tee-times are available here

The excitement around Lahinch is building as the countdown to the 2019 Irish Open is almost over. The stars of the show began to roll to into town from Monday morning, with many taking the opportunity to head out on the course for practise rounds ahead of Thursday’s tee off. Home favourite Shane Lowry was among them as he teed off on Tuesday afternoon, following a breakfast event in the Falls Hotel organised by Bank of Ireland.   The players will have another chance to test out the course tomorrow when the Pro-Am gets underway, with stars of sport and screen among those taking part. 2013 All Ireland winning Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald is among those heading out on course and the Sixmilebridge man will be in a group alongside boyband stars Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden. They will play with former Irish Open winner Jamie Donaldson. Clare’s Shane O’Donnell is also taking part alongside fellow hurling stars Joe Canning …

On this week’s podcast: We look ahead to this week’s Irish Open Lahinch, look back on Clare’s win over Westmeath in the All Ireland SFC Qualifiers and preview the upcoming clash with Meath, and we talk hurling after this weekends Munster finals. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/644720298?secret_token=s-cSFgk” 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 U20 football manager Seamus Clancy has named his side for tomorrow’s Munster championship opener against Waterford in Fraher Field Dungarvan. Dual star Gearoid Cahill misses out through injury after he suffered a cruciate knee injury which rules him out for the rest of the season. 1 Ronan Callinan R. O Callanain (Kilmihil) 2 Dara Conneey D. O Coingheallaigh (Ennistymon 3 Jayme O Sullivan J. O Suillebhain (Wolfe Tones) 4 Ikem Uguaru. I. Uguaru (Eire-og, Inis) 5 Tieran Hogan T. O hOgain (Ennistymon) 6 Sean Rouine S. O Rouine (Ennistymon) 7 Colm McNeilis (Clondegad) Capt 8 Danny Griffin D. O Griofa (Eire-og, Inis) 9. Dan Keating D. O Ceitin (Kilmihil) 10. Cian McDonough C. McDonnchadha (St Josephs Doora Barefield) 11. Cillian Rouine C. O Rouine (Ennistymon) 12. Sean O Brien S. O Briain (Corofin) 13. Colm O Brien C. O Briain (St Breckans) 14. Diarmuid O Donnell D. O Donaill (Kildysart) 15. Seamus Casey S. O Cathasaigh (Kildysart) 16. Tom …

A dominant second-half display from Limerick saw them overcome Clare in the Munster MHC Final by 1-17 to 1-11. It had been a strong start from Clare with Tony Butler and Shane Meehan landing good scores inside the opening three minutes to put the Banner 0-2 to 0-0 clear. The impressive Cathal O’Neill was central to the Limerick challenge and he got the first of his six first half points before Aidan O’Connor levelled the tie moments later. Two frees from Meehan & Cian Galvin restored Clare’s two point advantage, and a brilliant score from Diarmaid Cahill extended the lead to three. Clare’s puckout was under real pressure and Limerick took full advantage to reel off four unanswered scores through O’Neill to move into the lead for the first time in the contest. Killian O’Connor and Patrick O’Donovan swapped scores while a fine effort from Cormac Murphy levelled the game at 0-7 each with half-time looming. The home side at …

Clare withstood a late rally from Westmeath to secure their place in the last round of All Ireland SFC Qualifiers with a 1-13 to 0-15 win. It was level at the break at 0-8 each after an opening period filled with talking points. The home side in Mullingar lost both their star forwards inside the first 15 minutes with John Heslin black carded for a late challege on Clare captain Gary Brennan, while Ger Egan was forced off after picking up a knee injury. Egan had opened the scoring but Clare struck back with four unanswered in an many minutes to go 0-4 to 0-1 clear. Conal O’hAinifein drove through the Westmeath defence before offloading to Jamie Malone to apply the finish. Cathal O’Connor was next to score as he thumped over a brilliant effort from the right flank to send Clare into the lead. Malone got his second when he was found by Gary Brennan and the Corofin man …

Clare Minor Hurling Manager Fergal Lynch has named his side for Sunday’s Munster MHC Final.    1. Aaron Shanahan Tulla 2. Storm Devanney Sixmilebridge 3. Adam Hogan Feakle 4. Cillian McGroary Corofin 5. Ja Collins Eire Og 6. Cian Galvin (C) Clarecastle 7. Tony Butler Doora Barefield 8. Colm O Meara Clonlara 9. Cormac Murphy O Callaghans Mills 10. Killian O Connor Corofin 11. Oisin Clune Feakle 12. Keith Smyth Kilanena 13. Shane Meehan Banner 14. Conner Hegarty Inagh Kilnamona 15. Diarmaid Cahill Corofin 16. Seanie Doyle Bodyke 17. Oisin O Donnell Crusheen 18. Callum Beirne Clooney Quin 19. Sean Wiley Bodyke 20. Eoin Guilfoyle Clooney Quin 21. Marc O Loughlin Corofin 22. Sean Ronan Kilmaley 23. Dylan Downes Sixmilebridge 24. Shane Punch Ruan Manager: Fergal Lynch Coaches: Jimmy Meagher and Francis Browne S&C: Keith Hennessy & Tom Downes Physio: Rosaleen Monahan Logistics: John O Sullivan Statistics: Tony McMahon