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HOLDERS Newmarket Celtic have been drawn at home in the third round of this year’s Clare Cup. Liam Murphy’s side will take on a Lifford outfit, who are currently sitting third in the Premier Division standings. Among the other ties, Avenue United will make the trip to Manus Celtic, while Ennis Town host Sporting Ennistymon. Clare Cup Round 3 Draw Bunratty Cratloe v Newmarket Celtic B; Manus Celtic A v Avenue United A; Ennis Town v Sporting Ennistymon A; Kilkishen Celtic v Shannon Town C; Lifford B v Shannon Olympic; Corofin Harps v Shannon Town A; Kildysart Celtic v Turnpike Rovers; Newmarket Celtic A v Lifford A. The games are to be played on the weekend of February 23.

On this weeks podcast: We reflect on the opening weekend of the National Hurling and Football leagues, we talk THAT red card, and an update on Dancing with the Stars! [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/566059053″ 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” /]

A brave Clare effort just came up short as Donegal ran out 0-16 to 0-13 winners in this National Football League Division Two clash in Cusack Park. Michael Langan opened the scoring with a free he had won himself, but Clare struck back to take the lead for the only time in the first half with points from Gary Brennan and a Keelan Sexton free. Sexton had a goal chance soon after but dragged his shot wide on the left after racing in from the right wing. This seemed to spark Donegal into life, and they hit four in a row with a brace from Ciaran Thompson along with points from Langan and Eoghan Bán Gallagher to leave them 0-5 to 0-2 in front after the opening ten minutes. Dean Ryan and Jamie Malone combined to good effect with Ryan applying the finish to cut the gap to two, but indiscipline in the Clare defence presented Langan with a chance …

Tipperary took the first points of the National Hurling League after a 2-16 to 1-11 win over Clare in Thurles. Aided by a strong breeze, Tipperary raced into an early three point lead with two from Noel McGrath and one from a Seamus Callanan free. It could have been worse though, with Donal Tuohy saving from a Callanan penalty after the Tipperary captain was fouled by Jason McCarthy. Niall Deasy opened Clare’s account with a free on 12 minutes after good work from Colin Guilfoyle, but this was cancelled out soon after as Callanan knocked over his second placed ball to leave Tipperary 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after the opening quarter. Two more followed through Jake Morris and Alan Flynn, before a good break from Ryan Taylor created a chance for John Conlon to finish from a tight angle. Two more Seamus Callanan frees would follow to put the Premier 0-8 to 0-2 clear, and Jake Morris added another to …

Division 1 National Camogie League Eoghan Moloney Clare 0-10 Offaly 1-5 IT was tough work but Clare fought tenaciously to secure their first win of the 2019 league campaign with a two-point victory over Offaly in Whitegate this afternoon. Bridin Dinan was the Banner’s chief scorer, slotting six frees and punishing an ill-disciplined Offaly defence, but two points from Susan Fahy and scores from Andrea O’Keefe and Eimear Kelly saw the Banner through a tough challenge. A Susan Fahy score from an acute angle after 30 seconds got the Banner off to a good start and Andrea O’Keefe doubled their lead three minutes later with a well worked team score before Bridin Dinan made it three points to nothing from a placed ball in the seventh minute. Clare adapted the quicker to the conditions and stole march on their rivals. It would prove vital in the overall context of the game. Offaly got off the mark with a fine individual …

Sixmilebridge have confirmed that Davy Fitzgerald will be the coach of their senior hurlers in 2019. The current Wexford boss joins up with a backroom team headed up by club stalwart Tim Crowe with Timmy Crowe also involved as fitness trainer along with Paddy Meehan as selector. Crowe takes over from the outgoing John O’Meara, who guided the Bridge to the title in 2013, 2015 and 2017.  

Clare begin a third consecutive season in Division Two of the National Football League this Sunday when Donegal make the trip to Cusack Park. The Clare Champion’s Derrick Lynch was joined by former Clare star and selector Ger Keane, former Clare selector David O’Brien and former Clare U21 manager Joe Garry to look ahead to how it may unfold. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/563367357″ 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” /]   We also gathered the opinions of some of well-known faces in Clare football circles to see how they think it will all unfold.     You can also read interviews with Colm Collins, Gary Brennan and Brian Carson along with a full breakdown of all the teams and games in Division Two in this week’s print edition of The Clare Champion.

Clare get their 2019 National Hurling League campaign underway this Saturday evening against Tipperary under the lights in Thurles. Ahead of that, The Clare Champion’s Derrick Lynch sat down with 2013 All-Ireland winning heroes Colin Ryan & Brendan Bugler along with former Clare captain Tommy Guilfoyle to look ahead to the action. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/563363745″ 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” /]   We also rounded up some Clare hurling legends to give their thoughts on the burning questions ahead of the National League.       You can also read what joint manager Donal Moloney and a resurgent Niall Deasy had to say, along with a full preview of each game and a look at what might be in store over the next while in this week’s print edition of The Clare Champion.