Sports

An unchanged team from that which lined out against limerick two weeks ago has been named by the Clare senior hurling management for Sunday’s Munster senior hurling final clash with Cork at Semple stadium in Thurles throw in at 2p.m.) Seadna Morey has recovered from the leg injury which forced him out of the win over Limerick in the early stages of that game and he will line out at wing back. The team is Donal Tuohy (Crusheen); Patrick O’Connor (Tubber) Captain David McInerney (Tulla), Jack Browne (Ballyea); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) Conor Cleary ( Miltown St. Josephs, Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge);Colm Galvin (Clonlara) Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge); Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), David Reidy (Éire Óg);Podge Collins (Cratloe),John Conlon (Clonlara),Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)  Subs; Andrew Fahy (Whitegate),Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones),Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley) Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin) Niall Deasy (Ballyea) Ian Galvin (Clonlara) Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley) Conor McGrath (Cratloe) Darragh Corru (Tulla)

Plenty of distractions have eased Brendan Bugler into retirement from the inter-county scene, while he also has come to enjoy being a spectator again, writes Owen Ryan. MUCH has been written in the last couple of years about the plight of the sportsman whose career at the highest level finishes, leaving a gap in the structure of his life. Brendan Bugler could be in that position, having invested thousands of hours into preparing for Clare hurling teams but, having drawn a line under it at the end of 2017, he is very happy in his own skin. “I’m lucky this year, I’ve had a couple of distractions as well. I’ve thrown myself into a couple of little things and there’s a little nine-month-old as well who is keeping us fairly busy. We’re building a house too. “This year I’ve been really busy, maybe next year, when I’ve a bit more time to sit down in the evenings, I might miss …

Peter Duggan has been hurling all his life. Now, the Spancilhill man is ready to see Clare bring home a Munster title, he tells Sports Editor Seamus Hayes His name has scarcely been out of the limelight since the hurling championship got underway seven weeks ago, which isn’t surprising given that, in four games, he has amassed a tally of 1-42. Peter Duggan has had the bug to play for Clare since he first started hurling in his back garden as a youngster. That desire to wear the saffron and blue grew stronger from the day he represented the county in the Primary Game at half-time of a Munster championship fixture involving Clare in Thurles. “Seven of the current panel, including Tony Kelly and Jack Browne, played in the Primary Game that year and that drove us on. Even when we were preparing for the Primary Game in Clareabbey, we used to see the then senior players going in and out …

By Seamus Hayes Tom makes history in Kilrush HISTORY was made at Kilrush Golf Club at the weekend, when Tom Prendeville won the captain’s prize for the third year in a row. The local man who plays off a handicap of 15 returned a score of 103 and had three strokes to spare over Mark Shannon (7) who returned 106.33in the race for captain Cyril Kelly’s prize. They were followed by John O’Sullivan (20) with 107. 67, Tom Cleary (20) with 2109.67 and Colm Murphy (19) with 11o.33. Jim Young junior (5) won the gross with 123 whle the leading qualifier was Anthony Gilmartin (20) with 64. Greg Young (6) won category 1 with 114.00, Finbarr McMahon(17) won category 2 with 110.67 while Sean Moran (22) won category 3 with 70. Other prize winners were Past Captain: Gearoid Williams (13) 112.23; Committee Prize: Joe Linnane(17) 116.67; Front Nine: Brian Scanlan (14) 29.00 ; Back Nine: Seamus O Doherty  (12) 32.00 …

Clare 1-19 Offaly 2-14 In Colm Collins’ near five year reign as Clare senior football manager, the team has provided many exciting games but few have been as entertaining or as nervewrecking as this afternoon’s clashwith Offaly in round 2 of he qualifiers. Before an attendance of 3 493 in blistering heat, this was end to end stuff and he result was in doubt right to the final whistle. Clare deserved their narrow victory and while Offaly can point to some missed chances, Clare can equally do he same and, arguably, to a greater number of missed opportunities. The Banner outfit had some outstanding performances and foremost for the visitors on the day were Jamie Malone and Eoin Cleary who, between them, accounted for 1-10 of heir side’s total. While Offaly had made the better start, they were fortunate to go to the interval on level terms with Clare. The midlanders had the better of matters in the opening quarter …

Kerry 3-21 Clare 1-7 The gulf in class between Kerry and most other counties in Munster was highlighted again this Saturday afternoon when, for the second year in a row, they scored a comfortable win over Clare in the Provincial minor final In bright sunshine at Pairc Ui Caoimh, the defending champions struck for 1-12 without reply in a fourteen minute spell in the opening half as they opened a fourteen point gap which put them into a commanding position and the result was never in doubt after this. They were slicker throughout the field and their teamwork proved much too sharp for their opponents After scoring the opening two points, Kerry were rocked in the eleventh minute when Clare got through for a goal which Thomas Kelly finished well to give the Banner side the lead for the only time in the game. Kerry’s response was devastating as , in the space of two minutes they had landed 1-1 …

CLARE hurler David Reidy is free to play in Sunday weeks Munster final against Cork in Thurles. The Clare Champion has learned that the Clare half forward and free taker has been successful in his appeal today in Croke Park. The Éire Óg clubman was red carded during Clare’s round robin Munster championship defeat of Limerick in Cusack Park last Sunday. Initially, Limerick substitute, Tom Condon, was red carded. Referee, James Owens, consulted with his umpires in making the decision to dismiss Condon. However, before play resumed, he again spoke to his umpires and decided to also issue Reidy with a red card, deeming foul play in an incident with Limerick’s Diarmuid Byrnes, who tumbled to the ground, following what looked like minimal contact. Reidy can now concentrate on preparing for the July 1 final, which is a repeat of the 2017 decider. There is no news yet if joint manager, Donal Moloney, will be free to patrol the touchline. …

SCARIFF Harbour Festival is to be officially opened by Armagh football legend Oisín McConville over the August bank holiday weekend, in an interview with Carol Byrne he discusses his visit to the Banner county, growing up in Crossmaglen and conquering his gambling addiction. BORN in South Armagh in 1975, Oisín McConville grew up in a place and at a time where the sounds of gun fire and the tremors of bomb blasts were so commonplace they were almost part of the scenery. From the age of five he knew to walk briskly past the army barracks in Crossmaglen on his way to school and not to amble or dawdle in the presence of soldiers or police. As he reflects on his time growing up he says he is thankful that this is an experience his kids will never have. As Oisín prepares to come to the Scariff Harbour Festival, an event which bridges the divide between North and South, he …