Sports

Newmarket Celtic’s Eoin Hayes has been named in the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming UEFA Regions Cup qualifiers. Republic of Ireland amateur international manager, Gerry Davis has included Clare’s Hayes in the 18-man squad with the Newmarket-On-Fergus native considered a key attacking option. Hayes captained his country against Northern Ireland last month while he also found the net in the same tie. He first lined out with the national side in 2016 and has been an ever-present part of the squad since. There will be 14 Regions Cup debutants in the squad after impressing during the four-match winning streak in back-to-back matches against Wales and Northern Ireland. Rockmount’s Brendan O’Connell is set to captain the side having been one of only two players selected to have won the Regions Cup in 2015, the other being St. Michael’s midfielder Jimmy Carr. Ireland are set to face San Marino on Tuesday, October 25, with kick-off at 9am, Romania on Friday, …

Kilmaley’s John Carmody has been appointed manager of Clare’s Senior and Junior Camogie sides for 2023, having been joint manager with Conor Dolan last season. He was previously manager of the senior side for two seasons in 2012 and 2013, guiding the county to the Munster title in his first year at the helm. That provincial success was the first Clare had experienced in 38 years. Carmody had previously been involved with the county minors before taking on the senior role. He is currently finalising his backroom team which is to be confirmed at a later date.  In a year of near misses, Clare’s Senior side were forced to come through a relegation play off against Offaly to preserve their status. Clare lost three and drew two of their group games after reaching the Munster final. They beat Tipperary after a replay to progress to the provincial showdown while despite their best performance of the year, they suffered a heartbreaking …

Eoin Brennan previews the senior camogie championship semi-finals taking place this Saturday Truagh-Clonlara v Kilmaley at Fr. McNamara Park Doora, Saturday 2pm (Kevin Walsh, Wolfe Tones) All eyes were on Truagh-Clonlara this year to see how they would respond to the heartbreak of a first senior final reverse. With the McMahon Cup almost in their grasp, the South East Clare side were remarkably reeled in by Scariff-Ogonnelloe at the death last November before being lowered in the replay a fortnight later. It could have had a detrimental effect but if anything, Truagh-Clonlara have come back stronger as they defiantly look to get over the line this time around. Off the back of their validation group decider victory over Inagh-Kilnamona, this could be a potential stumbling block as with expectations firmly on reaching another final, Truagh simply cannot overlook the challenge that’s in front of them. After all, in similar circumstances two years previously, Kilmaley almost brought down eventual champions Inagh-Kilnamona …

Things are hotting up in the race for the Clare senior football crown. Eoin Brennan previews this weekend’s four quarter-finals and the relegation play-off Cratloe v Kilmurry Ibrickane at Cusack Park Ennis Saturday 2pm Despite the geographical contrast, there have been no keener or more frequent rivalry at senior level as this is remarkably the 14th championship clash in only 13 seasons between Cratloe and Kilmurry Ibrickane. The pendulum has swung in both directions over that time but crucially the ‘Bricks have held the upper hand over the past five meetings which include the 2016 Final replay and of course the 2020 decider. It’s a testament that Cratloe keep bouncing back despite the narrative, repeatedly hammered home, that they have failed to fulfil their potential in either code since 2014. Following their hurlers’ advancement to the last four on Saturday, it would be a major boost to do likewise in football, especially as it would also end their Kilmurry Ibrickane …

Newmarket Celtic’s Vice Chairperson Liam Murphy states the club is striving for continuous improvement on and off the pitch. The comment comes as Newmarket Celtic as the club launched the next phase of its development with plans firmly in place for a new clubhouse which will enhance the facilities in place at the Ennis Road venue even further. Under the plans, the clubhouse will include four dressing rooms and a meeting room which can double up as a gym space. There are also plans for wheelchair accessible toilets, a referee’s room and additional car parking spaces. Murphy believes the new developments can help not just the club but the local community. “Newmarket is a big community and we don’t just see ourselves as a football club. We are a part of the community. This is more than just a football club. We serve a large area and we always strive to provide the best for all our teams, from underage …

Michael O’ Connor was on hand to watch Corofin/Ruan eke out victory over O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke in the Under 17B Academy final on a score of 2-14 to 2-9 AS the Under 17 hurling seasons is nearing conclusion this was a gem of a game in Tubber on Tuesday night. The rainy season was welcomed by all as a stronger balanced Corofin/Ruan side had to withstand a strong last quarter fightback by a Mills/Bodyke side that would have won the game with more consistency in the third quarter. The expectation was a Corofin/Ruan as they appeared physically stronger than their East Clare opponents, but it was Michael O’ Brien who stunned followers with a second minute goal for Mills/Bodyke. It was the start they needed. Colm Breen for Corofin/Ruan and Kyle Touhy with a well taken Mills/Bodyke point were on target by the 6th minute. Corofin/Ruan who were clearly agitated by the efforts of their opponents set to work and successful …

Eoin Brennan watched St Flannan’s College produce a powerful finish to defeat St Brendan’s College, Killarney 1-12 to 1-7 in the Munster Under 15A Post-Primary Schools Football Championship Semi-Final CHAMPIONS OF 2017 St Flannan’s produced a storming finish to lower perennial rivals St Brendan’s College on their way to a second consecutive Br. Taft Cup Final in The Bog Garden, Rathkeale on Wednesday afternoon. Having been edged out of last year’s title by a brace of injury-time Tralee CBS points, the Ennis side proved even more resilient this time around, remarkably outscoring their lofty opponents by 1-11 to 1-1 over the final 35 minutes. Such a sea-change was difficult to foresee when despite facing into the conditions, the Kerry side seized full control to soar 0-6 to 0-1 clear by the end of the opening quarter. In essence, St Flannan’s gave their opponents too much space and respect but finally ignited their belief and challenge with a decisive 24th minute …

After a sporting weekend which saw Mark Rodgers produce a spellbinding four goal display while Shane O’Donnell showcased his class once more, it is unfortunate that the biggest talking point from the weekend was in fact not the action on the field. The nasty ankle injury suffered by Inagh Kilnamona centre back Jason McCarthy, who was forced to wait almost an hour for an ambulance to arrive, overshadowed his side’s SHC quarter final encounter with Éire Óg. Meanwhile, Kilkishen Celtic AFC player Paddy McInerney broke his tibia and fibia in a game against Shannon Hibs in the FAI Junior Cup and the 38-year-old was forced to wait an hour and a half for an ambulance to arrive. A nurse from Shannon, who attended the game, helped to comfort the player until the medical personnel arrived and transported him to hospital. A freak accident saw McInerney suffer the cruel blow with both himself and Jason McCarthy left with long waits before …