Sports

Éire Óg have won back to back senior football championship titles. Here is a selecton of images from the match shot by John Kelly

Eoin Brennan watched Éire Óg grind out victory over Ennistymon on a score of 0-9 to 0-6 to retain Jack Daly title ÉIRE Óg are unquestionably the Clare Senior Football kingpins after grinding out a determined victory over Ennistymon to retain their crown in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon. Bouncing back from a heartbreaking late reverse to Ballyea in the hurling equivalent seven days previously, eight dual finalists maintained their unflinching focus to get over the line this time around as the Ennis side led from start to finish. It took patience and discipline to unlock an Ennistymon defensive door that had confounded four previous opponents as their swift counter-attacking style and unerring freetaking that included three marks, steered their side to victory. Central to that masterclass was captain Gavin Cooney who converted six placed balls to keep the scoreboard ticking over in what was far from a classic final. Two of those bookended a forgettable first half that saw …

HAVING emerged from completely contrasting starting blocks, Éire Óg and Ennistymon have also hand differing preparations in the lead-up to this first time final pairing. Of course, having underwhelmed in their relentless pursuit of the Jack Daly, the only surprise about Éire Óg’s 15 year breakthrough last November was that it hadn’t come sooner such was their potent line-up on paper. However, what hasn’t been a surprise is that the Townies are determined to make up for lost time by easing through this year’s championship to maintain their perfect nine match winning championship record. Even more impressively, they have almost seamlessly smoothed over the absence of Conall Ó hAiniféin, David Reidy, Nathan Murray, Eimhin Courtney and Dara Walsh, a remarklable feat in itself considering their contributions to that title-winning journey in 2021. Ennistymon meanwhile looked to have missed the boat in 2018 as for all their underage dominance over the past decade, the North Clare Magpies increasingly looked as if …

For any guest passing through the Falls Hotel reception last Thursday evening, they would have been forgiven for thinking that they were witnessing more of a casualty ward than a press night. After all, with injured players Cathal Malone (groin), Sean O’Driscoll (quad) and Kevin Hehir (knee) either limping or on crutches, it seemed as if the interview process was more akin to a therapy session. Even Club President Kieran Crowe is eagerly-awaiting his hip replacement operation only two days after the county final. The Galway native and Garda journeyman actually played for the Ennis Faughs in 1957 but was first stationed in Ennistymon in 1969 and aside from brief stints elsewhere has been a community fixture ever since and has been an integral part of the club’s development. “I just feel that if we could win one, we could stay at the top for a while.” began the 87-year-young president. “You look at the likes of Miltown and Kilmurry …

Although still a young man Eínne O’Connor has a huge amount of experience, experience he feels is valuable when looking to win a second Jack Daly. “Firstly I love playing football and I love playing for Éire Óg. We’ve had loads of tough defeats. I lost four quarter-finals in a row so that was extremely difficult to take. Last year I felt a lot of pressure to win because of those defeats and when we had huge success with U-21 which added more pressure especially when we weren’t transferring that to the Senior ranks.” Eínne spent four years in Athlone IT and played Sigerson for those four years. He is now at GMIT doing a Masters in Strength and Conditioning. So he is well placed to discuss what it takes to win. “Firstly you have to prepare right, both physically and mentally, eat right, sleep right. It’s all part of the modern game. We are drilled by Paul and the …

Such has been the huge turnover of players in the past few seasons that when Ennistymon take to the field on Sunday, there is likely to only be four survivors from the 19 that contested the club’s first ever senior decider in 2018. To put things in even clearer perspective, take out those four and the remaining eleven would struggle to match the evergreen Lawrence Healy’s vast experience in what is his 24th season playing adult football. The versatile defender, who also starred for Clare between 2006-2013, is almost taken aback at the ease of assimilation for Ennistymon’s bright new crop of teenage talent this year but also feels it’s that fresh injection of energy and enthusiasm which has catapulted the North Clare side back into a senior showdown. “The turnover from the last final is huge but I guess these younger players have consistently played at such a high level, winning minor As, playing for their county and contesting …

Philip Talty is a gifted footballer be it playing soccer with Avenue Utd or Gaelic Football with Éire Óg. One of the most skilful players on a field, he is one of the most hard working players too. “It’s all about honesty of effort, you have to work harder than the opposition to be successful. It really is that simple. You have to work your socks for sixty minutes and the rest will look after itself. “If you don’t work for Paul you don’t play for Paul. The defensive side is just as important to me as the attacking side. We have to help the defence out as much as possible. Turnovers are as valuable as a score” For such a young man Talty seems totally focused and driven. “Success is so important. We set our stall out at the very first training session this year to retain Jack Daly and we are only one game away from doing so. …

From proudly leading his native side behind the Tulla Pipe Band in Ennistymon’s first ever senior decider in 2018 to now being a waterboy on the sideline, it’s been an understandably frustrating transition for the injured Sean O’Driscoll. Tearing a quad in Ennistymon’s final Cusack Cup game just three weeks before the championship throw-in, what initally seemed an injury that would prevent him from competing in the group stages unfortunately turned out to be more of a longer term issue as repeated attempts to ramp up his recovery have all proven futile. Contrast that with Ennistymon’s remarkable run through the championship hurdles and it’s clearly mixed emotions for the former captain. “I’m a terrible spectator. I have been on the sideline doing the water and I’m kicking every ball and I just know that some player will turn around and tell me to shut up at some stage during the game as I just can’t help it. “Unfortunately I’ve been …