Sports

FORMER Irish Rugby international Rosie Foley has dived into an elite group of about 279 people who have achieved the gruelling Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. The 49-year-old Killaloe native recently followed in the footsteps of her mentor, Fionnuala Walsh, by completing the 32.3 km swim across the Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California mainland in the United States. In July 2014, Rosie completed the 33.5 km swim across the English Channel between England and France and the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, a 45.9 km circumnavigation around Manhattan Island last June. She has also become just the second Irish woman to finish a marathon swimming challenge consisting of three historically important swims around the world. The mother-of-three undertook the charity challenge in memory of her brother, the late Munster and Irish rugby legend Anthony Foley, who died on October 16, 2016. All proceeds will go to the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation, children’s charity CARI and CRY, …

Despite being the barometer by which other teams within Clare measure themselves, Banner Ladies manager JJ O’Dea insists that his side are trying to raise the bar. With the Ennis club aiming to win their 13th county title in 15 years, O’Dea maintains that blending young players in to his side is a necessity if the club are to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Despite possessing players of the ilk of Niamh O’Dea, Laurie Ryan and Gráinne Nolan, Banner Ladies have continued to give youth its chance with Caoimhe Cahill, Keelin Fitzgerald, Emer Burke, Caoimhe Ryan and Gráinne Burke all plying their trade at adult level after impressing at underage with club and county. “We have to blend youth. The most important teams, in any club is the U-10s or U-8s because they are the future of the club. This team didn’t happen overnight. We worked hard to get this group together. People think we are a big club, …

Eoin Brennan previews the senior and intermediate ladies football championship finals taking place in Doonbeg this Sunday Kilmihil v Banner Ladies at Shanahan McNamara Park Doonbeg, Sunday 3pm Much like Kilmihil and Banner ladies will have an almost forensic knowledge of each other at this stage, there’s very little more than can be said when it comes to assessing this well-worn pairing that are contesting their sixth senior decider in seven seasons. More than that though, this is Banner Ladies 15th consecutive final appearance, an unprecedented record in the county as they bid to secure a 13th crown in that time. Only West Clare Gaels (2010) and Sunday’s opponents Kilmihil (2019) have interrupted that staggering power surge that still possesses an experienced core of Niamh O’Dea, Laurie Ryan, Grainne Nolan, Louise Henchy, Naomi Carroll, Louise Woods and Eva O’Dea. Kilmihil’s team is also noteworthy for their winning knowhow as Ellie O’Gorman, Catriona Callinan, Micaela Glynn, Laura Egan, Becky Mahon and …

Newmarket Celtic and Avenue United continued their winning ways as the pair picked up 5-1 wins over Tulla United and Kilrush Rangers respectively. Meanwhile, Bridge United were held to a draw against a resurgent Shannon Town as Mark Colbert’s side saw their winning start to the league come to an end. Coole FC moved up to fifth place after their second league win on the bounce as they defeated a Mountshannon Celtic side who are still searching for their first points of the campaign. Newmarket Celtic moved two points clear at the top of the Maloney Hardware Premier Division with a big win over Tulla United. The league leaders struck twice in three minutes during the opening half with Eoin Hayes and Darragh Leahy finding the target. Mike Moloney’s side hit back when Dara Ryan netted after Newmarket failed to deal with a corner. Newmarket Celtic led 2-1 at half time before their strength in depth helped them power to …

Eoin Brennan previews this weekend’s senior and intermediate hurling championship semi-finals Ballyea v Cratloe at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 2.30pm It’s a fifth championship clash in as many seasons but while all the other three were borderline affairs including the seesaw 2018 decider, it was their latest showdown at the tail end of August that provides the biggest focus. It’s too easy to label Cratloe’s 13-point group decider victory as false because there was no reason in the world why Ballyea wouldn’t have thrown everything at their opponents just as they did in similar circumstances in 2018 and 2021. After all, with a month’s break until the quarter-finals, Robbie Hogan’s side would surely have wanted to finish the group stages on the ultimate high and maintain their two-year unbeaten championship record. Indeed, if anyone was going to ease off the gas a little, it should have been Cratloe who were in the midst of a more intensive dual schedule. However, …

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 …