Sports

The excitement around Lahinch is building as the countdown to the 2019 Irish Open is almost over. The stars of the show began to roll to into town from Monday morning, with many taking the opportunity to head out on the course for practise rounds ahead of Thursday’s tee off. Home favourite Shane Lowry was among them as he teed off on Tuesday afternoon, following a breakfast event in the Falls Hotel organised by Bank of Ireland.   The players will have another chance to test out the course tomorrow when the Pro-Am gets underway, with stars of sport and screen among those taking part. 2013 All Ireland winning Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald is among those heading out on course and the Sixmilebridge man will be in a group alongside boyband stars Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden. They will play with former Irish Open winner Jamie Donaldson. Clare’s Shane O’Donnell is also taking part alongside fellow hurling stars Joe Canning …

On this week’s podcast: We look ahead to this week’s Irish Open Lahinch, look back on Clare’s win over Westmeath in the All Ireland SFC Qualifiers and preview the upcoming clash with Meath, and we talk hurling after this weekends Munster finals.

Clare U20 football manager Seamus Clancy has named his side for tomorrow’s Munster championship opener against Waterford in Fraher Field Dungarvan. Dual star Gearoid Cahill misses out through injury after he suffered a cruciate knee injury which rules him out for the rest of the season. 1 Ronan Callinan R. O Callanain (Kilmihil) 2 Dara Conneey D. O Coingheallaigh (Ennistymon 3 Jayme O Sullivan J. O Suillebhain (Wolfe Tones) 4 Ikem Uguaru. I. Uguaru (Eire-og, Inis) 5 Tieran Hogan T. O hOgain (Ennistymon) 6 Sean Rouine S. O Rouine (Ennistymon) 7 Colm McNeilis (Clondegad) Capt 8 Danny Griffin D. O Griofa (Eire-og, Inis) 9. Dan Keating D. O Ceitin (Kilmihil) 10. Cian McDonough C. McDonnchadha (St Josephs Doora Barefield) 11. Cillian Rouine C. O Rouine (Ennistymon) 12. Sean O Brien S. O Briain (Corofin) 13. Colm O Brien C. O Briain (St Breckans) 14. Diarmuid O Donnell D. O Donaill (Kildysart) 15. Seamus Casey S. O Cathasaigh (Kildysart) 16. Tom …

A dominant second-half display from Limerick saw them overcome Clare in the Munster MHC Final by 1-17 to 1-11. It had been a strong start from Clare with Tony Butler and Shane Meehan landing good scores inside the opening three minutes to put the Banner 0-2 to 0-0 clear. The impressive Cathal O’Neill was central to the Limerick challenge and he got the first of his six first half points before Aidan O’Connor levelled the tie moments later. Two frees from Meehan & Cian Galvin restored Clare’s two point advantage, and a brilliant score from Diarmaid Cahill extended the lead to three. Clare’s puckout was under real pressure and Limerick took full advantage to reel off four unanswered scores through O’Neill to move into the lead for the first time in the contest. Killian O’Connor and Patrick O’Donovan swapped scores while a fine effort from Cormac Murphy levelled the game at 0-7 each with half-time looming. The home side at …

Clare withstood a late rally from Westmeath to secure their place in the last round of All Ireland SFC Qualifiers with a 1-13 to 0-15 win. It was level at the break at 0-8 each after an opening period filled with talking points. The home side in Mullingar lost both their star forwards inside the first 15 minutes with John Heslin black carded for a late challege on Clare captain Gary Brennan, while Ger Egan was forced off after picking up a knee injury. Egan had opened the scoring but Clare struck back with four unanswered in an many minutes to go 0-4 to 0-1 clear. Conal O’hAinifein drove through the Westmeath defence before offloading to Jamie Malone to apply the finish. Cathal O’Connor was next to score as he thumped over a brilliant effort from the right flank to send Clare into the lead. Malone got his second when he was found by Gary Brennan and the Corofin man …

Clare Minor Hurling Manager Fergal Lynch has named his side for Sunday’s Munster MHC Final.    1. Aaron Shanahan Tulla 2. Storm Devanney Sixmilebridge 3. Adam Hogan Feakle 4. Cillian McGroary Corofin 5. Ja Collins Eire Og 6. Cian Galvin (C) Clarecastle 7. Tony Butler Doora Barefield 8. Colm O Meara Clonlara 9. Cormac Murphy O Callaghans Mills 10. Killian O Connor Corofin 11. Oisin Clune Feakle 12. Keith Smyth Kilanena 13. Shane Meehan Banner 14. Conner Hegarty Inagh Kilnamona 15. Diarmaid Cahill Corofin 16. Seanie Doyle Bodyke 17. Oisin O Donnell Crusheen 18. Callum Beirne Clooney Quin 19. Sean Wiley Bodyke 20. Eoin Guilfoyle Clooney Quin 21. Marc O Loughlin Corofin 22. Sean Ronan Kilmaley 23. Dylan Downes Sixmilebridge 24. Shane Punch Ruan Manager: Fergal Lynch Coaches: Jimmy Meagher and Francis Browne S&C: Keith Hennessy & Tom Downes Physio: Rosaleen Monahan Logistics: John O Sullivan Statistics: Tony McMahon

On this week’s podcast: Derrick Lynch, Joe Garry & Eoghan Moloney look back on the weekend’s action

Clare booked their spot in the next round of All Ireland SFC Qualifiers with an impressive 3-17 to 0-17 win over Leitrim in Carrick on Shannon. An outstanding first half from Colm Collins’ men set them on their way to victory as they built up a 2-12 to 0-6 lead by the half-time whistle. The goals came in a dominant 10 minute spell that saw the Banner raid for 2-5 without reply with goals from Jamie Malone and Gary Brennan. Malone’s came after a brilliant run from Conal O’hAinifein which opened up the Leitrim defence. He fed the Corofin man who rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home. The second arrived when a teasing ball into the danger zone was palmed off the crossbar by Brennan, but the captain reacted quickest to slap home the rebound and send Clare 2-8 to 0-2 clear. There could have been plenty more green flags for Clare in the opening period with four other goal …