Sports

On a special preview podcast: We look ahead to the 2019 Munster SFC campaign for Clare and assess the current state of the overall championship structures.

On a special Champion Sports Chat podcast: We look ahead to the 2019 Munster SHC in the company of two time All Star Brendan Bugler and former Clare captain Tommy Guilfoyle.  

Clare manager Dermot Coughlan has named his starting 15 for Wednesday night’s Munster Minor Football Phase One Final against Tipperary.  Captain Shane Meehan, Cillian McGroary and Fionn Kelliher have all recovered from knocks sustained in the loss to Waterford in the final round and take their place on the starting team. Matthew Reidy is named on the extended panel after suffering a facial injury on that evening. The teams shows just one change from the last time these two sides met, with Kelliher replacing Reidy in the half back line. Clare were comfortable winners on that night, with a full report available here The winners of Wednesday night’s game will go forward to the next phase where Cork and Kerry await. The Clare team is as follows: 1.Oisin O’Loughlin O. Ó Lochlain (St. Breckans) 2.Tadgh Lillis, T. Ó Laighléis (Doonbeg) 3. Micheal Garry M. Mag Fhearaigh (Cooraclare) 4.Ciaran McMahon C. Mac Mathúna (Ennistymon) 5. Cillain McGroary C. Mag Ruairí (Corofin) …

European Tour Championship Director Simon Allis is confident Lahinch’s turn at hosting the Irish Open will be a roaring success when the event tees off in July. With just nine weeks to go until an expected crowd of almost 100,000 people descends on the famous North Clare links, preparations for the event are ramping up as the first tee-off now moves into sharp focus. Last week’s media day marked the latest indication that the event is now just around the corner, with the signage at the tee boxes erected to give a visceral feel of the transformations to come at the course for the event. Storm Hannah must not have been impressed though, as course officials were forced to take down the signs again for fear they might end up as part of the new rock armour protecting the coastline. Allis admits the countdown to this year’s Irish Open is now well and truly underway. “It’s the age old story …

They say it takes a good team to win one All-Ireland, but you need to be exceptional to win two. In that regard, Diarmaid Nash and Colin Crehan have firmly placed themselves into the exceptional category. Not only did last weekend see the duo win their second All-Ireland handball doubles title, they did it back-to-back. In doing so, they became the first Banner pairing to achieve the feat since the Kirby brothers in the latter part of the 1970’s. The Tuamgraney and Kilkishen clubmen took down another sibling duo to win their second title as they got the better of Galway brothers Martin and Diarmuid Mulkerrins in the decider at Kingscourt in Cavan. They did in with a straight sets win, taking the first game 21-17 before wrapping up the title with a 21-12 victory in the second. Nash admits it was a sweet win. “It was a relief as much as anything else in a way really because we …

The countdown to the Irish Open in Lahinch this July is starting to pick up pace as the amount of weeks left until it tees off ticks over to single figures. Last week’s media day at the course saw the likes of the BCC, Virgin Media and The Clare Champion descend on the course for the latest publicity drive. Central to the message being espoused by the likes of Paul McGinley, Simon Allis and the rest of team was the development of the festival atmosphere to be built around the golf tournament. A Championship village with local food and drink, games to encourage those not of a golfing inclination to get involved, live music on the promenade by night and lots to keep the children entertained were all repeatedly promoted as the main stakeholders moved from one microphone to the other. And why not? It makes sense to do it. While the main reason that North Clare will host the …

Both the Clare senior hurlers and footballers are facing the prospect of being without key players ahead of the opening rounds of the Munster championships. Joint manager Gerry O’Connor has confirmed that Ian Galvin, the goal-scoring hero from last year’s memorable win over Tipperary in Thurles, will miss out on the entire campaign after suffering a hand injury. Jamie Shanahan, Daragh Corry and Conor McGrath are also currently on the long-term treatment table. “Jamie had an operation on his back two weeks ago so he is definitely out. Conor McGrath had an operation on his shoulder after Christmas and he’s definitely out. Ian Galvin had an injury on his arm a couple of weeks ago so he’s out too. I wouldn’t say we’ll see them this year, definitely not. They are all gone so that’s a significant loss but we probably wouldn’t have got as much game time into Diarmuid Ryan, Aidan McCarthy and Shane Golden if those guys were …

On this weeks podcast: We talk GAA refs, look ahead to the Munster GAA championships and review the sporting weekend in Clare.