Sports

U-13 Division 1 Football Championship Final Lissycasey 1-10 St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 0-8 Coming into this Division 1 final the teams had played each other twice already in the group stages. On each of those occasions only a solitary point separated the teams as Lissycasey won on their home patch while the Parish exacted revenge in the return fixture. Bearing that in mind it came as no surprise that the teams were deadlocked at three points apiece after the opening half. For Barefield though they will look back at that first thirty and wonder how they weren’t ahead. Dominating possession they moved the ball accurately through the lines using both the hand and the foot pass to great effect. However the Lissycasey defence marshalled by the outstanding Robert Pelczar stood firm. Time and time again he came storming out of defence with the ball and he always used the possession wisely for such a young player. Having the ability to kick …

Clare’s epic 2024 season that saw them capture the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2013 and the Allianz League title for the first time since 2016 sees them deservingly dominate the list of PwC Hurling All-Stars nominees announced this morning. The Banner braves are the standout contingent in the list of 45 names and have 14 players nominated across all areas of the field. In addition, star forward Shane O’Donnell is nominated for PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year where he is joined by Cork’s midfield dynamo Darragh Fitzgibbon and Limerick’s defensive rock Kyle Hayes. The PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year nominees are Clare’s Adam Hogan, Cork’s Eoin Downey and Limerick’s Cathal O’Neill. There are eight counties represented in total. The breakdown is Clare 14, Cork 10, Limerick nine, Kilkenny four, with Waterford, Wexford, Dublin and Antrim having two representatives each. Goalkeepers: Patrick Collins (Cork), Nickie Quaid (Limerick) and Eibhear Quilligan (Clare). Defenders: Adam Hogan …

Minor C Camogie Championship Final Wolfe Tones 6-13 Parteen-Meelick 6-10 Wolfe Tones definitely earned their Minor C Camogie Championship breakthrough, having been tested to their optimum by a never-say-die Parteen-Meelick in what was a truly memorable decider in Fr. McNamara on Wednesday evening, Sharing twelve goals equally, supporters were not only afraid to take their eyes off it but even fearful of blinking in case they missed a goal. It was a compelling end-to-end contest that proved a superb advertisement for Clare Camogie as the standard on offer far exceeded expectations as both sides left everything out on the field in pursuit of some much-needed silverware. And yet considering the final scoreline, it’s perhaps difficult to believe that there were no goals at all until additional time in the first half. Indeed, injury-time in general appeared to ignite something special in these sides as seven of the twelve goals were scored in those added minutes, five of which arrived amidst …

Clare Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 preview Group 3 Inagh-Kilnamona v Broadford at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1pm (Kieran Liddane, Sixmilebridge) While they’ve encountered each other in the Clare Cup and most recently at senior B level, this is actually the first time that Broadford and Inagh-Kiinamona have locked horns in the top tier. That’s hardly unusual considering that Inagh-Kilnamona only became a permanent entity 16 years ago, the year that Broadford regained their senior status and also spend a second spell at intermediate between 2015-19. This historic clash only adds the the intrigue of what is effectively a good old fashioned winners-takes-all encounter for a quarter-final place. Without having to depend on any other result is not only refreshing but could lead to perhaps the tie of the round as both sides simply had to throw everything at this in order to prevail. A draw would suit Paddy Meehan’s side who remain unbeaten after a hugely impressive start against …

Clare Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 preview Ballyea v Éire Óg at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 5.30pm (Eoghan O’Leary, Whitegate) It was inevitable from the draw in May that the fate of this neighbours would essentially hinge on this final round showdown. And so it has come to pass as this 2022 final rematch could well eliminate one of these sides depending on the result and in Ballyea’s case, how big the winning margin is. For the Townies, a win or draw would be sufficient to seal top spot, with a victory for Gerry O’Connor’s side ensuring that the 2021 and ’22 champions would fail to get out of the group for the second successive season, something that hasn’t happened in 12 years. For Ballyea to keep matters within their own grasp and not have to worry about what’s happening in Sixmilebridge, a six point victory is the target as it would see them leapfrog the Townies even if both …

Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 3, Group 1 Clarecastle v Smith O’Brien’s at Páirc Micheál Uí hEithir Cratloe, Saturday 5pm, (Andy McMahon, Cratloe) They’ve met regularly in the Clare Cup and even the Magpies’ second string have battled Smith O’Brien’s but at adult championship level, this appears to be the first time that their flagship sides have clashed. It would potentially have been a heavyweight showdown if the Killaloe-Bridgetown side were at their 2021 or ’22 levels while it will still be a battle, the loss of key players to emigration for Smith O’Brien’s should mean that Clarecastle possess the better balance to shade matters and top the group. Verdict: Clarecastle Ruan v St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at Crusheen, Saturday 5pm, (Jim Hickey, Cratloe) It’s only three years ago since St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s first team raided for five goals to floor Ruan in the intermediate semi-final. However, it’s a strong sign of the Parish that while their first team is now operating …

Minor A Camogie Championship Final Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-8 Clarecastle/Ballyea 0-6 Newmarket-on-Fergus admirably completed the set in Cusack Park on Wednesday evening when soaring to a first Minor A Camogie Championship crown over neighbours Clarecastle/Ballyea. Having won titles at every underage A grade (Under 13, 14, 15, 16 and now 18) over the past twelve months, such an remarkable feat was completed by a strong finish to a tough derby battle for supremacy. Level at 0-6 apiece by the turn of the final quarter, Aoibhe O’Leary won and fired a 20 metre free goalwards, leading to a goalmouth scramble that was eventually finished over the line by substitute Sammi O’Looney. In such an inch-tight contest that was level four times, it was a major score that the Blues would only thrive upon whereas try as they might, a deflated Clarecastle/Ballyea failed to score for the final twenty minutes of the tie. Instead O’Looney and scorer-in-chief O’Leary fleshed out the final margin for …

With the Junior B and C Hurling Championships commencing this weekend, winning isn’t everything as the emphasis is equally on placings ahead of next year’s adult hurling championship restructure. Following the ratification of the Clare Hurling Structures Review Committee’s proposal in December, the introduction of Premier Intermediate and Junior B Championships for 2025 will extended the adult hurling championships to an unprecedented eight tiers in a bid to increase the number of meaningful matches, improve player retention as well as the attractiveness of the club championships. While the senior race for the Canon Hamilton remains the same 16 team competition, the remaining seven grades (Premier Junior C and Junior C depending on numbers) will be ten team championships split into two groups of five, with the group winners progressing to semi-finals while the second and third placed teams in each group face off in quarter-finals. With every match, minute and score potentially decisive, it should make for some exciting fare …