Sports

NEXT time out, Davy Fitzgerald must consider sitting in the stand and allow his selectors, Louis Mulqueen and Mike Deegan, to patrol the sideline.The Clare manager cannot seem to take a step back on the line and watch the game in a detached manner. While his raw passion and an unyielding will to win are admirable traits, in this instance they are destabilising Clare. Instead of targeting specific players, opponents are targeting the Clare manager, seeking to rise him, knowing that even if he doesn’t explode, their efforts will at least lead to a lapse of concentration on the sideline. Rival managers are unlikely to be orchestrating this approach; it’s just that players who know Davy are taking it upon themselves to have a cut. He wants to win more than anybody involved but sometimes taking a step back can be a proactive route.How it is possible to concentrate on what is happening on the field if a manager is …

LIKE four of his players, Waterford manager Michael Ryan was making his Munster championship debut. Had Clare won, Ryan would have been met with the full force of the Waterford public’s anger after his first championship game.Winning changed everything and it was a relieved Ryan who spoke to the media afterwards. One factor, he says, Waterford didn’t utilise was that their ex-manager was in charge of Clare.“I can honestly say that we scarcely mentioned Davy Fitz in our dressing room. The only things that we can control are the things we do ourselves. We didn’t get caught up in anything and, in fairness to Davy, he didn’t get involved either,” the former Waterford ladies football manager commented.“There’s 44 of us involved and from myself as manager down to the last person in the backroom team, it was a fantastic effort. I’m thrilled to win the game and it gives us four weeks to do a bit of work ahead of …

CLARE’S opening game in the All-Ireland Camogie Championship on Saturday against Cork should be an interesting affair.Three weeks ago the sides met in the Munster final, where Clare caused a big surprise. Their win at the Ragg in Tipperary was fully merited and is sure to have made Cork more determined than ever to bounce back.The Leesiders have dominated this game over the past decade and from the moment they got together at the beginning of this season, they made it clear that winning the All-Ireland title is their target.That Munster final win will have boosted the confidence of the Clare girls, whose run in the National League showed this panel have started to believe in their abilities. This year, Clare have displayed a physicality that has also helped add to their confidence.With four group games to play, Clare will want to come out at the business end of things and secure at least a quarter-final spot. The Clare panel …

FOR the two emerging clubs, Parteen and Cratloe, last Thursday evening in Doonass pitch in Clonlara was probably the most important game they have played. The last time Cratloe played camogie was 1963 and Parteen are recent additions to competitive action.Neither team allowed the wet weather conditions to dampen their spirits. In a very evenly contested opening quarter, Cratloe’s Jade McMahon and Parteen’s Nicky Walsh excelled in defence for their respective sides, so scores were difficult to come by. It wasn’t until the 21st minute that Parteen finally managed to grab the opening goal of the game, when Emily Hill collected from Walsh and finished to the net.Tara Mannix added 1-1 for Parteen from frees. Cratloe battled hard and were unlucky not to score in the opening half. A third goal from Parteen early in the second half may have appeared to signal game over but Cratloe’s Michela Arthur stopped the Parteen onslaught and hit 1-3 with no reply. However, …

RACING into a eight-point lead gave Clare an edge they held throughout, joint Clare manager Gerry O’Connor said after seeing the Banner side make a successful start to their title defence.Clare were always in control in this tie but a strong finish from Waterford helped produce a final scoreline that is somewhat flattering to the Déise outfit.“Our full-back line worked very well, while up front Cathal Malone was excellent at centre-forward and Cathal O’Connell and Davy O’Halloran also did very well. “Malone was particularly prominent in the first half when his play brought the whole forward line into the game. His play helped create a lot of space inside for the full-forwards and it suited our players. “Davy O’Halloran loves Thurles and always plays well there,” according to Éire Óg club man O’Connor, who is joint manager with Donal Moloney, a role they also fill with the U-21 team.They managed the minor team for the past two seasons and steered …

DEFENDING champions Clare were always in control in the semi-final of the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship at Thurles on Sunday and deserved their four-point win over Waterford.Unable to call on any of the players who helped bring the All-Ireland intermediate title to the county last year, Clare opted for a young squad and the starting line-up featured 11 players who are eligible for U-21 grade this year. It was a similar situation for Waterford, nine of whose starting line-up are eligible to play U-21.With both teams managed by the respective U-21 management teams, it should add to the interest in the meeting of the counties in the provincial U-21 semi-final in a month’s time.Clare took a grip on the match from the outset and quickly raced into a three-point lead with scores from Davy O’Halloran (2) and Conor Ryan. They controlled the exchanges in the opening quarter, at the end of which they were 0-7 to 0-0 ahead, with O’Halloran’s …

The Clare camogie primary squad will travel to Cahir this Saturday. The panel has been divided into three groups and all will play three games in the annual Munster Rose Malone Primary Blitz. The bus taking the players will leave from Liddy’s Roslevan at 7.45am and pick up at Setright’s at 8.05. The Clare mentors are Brendan Mulcaire, Jane Scanlon, Michelle Moloney, Stephen Powell and Rachel Mulcaire. The team will train in St Flannan’s every Friday evening, including this Friday, at 7pm. They will train for all of July and take part in the Clare U-13 Blitz on Sunday, July 29. Further information can be had from Brendan Mulcaire (087 9833359).The Clare squad members are listed below.Clare 1: Áine O’Loughlin ­(Clonlara); Áine Ryan (Kilbane); Aisling Cleary (Corofin); Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen); Alice Keane (Ballyea); Amy Barrett (Scariff); Anna Corry (Scoil na Mainistreach, Quin); Anna Lee Marsh, Aoife Vaughan, Apryl O’Regan (Broadford); Anna Spaight (Bridgetown); Aoife Power (Killaloe); Aoife Sexton (Lahinch); Becky …

Three-in-a-row is not a topic of discussion in Crusheen, despite the fact the club’s senior hurlers are in line for a third Clare Senior Championship success in as many years.“[It] is the furthest thought on my mind at this stage. We are under pressure for the first game, the result of which will dictate our summer,” said Crusheen manager Michael Browne this week, winding up preparations for the opening round on Friday when the holders will play Broadford.“If we win, we will be in a good position but, if we lose, the pressure is on and it will give Tulla and Newmarket (the other teams in the group) a great boost.” “Our Clare Champion Cup campaign hasn’t been good. We started off okay but then we lost Jamie Fitzgibbon to injury and were further disrupted because of the unavailability of a number of players for a variety of reasons. That was all reflected in our league. “Yes, we beat Clooney …