Sports

Eoin Brennan reports from the National Camogie League Division 1 Round 2 match in Cusack Park Kilkenny 1-8 Clare 0-10 IT had to take an injury-time point from Kallyann Doyle to finally edge Kilkenny over the line and agonisingly deny Clare a dramatic share of the spoils in Cusack Park this afternoon. Sunk by a brace of late Cork goals seven days previously at the same venue, this time it was the hosts who appeared to be finishing the stronger after a three point unanswered rally regained full parity by the hour mark. It wouldn’t be a full reprieve though as from the puck-out, Kilkenny patiently worked the ball down to roaming centre-back Doyle to squeeze her shot just inside the right post for the winning score. A draw would have been just reward for another hard-working display in difficult conditions, with newcomers Lorna McNamara and Caoimhe Carmody in particular excelling on the heightened stage against the 2020 All-Ireland senior …

JUST when it seems that the worst was over for Clare’s injury-ravaged squad, news that Mark Rodgers will be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a knee injury is another massive blow to the solar plexus, writes Eoin Brennan. After all, from the nadir of not even being able to bring a full 26 man squad to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to the welcome sight of getting John Conlon, David Fitzgerald and even Tony Kelly back on the field in the intervening period, things seemed to be finally coming together at an opportune time for Brian Lohan and Co. As Clare’s top-scorer so far, Rodgers was the form player of 2022 and was also instrumental in UL’s run to the Fitzgibbon Cup title until suffering a knee injury against Carlow IT in the semi-final last Thursday evening. As the Scariff star anxiously awaits results on a knee scan though, the show must go on, with a first victory now a prerequisite. …

A determined Colaiste Muire couldn’t undo the damage of three first-half goals in the All-Ireland Senior B decider, writes Ivan Smyth Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew 4-8 Coláiste Muire Ennis 1-9 Three first half goals paved the way for Wicklow’s Coláiste Bhríde to be crowned All Ireland Senior B Camogie champions as they overcame a determined Coláiste Muire outfit. After losing their All Ireland Junior A final in 2019, it is further heartbreak for Coláiste Muire although they can be proud of the grit and determination they showed on Friday evening. In a strange opening half, where Coláiste Muire enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory, it was the Wicklow side’s ruthlessness in front of goal that proved the difference. Coláiste Bhríde captain Emma Tomkins struck for two opening half goals while her fellow corner forward Sadhbh Buttle looked a livewire up front. Their full forward, Wexford minor Sarah Doyle, was crowned Player of the Match as despite often being utilised …

Michael Neylon’s charges had far too much firepower for the Faithful, writes Michael O’Connor CLARE……………2-11 OFFALY………0-6 Following an early season win against Limerick in UL the week previous Clare went to Offaly for round two of the Under 20 football tournament. The Offaly training facility in Kilcormac Killoughey hosted the game. Michael Neylon’s side remain unbeaten following Clare’s comfortable 11 point win. Clare were quick off the mark and aided by a strong defensive unit they curbed the efforts of the home side. After 25 minutes the Clare forwards had taken a firm grip on proceedings with goals coming from Brian McNamara and Shane Griffin as Cian Mahony and Griffin once more with points left Clare (2-3) to (0-4) ahead at the interval. With Fergal Ginnane, Ciaran McMahon and Fionn Kelliher on top there was little real respite for Offaly in the second half as they required a strong sequence of scores to gain a foothold in the game. With …

Avenue United struck twice in a three minute spell to book their place in the Last 16 of the Munster Junior Cup. With the sides deadlocked at 1-1 after 75 minutes of action, Philip Talty and Dylan Casey’s goals ensured that Clare would be represented in the Last 16 of the competition. Avenue named an unchanged side from the one that beat Yellowstone in the FAI Junior Cup the weekend prior. They looked the sharper side in the opening exchanges, dominating possession and territory although they found Youghal a tough side to break down. That was until the half hour mark when Thomas Hehir opened the scoring with a well taken goal. However, despite their dominance, Youghal, who entered the game as firm underdogs, struck back to level the contest. Munster Junior Cup Last 16 Draw We have been drawn at Home to Villa FC from Waterford. Games to be played the weekend of March 19/20 https://t.co/HKN0RZyEDT — Avenue United …

CBS Ennistymon’s historic dual run is set to continue this weekend when the Munster Senior C Post-Primary Schools double champions enter the All-Ireland C series at the penultimate stage, writes Eoin Brennan. Taking on the Ulster champions over the next two Saturday’s, first up for the North Clare school is a football showdown with Donegal’s St Columbia’s Stranorlar who only secured their first ever provincial title on Tuesday evening. This fixture is set for this Saturday, weather permitting. In a dominant display aided greatly by 1-7 from targetman Niall McCormack, the breakthrough champions kept Cavan’s Virginia College at arm’s length throughout to record a 1-13 to 0-06 victory. Seven days later, CBS Ennistymon will take on Antrim’s St Killian’s College in the hurling version, the same day as Harty Cup champions St Joseph’s Tulla commence their Croke Cup campaign with a semi-final clash with roll of honours leaders St Kieran’s College. Despite not reaching the Leinster decider, the Kilkenny superpower …

COLÁISTE Muire joint manager Barry Donnellan believes his side are ideally placed for a crack at All-Ireland glory this Friday in their rescheduled decider. The Ennis school came through the ultimate test of character in their All Ireland semi-final victory against Mountrath CS, Laois and have had to wait a week following the Storm Eunice-imposed postponement. In a game which was the definition of a war of attrition, Coláiste Muire overcame the elements to secure a hard fought 0-4 to 0-2 win. Donnellan believes the traits on show that day; character, heart, determination, to name a few will stand his side in good stead when they come up against a formidable Wicklow outfit in Coláiste Bhríde. “The conditions on the day were horrible. We knew it was going to be a battle. Our work rate and determination got us the result. “Until you are in that situation, you don’t know how they will respond. Mountrath were a very physical side …

Cork 2-6 Clare 0-4 Report by Eoin Brennan Two late goals flatteringly bolstered Cork’s opening victory of the new season after holding off hosts Clare in unflattering weather conditions in Cusack Park this afternoon. One would have to go back to the 2014 National League Semi-Final to find Clare’s last triumph over the Rebels and consequently another victory for the visitors was both expected and delivered. However, while 16 points separated the sides in their previous clash in the 2020 All-Ireland Quarter-Final, Clare halved the margin this time around and in truth could have been much closer, only to concede a brace of majors coming down the final straight. That said, the Rebels never looked in danger of letting all the points slip, having hit the front for the first time in the 33rd minute through Down native Sorcha McCartan. With the aid of a gale, Cork kept Clare scoreless for the second period while tacking on 2-3 themselves to …