Sports

Éire Óg manager Paul Madden is hoping his side’s battling qualities will be on display once more when the Townies face Kilmurry/Ibrickane in an eagerly anticipated showdown. Unlike this Sunday’s opponents, Éire Óg have suffered a defeat in this year’s Championship when falling to a 0-14 to 1-10 defeat against Clondegad in the group stages. With much talk surrounding the five team group which contained some of the traditional powerhouses of Clare football, Madden states that when the draw was made, it was immediately apparent that his side would face a huge test when pitted against Lissycasey, Clondegad and Doonbeg. “It was obvious to me that our group was always going to be difficult. Every team would have fancied their chances of progressing. Lissycasey got to the semi final last year, Clondegad reached the county final not so long ago and Doonbeg got to the semi finals two years ago. We knew if we could make it out of the …

Senior Football Championship Final Éire Óg v Kilmurry Ibrickane at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.30pm (Jim Hickey, Cratloe) When it comes to finals, Kilmurry Ibrickane’s ability to grind out victories is almost metronomic at this stage. Only that ultimate attritional derby showdown against St Joseph’s Miltown that went all the way to a replay in 2019 has blotted their copybook that now stands at seven wins in eight deciders since 2008. It’s a feat that Éire Óg can only dream about as this is only their third final since the last of their 18 titles in 2006. That is has taken so long for the Townies to even reach a first semi-final since 2014 is almost incredible considering their underage success that included four Under 21A crowns in six seasons (2013, ’14, ’15 and ’18). However, regardless of past indiscretions, now that they’re finally there, they will be determined to make the most of this golden opportunity. All because they …

They say that it takes a community to raise a child but realistically also sustain a GAA club, especially in rural settings, something that Kilmurry Ibrickane can certainly attest to as they continue to punch above their weight by remaining at the top table in Clare despite a dwindling population base. Cherishing and nurturing players from generation to generation has become a way of life around Páirc Naomh Mhuire over the past two decades, with Keelan Sexton the perfect example of this initiation to become their talismanic forward and top scorer over the past few seasons. “That’s something that the older lads have done, they’ve really put their body on the line in that sense. When I came in, it was probably the likes of Johnny Daly, Odran and Peter O’Dwyer who were literally getting the maximum out of their bodies for us. They didn’t want to go out at the one time as that could have been detrimental to …

Darren O’Neill is an example of how hard work can help a person overcome setbacks they face on the field of play. The experienced midfielder was a key part of Éire Óg’s run to the county final in 2014 but since then a bad run of luck with injuries had forced him to watch from afar. O’Neill has suffered and rehabbed the dreaded cruciate ligament injury while also requiring surgery earlier this year for a troublesome knee injury. The 30 year old insists that his body has responded well in a year which saw him start a Championship game for Clare for the first time since 2011. “I did the ACL at the end of 2018. I was able to play last year and train but when I’d be finished training my knee would be very sore afterwards. It was after training when I’d feel it. It’s a tough one because you can have negative thoughts. With the knee I …

When Kilmurry Ibrickane’s newest member Joe Campbell was born almost 18 years ago, Enda Coughlan had already garnered his first county senior medal the previous Autumn. On Sunday, he bids for a historic tenth title and in typical ageless fashion, is as influential as ever in Kilmurry Ibrickane’s engine room as the Clare selector continues to pull the strings for the defending champions. So what is it that keeps Coughlan coming back for more? “Look, as I keep saying to the younger lads, these days might’t last forever and I think definitely as you get older, you appreciate it a lot more heading into these games. “Look, if you don’t win a final, you may as well have been beaten in the first round, that’s my own opinion. I mean it’s great getting to finals but if you don’t win them, they’re a tough blow to take so with a good few younger lads coming through at the moment, hopefully …

Former rugby star is in line to retain the open water swimmer of year title she won in 2019, writes Dan Danaher A KILLALOE sportswoman continues to glide on a crest of a wave in competitive open water swimming. Rosie Foley is nominated in the Padraic Casey Open Water Swimming of the Year category, which she won the last time it was run in 2019. The St Anne’s Community College teacher was put forward by her peers in the open water community. The results will be announced on Saturday, November 27, at a ceremony in Galway. “It is a huge honour to be nominated. You never set out on a path for anything. I went back into the pool after my daughter, Siofra, was nine months old. I joined Limerick Master Swimming Club, having never swam competitively. “I have made great friends in the Limerick Master Swimming Club, which pulls you along. “By meeting people and asking people if any …

Intermediate Football Championship Final Corofin v Kildysart @ Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 2.45pm (Niall Quinn, St Joseph’s Miltown) A THIRD championship showdown in the space of 15 months between these clear favourites for the Intermediate honours has looked likely from the outset. However, while the spoils have been shared evenly so far, the stakes couldn’t be any higher this Saturday. All because winning is simply a prerequisite for both, a conundrum that brings it own pressure and heightened tension for what could be a cracking final if they can play to their undoubted potential on Saturday. Both have been down this road before with Corofin having to wait over twelve months to try and rectify their second half slump in last year’s final against St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. The need is even greater for Kildysart with this being their fourth intermediate decider since 2016 as they look to finally banish their final hoodoo. Kildysart, led by talisman Emmet McMahon, will need …

Kildysart manager Noel O’Grady insists his side will not be using past final heartbreak as added motivation ahead of his side’s showdown with Corofin Despite this being his side’s fourth final in six year at the intermediate grade, O’Grady believes his charges must look forward and not back as they prepare for a final, which many predicted would come to fruition before the competition started. “We are just focused on this year. The lads have to work hard and do their jobs on the pitch. “We have a new management team this year so we have just been focusing on the task at hand The past defeats haven’t been mentioned by us. They (the players) may be thinking of it themselves but we’ve not mentioned it.” O’Grady knows his side cannot afford the slow start that ultimately cost them in their semi final defeat to Corofin last year as they fell nine points behind in the opening quarter. “There is …