Ennistymon club man, John Fawl will represent Clare GAA on Central Council next year following his victory at Thursday night’s annual convention. In a three way contest for the post, at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, he secured 92 votes and was elected on the first count, defeating Miltown’s John Reidy, who secured 57 votes, and O’Callaghan’s Mills’ Noel O’Driscoll, who received 28 votes. The quota was 89. All other members of the executive for 2015 were elected without opposition. They are Tadhg Murphy, Cooraclare (president); Michael McDonagh, Miltown (chairman); Joe Cooney, (O’Callaghan’s Mills) vice-chairman;  Rosaleen Monaghan, Tubber (assistant secretary); Bernard Keane, St Joseph’s (treasurer); Gerry Lynch, Tulla (assistant treasurer); Sean O’Halloran, (Bodyke) PRO; Anne Hayes, Lissycasey (culture and Irish officer); Ger Hickey Feakle (development officer); Michael O’Neill, Ballyea (coaching and games officer); Fergal Gray, Feakle (children’s officer); PJ Kelly, (Inagh-Kilnamona) and PJ McGuane, Cooraclare (Munster Council delegates);  Michael O’Neill, (Ballyea); Bernard Keane, (St Joseph’s); Tom Downes, (Kilmihil) plus the chairman and secretary (Congress delegates); Gabriel …

Newly crowned WBO champion, Andy Lee was given a hero’s welcome when he flew into Shannon Airport this afternoon (Wednesday) for the beginning of a very special homecoming, following his title win in Las Vegas. Andy beat the previously undefeated Russian Matt Korobov in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Following his media interviews and photocalls, Andy had time out with family and close friends before bracing himself for a massive reception in Limerick tonight. Minister for Sport, Michael Ring wished Andy Lee well on winning the WBO middleweight title. “It is brilliant for Andy and his family, and I am delighted that Limerick County Council have arranged this reception. For a world champion to be greeted by his home town in such a way can only inspire more people to get involved. Andy has worked unbelievably hard to get to this point of his career and I am sure he will enjoy sharing the celebrations with the people of Limerick, …

Clare’s All-Ireland winning captain from 1995 and 1997, Anthony Daly is to head up the Limerick underage hurling academy. Daly also managed Clare before taking on a similar role with Dublin, whom he led to National League and Leinster titles, after many years in the wilderness The announcement, this week, means that the Limerick underage hurling and football academies will, in 2015, be managed by two people who have played a huge part in the success enjoyed by Clare hurling. Back in October, Paul Kinnerk, coach to the Clare senior and under 21 All-Ireland winning hurlers of recent years, was appointed to take charge of the Limerick underage football academy. Kinnerk, a member of the Monaleen club in Limerick, has played all grades of football for the Shannonsiders. Since Daly stepped down after six seasons in charge of Dublin hurlers, there has been much speculation as to what team he would manage next. He was strongly linked with a move to …

By Seamus Hayes Cratloe 2-10 Clonlara 2-8 Cratloe completed another double in what has already been an historic year for the club when the senior hurlers won their first ever Clare Champion cup (senior hurling league) title on Saturday. A two point win over their neighbours Clonlara brought the curtain down on the club’s most successful year even and completed the senior hurling league and championship double for the club. It was a most entertaining contest played in cold conditions which made hurling difficult for all involved. O’Garney park in Sixmilebridge was in tremendous condition for this attractive fixture which saw the sides level on six occasions. For much of the game a draw looked the likely outcome but Cratloe s truck a decìsive blow in the 59th minute when Conor McGrath fired home their second goal. At the end of an evenly contested first half the sides went to the dressing room with 1-4 each on the scoreboard. Podge …

From an early stage in the 2014 county hurling season, it was predicted that Cratloe and Clonlara would contest the Clare championship final, provided they remained on opposite sides of the draw. While the draw ensured that was the case, Crusheen instead managed to dump Clonlara out of the race at the semi-final stage. After the championship, the Clare Champion Cup (senior league) is the next most important competition. Winners of the Canon Hamilton trophy, Cratloe have never won the league title. Clonlara’s last success was in 2009, when they won the title for only the second time, having won their first a year earlier, when they also won the championship. It is certainly not the best time of the year to be playing the final of such a prestigious competition but both Cratloe and Clonlara will want to win the title and the prize-money that goes with it, courtesy of sponsors, The Clare Champion. The final will take place …

CLARE County Council is seeking further information from Clare County GAA Board on the proposed €2.5m redevelopment of the Southern Stand at Cusack Park, following three separate submissions on facilities for disabled fans. The county board applied for planning permission on October 30 to remove the existing roof of the Southern Stand, erect a new roof complete with camera box accommodation and rear access stairs, and to build a new toilet block adjacent to the stand. An application was also submitted for a new turnstiles block and boundary wall. Clare County Council has now written to the county board to say that, “concerns remain regarding the provision of adequate disabled access and viewing points within the proposed development,” and has requested an access statement which, “demonstrates how the proposal in its current format provides for the requirements of Universal Design” – [the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest …

By Seamus Hayes Kilmallock 1-32 Cratloe 3-18 In a cracking Munster club senior hurling championship final at the Gaelic grounds in Limerick on Sunday, a physically stronger Kilmallock dominated extra time to claim the title at the expense of Clare champions, Cratloe. Before an attendance of 6,365, the champions of the neighbouring Shannonside counties produced a truly marvellous contest, recording some magnificent scores in the process. It was anybody’s game in normal time as play switched from end to end with both sides looking like winners at different times. In extra time, Kilmallock dominated and deservingly captured the honours but an eight point winning margin is rather flattering. The Limerick side’s captain Graeme Mulcahy gave his side the lead after just ten seconds but Cratloe dominated the next ten minutes, scoring 1-2 without reply and they could have had another two goals and a couple of points in that period. Kilmallock grew in confidence as the half progressed and when …

THE presence of Brian Lohan on the Cratloe training field, dressing room and sideline is one that adds solidity and steel to the Clare champions’ set-up. You get the feeling that when Lohan talks, his words are taken on board. That’s simply because of what he achieved on the hurling field and how he went about it. Many of the Cratloe players won’t remember 1995 or 1997 but what happened and Lohan’s role in that will be well known to them. More pertinently, Lohan, along with fellow coach, Alan Neville, has what everyone in Cratloe wants on Sunday, a Munster club medal.That’s a medal the Shannon man, who lives in Cratloe, says he values more now than he did in 1996, when Wolfe Tones ruled Munster. “As you live longer, it gets more important. It wasn’t that big a deal when you were playing but the longer you’re retired, the more important it becomes. It was the same when we …

COME 2.30pm this Sunday afternoon, by the mouth of the River Colligan in Dungarvan, Cratloe will take on The Nire for a place in Sunday fortnight’s Munster club football final. This weekend’s semi-final will represent this group of players’ 14th championship game of 2014. In their 780 minutes of championship hurling and football to date this year, Cratloe have yet to wave the white flag. The only white flag waving has been left to the men in white coats beside the posts. Plenty of people have held the view that winning a hurling/football double in the county was an impossible feat. Now, Cratloe are just 180 minutes from completing a Munster double, which would top their historic county double-winning achievement. Of course, thinking ahead isn’t something this Cratloe panel will be indulging in. They haven’t up to this point and that’s one of the reasons why they are where they are. Another reason is simply because they haven’t been held …

By Seamus Hayes The Gaelic Grounds in Limerick will host the Munster club hurling final between Clare champions Cratloe and Limerick’s Kilmallock on Sunday week, November 23, when the throw in time will be 2p.m. The venue was decided on the toss of a coin at the Munster council offices in Limerick on Tuesday evening. Following the meeting of Crusheen and Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh in the 2011 Munster final when the council’s decision to stage that game at Thurles received much criticism, the provincial body decided that in any similar situation in the future where teams from neighbouring counties would clash, a toss of a coin between the respective county grounds would take place to determine the venue. Last year Cusack Park hosted the final between Sixmilebridge and Limerick’s Na Piarsaigh and that was decided on a toss of a coin. The council adopted the same process this year and on Tuesday evening, a coin was tossed to determine whether Limerick’s …

By Seamus Hayes Cratloe move a step closer another title when they defeated Thurles Sarsfields from Tipperary at Cusack Park on Sunday but down the road in Sixmilebridge there was disappointment for the county intermediate hurling champions Feakle who suffered a one point loss to their Waterford opponents Cappaquin Cratloe 1-18 Thurles Sarsfields 0-14 While the sending off of Denis Maher from Thurles Sarsfields in the opening minute of the game will lead to much discussion, it cannot detract from the fact that Cratloe delivered another impressive performance when defeating their Tipperary counterparts in the semi-final of the Munster senior club hurling championship at Cusack Park in Ennis Conor Ryan, Enda Boyce, Podge Collins and Conor McGrath, with a haul of 0-11, delivered outstanding displays as Cratloe qualified for yet another final, this time in the Munster championship where they will meet the Limerick champions, Kilmallock on November 23. Of course Maher’s dismissal in the very first play, will be …

By Seamus Hayes Eire Og 3-10 Liscannor/Kilfenora/Ml. Cusacks 1-7 A strong final quarter helped title holders Eire Og retain the Clare under 21 A football championship title at Hennessy Park in Miltown on Saturday afternoon when they proved too strong for the North Clare amalgamation of Liscannor/Kilfenora/Ml. Cusacks. The victory marked the Ennis club’s third in this championship and there is no denying the merit of their latest success. However, it took them a while to establish the upperhand and there were concerned faces in their camp at the half way point when they were just a point ahead after playing with the aid of the wind in the opening half. The amalgamation side showed one change to their starting line up to that which lined out in the semi-final a week earlier with Cian O’Dea ruled out due to suspension. The Kilfenora teenager’s appearance before the Hearings committee of Clare GAA on the previous night failed. He was replaced …

That 14 of the starting 15 for Thurles Sarsfields in last weekend’s senior hurling final have represented Tipperary teams in recent years, clearly indicates the challenge that faces Cratloe in Sunday’s Munster senior semi-final at Cusack Park. Munster champions in 2012, before being shocked in the All-Ireland semi-final by Kilcormac-Killoughey from Offaly, Thurles were knocked out of the Tipperary race early last season by Nenagh. Their victory last Sunday marked their fifth Tipperary senior title since 2005, after a gap of 31 years, and their 33rd in all. Amongst those who have featured in their last five wins are goalie Paddy McCormack, Lar Corbett and team captain, Pa Bourke. Five members of the Tipperary panel that contested the 2014 All-Ireland senior final are from Thurles and will play on Sunday. Padraic, Ronan and Denis Maher, Michael Cahill and Lar Corbett are key players and Cratloe are sure to have their hands full when they come up against them, while Billy …

O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge will host the Munster Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final on Sunday (throw-in 2pm) when county champions Feakle take on their Waterford counterparts Cappoquin. Little is known about the Déise representatives and with home advantage, Feakle will go into the game as slight favourites. In their only competitive outing since winning the title, when beating Parteen in the final, they made county senior champions, Cratloe, fight all the way before going under narrowly in the semi-final of the Clare Champion Cup. The East Clare side have a couple of injury worries ahead of Sunday and won’t finalise their line-up until nearer match time. Definitely ruled out of contention is defender Ger Hanrahan who suffered a cruciate knee injury in the championship final. This will keep him out of action until well into next season, at the earliest. “Ger is due to have his operation this week and he is certainly a big loss to us. We also have …

By Seamus Hayes Maire McGrath became Clare’s third ever camogie All star on Saturday night when she was named at full back on the 2014 team which is dominated by All-Ireland champions Cork who have nine on the team. The Cratloe woman, who plays her club camogie with Sixmilebridge, was named at full back on this year’s team. She follows in the footsteps of Catherine O’Loughlin (Kilnamona), who was the first Clare player to be honoured when she was named at corner forward in the 2005 team. Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge) was named in the half back line in last year’s team. Maire’s selection means that it’s a second all star for the McGrath household as her brother Conor was one of eight Clare players honoured after Clare had won the All-Ireland senior hurling title. Maire’s selection comes at the end of a season in which Clare reached the National senior camogie final for the first time. they lost to Kilkenny …