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Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

Sport

Hurling medal, a most prized possession

One of Dympna Greene and Claire Gavin’s most prized possessions is the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medal won by their grandfather, Mick Flanagan, in 1914. The sisters were given the medal by their mother, Vera. “We knew since we were very small that our grandfather had been part of the All-Ireland-winning team, as our mother always talked about it and talked about Amby Power,” according to Dympna, who resides in Ennis. Vera passed away in 1997. “Our mother passed the medals onto us and it wasn’t until Clare won the All-Ireland in 1995 that we realised what these meant to our mother,” added Claire, who lives in Ballynacally. Both are adamant they will pass their grandfather’s medal collection onto their children Last week, Clooney-Quin GAA hosted a cultural weekend and while chairman, John Earls, was making preparations for the event, he managed to locate the medal won by Mick Flanagan. “We were looking for team captain Amby Power’s medal and …

By Seamus Hayes There were angry exchanges at this week’s meeting of Clare GAA when Whitegate chairman David Solon claimed that “the reception given to Wexford when they came to Ennis for the hurling qualifier clash with Clare was disgraceful. Challenging the Whitegate delegate to specify the issues, county secretary Pat Fitzgerald reminded the meeting that “the last time I had to speak after complaints by you, I had to fight to talk as well. “We did not give Wexford any better or worse reception that what we gave to any other county and we didn’t get a great reception when we went to Wexford and we are not crying about it. If there is an issue, come out and say what it is”. “There are three issues”, replied Solon. “The first is that after travelling four to four and a half hours on a bus to Cusack Park, they were refused access to the pitch just to walk around …

Having jointly managed the Clare U-21 hurlers to the last three Munster and All-Ireland titles, Donal Moloney takes on the role on his own for the next two seasons. Following the decision of Gerry O’Connor to step down from being joint manager due to his work commitments, Moloney was unanimously ratified for the role at this week’s meeting of the county board. Board chairman Michael McDonagh told the delegates that Moloney “has his team in place and they will be announced at the next meeting”. It is reported that Sean McMahon (St. Josephs), Cyril Lyons (Ruan) and Peter Casey, who is a games development officer with the county board, will be part of that team. Lyons was a member of the management team that led Clare to the Munster and All-Ireland U-21 titles for the first time in 2009. Kenny Morrissey (Clarecastle) will manage the minor hurlers for the next two years and his management team includes Eamonn Fennessy, who is the outgoing …

Kilmaley’s Alan Markham is to join the Clare minor hurling management team for 2015. Clarecastle’s Kenny Morrissey will be the team manager, taking over from Eamonn Fennessy, who will continue as a selector. Martin Duggan (Clarecastle) will also be continuing as a selector. Preparations began last Saturday when they held the first in a series of trials to select the panel that will go into training for next year’s championship. This is just one of a number of Clare management teams that will be ratified at this Thursday’s meeting of Clare GAA. There is little doubt but that Donal Moloney (Scariff) will be confirmed as the new U-21 hurling manager. He has been joint manager with Gerry O’Connor for the past three years, when Clare won both Munster and All-Ireland titles. Amongst those being mentioned to be part of his backroom team are Seanie McMahon (St Joseph’s) and Clare GDA (games development administrator), Peter Casey. Barry Fitzpatrick is expected to …

THE year 1914 was significant in both a national and international context. In June, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian nationalist, in Sarajevo, an incident which would lead to the outbreak of World War 1. John Redmond’s Woodenbridge call to arms for that war, in September 1914, created a split in the Irish National Volunteer Force from which would emerge the National Volunteer Force and the Irish Volunteers. The latter would go on to shape the Irish political landscape in the years following the 1916 Rising. However, during this turbulent time, the subject dominating the headlines, in the Banner County at least, was the fact that the Clare hurlers had made history by becoming the first county to capture All-Ireland senior and junior honours in the same year, beating Laois in both finals. By Tomás Mac Conmara The story of 1914 in Clare, from a sporting, social and historical context, is told in this week’s …

By Seamus Hayes Tipperary 0-12 Clare 0-10 A slicker Tipperary side deservingly overcame Clare in the final of the Daryl Darcy under 17 tournament played at the Gaelic grounds in Limerick on Monday night. The sides had met in the opening round of the tournament when the Premier outfit recorded a one point win at Gurteen. Clare travelled to Limerick for Monday’s final confident that they could overturn that result but, while they played some good football, they had to give best to a livelier Tipperary side who led from the ninth minute Clare captain Keelan Sexton gave his side the lead inside the opening minute but they had to wait twenty minutes for their next score. In the meantime Tipperary kicked five points as they dictated matters in most areas. The Banner side came a little more into the game in the last ten minutes of the half and when the half time whistle sounded, the margin was down …

By Seamus Hayes Cratloe 3-7 Ballygunner 1-1o Cratloe continued their history making feats when they defeated Waterford champions Ballygunner in the opening round of the Munster senior club hurling championship at Walsh Park in Waterford on Bank holiday Sunday. The victory was the first by the club’s hurlers as, in their only previous venture into this competition, they lost to Ballygunner at the same venue back in 2009. A near galeforce wind made playing conditions very difficult for the players but Cratloe show that, despite their long season, they are still hungry for success. Having won the toss, team captain Liam Markham elected to play with the aid of the wind and it proved to be a wise decision. Two goals from man of the match Conor McGrath had the Clare champions ahead by seven points, 2-2 to 0-1, at the end of the first quarter. They were eight clear, 2-4 to 0-2, when the half time whistle sounded and …

By Seamus Hayes Clare and Galway shared the spoils in the opening round of the Oscar Traynor inter legue junior competition at Doora on Saturday evening. Played in difficult weather conditions, Clare went ahead twice but failed to hold the advantage. Galway’s second equaliser came three minutes fromthe end, a minute after they were reduced to ten players when Darragh Corry picked up a second yellow card. The visitors’s equaliser came from the penalty spot after Darren Murphy was penalised. Overall, Clare should be pleased with a share of the points as the visitors created the greater number of cha nces, particularly in the opening half. A goal line clearance from Paddy O’Malley and the crossbar denied Galway in this period before Clare took the lead after thirty two minutes. Stephen Kelly cross to his Newmarket Celtic clubmate Eoin Hayes whose effort on goal was handled by a Galway defender. Dave McCarthy, another member of the Newmarket club, converted to …

Ennis man, Padraig Sutton will referee the FAI Ford Cup Final between Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic, at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, November 2. For Sutton, it is his second major domestic final in 14 months, as he refereed the 2013 EA SPORTS Cup. He is looking forward to taking charge of a competitive game at the Aviva Stadium, having previously refereed Manchester City v Airtricity League XI in 2011 and Shamrock Rovers v Liverpool earlier this year. “Being appointed to referee your own domestic cup final is the greatest honour that can be bestowed upon an official so I am absolutely delighted and looking forward to refereeing in the Aviva Stadium,” said Sutton, who is a member member of An Garda Siochána. “I’m stationed at Roxboro Road in Limerick and everybody there has been hugely supportive of me over the years, as has my partner Claire,” said Sutton who has been on the FIFA list since 2011 …

Clare Immigrant Support Centre and Polish sports activists have organised an “anti discrimination” mini football tournament in Ennis on Saturday. At Clare Leisure World, Drumbiggle, local footballers can join the thousands of others worldwide to use the power of football to present a unified stand against discrimination, as part of Football People Action Weeks 2014. The FARE (Football Against Racism Europe) action weeks brings together groups of all sizes in over 50 countries to counter discrimination and celebrate diversity through the game. The FAI has run several events in the past weeks in Clare, as part of the Football People movement. On Saturday, between 2 and 5pm, six teams with players from many different backgrounds will play on the astro-turf pitches followed by refreshments after the tournament for everyone to enjoy. Mayor of Ennis, Councilor Johnny Flynn will present the winners with the inaugural Robert Godzisz perpetual cup in memory of Robert who was very involved in playing and organising football …

By Seamus Hayes Gerry O’Connor, joint manager of the Clare U- 21 hurling team which won a third successive Munster and All-Ireland title a few weeks ago, has stepped down from the post. Jimmy Browne, a member of the highly successful management team, which led Clare to Munster minor success also, has also stepped down from the position of selector A month ago, team coach and selector Paul Kinnerk stepped down from his role as senior and U-21 team coach which leaves only Donal Moloney (joint manager) of the outgoing selection committee in place and it is understood that he will be proposed as the incoming team manager at the next county board meeting. O’Connor explained this week that “work commitments” influenced his decision to step down from the post. “I have been involved for almost 10 years and there is a huge commitmentment. I would not have been able to do this job without the support of my employers, Mincon …

By Seamus Hayes Is there any stopping Cratloe GAA?. Thats the question after the South Clare club moved a step closer to adding another three titles to their collection for 2014. The senior hurlers moved a step closer the senior championship and league double when they defeated Feakle (0-18 to 1-9) in the Clare Champion cup (senior league) at Glenomra park in Broadford on Sunday afternoon. This latest victory was hard earned with the Clare champions having to fight back from a one point half time deficit and overcome the handicap of being a player down. Just before half time Cratloe had defender Philip gleeson dismissed on a second yellow card and they went to the half time break trailing by a point, 0-6 to 0-7. However, despite the disadvantage of being a player short, they battled back in the second half and four unanswered points helped them to lead by three at the three quarter stage when the score …

NEWLY-appointed Clare senior football coach, Ephie Fitzgerald has cited breaking down coaching into particular strands as central to his philosophy. The Cork-based Youth Reach teacher, who deals primarily with early school-leavers, has enjoyed sustained success with his club, Nemo Rangers, while, just last weekend, he led Ballylanders to the Limerick senior football title. They play the Waterford champions in the provincial semi-final, with the winners playing Cratloe at home on November 16. “I’m just delighted to get back into the intercounty scene. I did a year with Limerick a few years back but I was under pressure to come back with the Cork minors. The intercounty scene is where it’s at for me at this stage. I’ve been involved in the club scene for a long time and I’ve had quite a bit of success with Nemo Rangers,” Fitzgerald told The Clare Champion this week. “At the start of this year, Ballylanders asked me to give a hand. I wasn’t …

Kilmaley 4-18 Clooney-Quin 2-5 KILMALEY assumed control of the county senior camogie final after a quarter of an hour and didn’t relinquish it, dominating in almost every position thereafter. It goes without saying that losing three county finals-in-a-row is very disappointing for Clooney-Quin but the manner of this defeat was also hard to take for them. “We pride ourselves on putting in a fight and a hard shift and while Kilmaley outplayed us and out-thought us, the biggest disappointment is that they out-fought us, probably in most sectors of the field. I said to the girls during the week that it would take a good team to beat us. We felt we were in a good place coming into the final and we were beaten by a very serious team and good luck to Kilmaley,” said manager, Ger O’Halloran. Clooney-Quin were actually first on the scoreboard, Deirdre Murphy pointing a free in the second minute. Kilmaley captain, Claire McMahon, who …

(Peter O’Connell) Cratloe 2-12 Éire óg 0-11 NOT alone did Cratloe retain their Clare senior football championship title in front of 7,100 people in Cusack Park on Sunday, they became the first club to complete the double on the field since 1914. Sublime first half finishes from Conor McGrath and man of the match Podge Collins were the key scores. McGrath’s goal was set up by a quickly taken Collins free and with Éire óg switched off, McGrath finished calmly to the Colin Smyth’s net. Exactly half way through the first half Podge Collins jinked beyond the Ennis mens full back line and finished an exquisite goal. That put the double champions 2-4 to 0-2 ahead and in control. Earlier Collins had put over the games opening point, while Liam Markham and Cathal McInerney, from a free, added to their tally in the opening minutes. Come half time a brace of excellent Davy O’Halloran points helped Éire óg to claw their …

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Banner brilliance dominates hurling All-Star nominations

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 …
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Tones just shade 12 goal thriller
Can the real Inagh-Kilnamona please stand up?
Group of Death comes alive
Intermediate predictability dashed by compelling Group 4

Intermediate predictability dashed by compelling Group 4

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 …

Clooney or not Clooney, that is the question

On initial viewing, the race for the Fr. Murray Memorial Cup (intermediate camogie) appears fairly straight-forward. After all, with all three semi-finalists from 2023 (Tulla, Whitegate and Éire Óg) and senior demotee Clooney-Quin split evenly between the two groups, the business end overtly looks clear-cut. Clooney-Quin’s senior experience along with negotiating their way to intermediate glory as recently as 2021 makes them the stand-out candidates, with Tulla currently ranking a close second having contested back-to-back intermediate finals, three if you include the replay in 2022 against eventual champions Clarecastle/Ballyea. They won’t want to see another mid-Clare side join them in the second tier but for Tulla, it’s all about learning from their previous deciders and leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of reaching the promised land of senior. Whitegate were beaten finalists to Clooney-Quin in 2021 and actually meet them first this Thursday evening at 7pm, in what is potentially a Group A decider in Clooney and the same …

Clare camogie power base is still in the East

Current kingpins Truagh-Clonlara and Scariff-Ogonnelloe may have switched roles last October after the latter’s two year reign but having clashed in the last three finals, they will be overwhelming favourites to do so once more come October 19th. It’s up to the chasing pack to alter that perceived narrative as with only the finalists seeded for this year’s race for the McMahon Cup, the groups initially appear a bit lopsided. After all, with three of last year’s semi-finalists (Scariff-Ogonnelloe, Inagh-Kilnamona and Feakle-Killanena) pooled in Group B, the fact that there are two business end berths means that one major contender has to fall at the group stages. Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s vast experience of three titles in the last five seasons makes them the forerunners to maintain their perfect group record as since bounding back to senior level in 2017, they have progressed to the penultimate stage at a minimum. That’s a seven year record that no other senior side in the county …

Doora/Barefield hit the ’Bricks for six

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 6-10 Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-13 Senior Ladies’ Football Championship Group A Round 1 It took free kicks to finally separate these sides in the Division 1 League decider but this time it was six timely goals that ensured revenge for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield but also a major opening boost to what is unquestionably the group of death in this year’s senior ladies football championship in Gurteen on Sunday afternoon. Such a heartbreaking means of losing a final seemed to be channelled into Sunday’s display for the Parish who were never behind at any stage despite facing into the strong conditions in the opening period. Decisive first half goals through Roisin Fowley, Lyndsay Clarke and Aoibhinn McMahon kept wind-assisted Kilmurry Ibrickane at arm’s length in the opening period, with Chloe Moloney inevitably leading the charge with seven points in what was a compelling tussle with fellow county senior Siofra Ní Chonaill at 3-5 to 0-9 by the break The …

‘There was hurling in Clonbony before there was hurling in Sixmilebridge’

When Limerick referee Johnny Murphy blew his full time whistle at the end of what was arguably the greatest All-Ireland final of all time there was naturally a huge outpouring of emotion the length and breath of this beautiful County. For the people, especially the hurling fraternity, in places like Ennistymon, Clonbony and Kilkee there was also an overwhelming sense of pride as Miltown’s Conor Cleary and Ennistymon’s Cathal Malone walked the steps of the Hogan Stand. Heroes forever more to every Clare person, be they man woman or child, these two great warriors are now the proud owners of a coveted Celtic Cross medal and their achievements will no doubt inspire a whole new generation of children to pick up a hurley and dream of following in their footsteps. Sport has always been part of the DNA of the Banner and hurling has always had a massive following all over the County. In recent weeks the John Hynes Memorial …

The rocky road to recovery

The resilience shown by Clare hurlers Ryan Taylor and Tony Kelly to battle back from serious injuries has been lauded by team physiotherapist for the last three years, Shane Malone. While Shane has attended All-Ireland homecomings in his native Kerry following All-Ireland successes, he described last week’s welcome for the Liam McCarthy Cup in Clare as “incredible”. He will never forget the hundreds of Clare hurling supporters who lined the streets and rural roads to welcome the team home, which was a real “eye opener”. “The enthusiasm and love for Brian Lohan and the team is quite different from my previous experiences. I was very impressed by the volume of support out there for the Clare team. It shows the high esteem they are held within the county. “The response from Clare fans all year has been unbelievable. There is a great connection between Brian Lohan and the county and people respond when they like what they see. “The way …

‘A special day and a special win’ – Diarmuid Ryan

The relief; the jubilation on the field when it was all over; the calm and satisfaction afterwards as Clare left Croke Park secure in the knowledge that they’d be back in a few weeks time. These were the winning moods and personas displayed among the players as they went on their way after the glass ceiling of this All-Ireland semi-final stage had finally been cracked. A first All-Ireland semi-final win over Kilkenny since 1997 and only a second championship win over Kilkenny ever; a day of atonement for the most recent semi-final defeats against Kilkenny; an All-Ireland final day out to look forward to on July 21. “It’s a special feeling for sure,” said Diarmuid Ryan. “A special day and a special win but we’re going to knuckle down for two weeks and the All-Ireland final.” As he spoke the reset had already taken place – the hoopla had died down, with Ryan and the rest of the players being …

‘We grabbed it with both hands’ – Tony Kelly

It’s a measure of the standards that Tony Kelly has set in his 13 years as a senior inter-county hurler and of his star quality that despite being subdued for the first 45 minutes of the All-Ireland semi-final that he still ended up as one of the game’s most influential players. Doing the maths tells this story – no Clare player ended up with more than him from play as he top-scored jointly with David Reidy who had a huge game in the 61 minutes of game time that he got. And for the Ballyea colossus, who has slipped into the veteran classes almost unnoticed, his three-point burst down the long home straight of this All-Ireland was a crucial part of the power-play that ultimately swamped Kilkenny and left them shellshocked at the end. And you could say that this comeback was really kickstarted by Kelly, with his opening point being the first response to the Billy Ryan goal, which …

Dominant display drives Blues to record 26th Clare Cup title

Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-19 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-11 The victor wasn’t a surprise but the manner of Newmarket-on-Fergus’ 26th Clare Cup title certainly proved to be as the roll of honour leaders had a rather bloodless final triumph in Clarecastle on Friday evening. Bridging a six year gap to their last Clare Cup crown, it was an utterly commanding display when first responding to the hammerblow of an early goaled Inagh-Kilnamona penalty to outscore them by 1-7 to 0-1 in the second quarter and carve out a match-winning 1-11 to 1-04 interval cushion. Indeed, it wouldn’t have flattered the Blues had the half-time chasm been doubled as amidst their second quarter siege, James Carrig’s side passed up four glorious goal chances in as many minutes just before the recess. Niall O’Connor was outstanding at the back, Peter Power was equally influential at the other end while Stephen Casey was also hugely effectual when switched to shadow Inagh-Kilnamona’s talisman Fred Hegarty. This was an impressive …

Kearns’ golden goal secures Division 3 Hurling League title for the Parish

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-14 O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-17 It really doesn’t matter if you lead early in a match or are chasing the game for lengthy spells but what does matter though is who is ahead when it counts the most and that’s at the final whistle. On Sunday morning out in Tulla the men from the Parish epitomised resilience and got their just rewards for never surrendering when grabbing the lead for the only time in the sixtieth minute to practically steal a cracking league final that was played in a hugely sporting manner. It was two second strings but nobody who was in Dr.Daly Park would have guessed that as these two played out a superbly contested battle that ebbed and flowed throughout with the result in doubt right up until referee Pat Healy’s full time whistle. Level on six occasions it took a late late Conor Kearns goal to decide the destination of league honours. One could only …

Éire Óg go to town on the ’Bridge

Éire Óg 3-20 Sixmilebridge 2-14 There’s always a certain level of respect between clubs but sometimes there’s also a level of contempt that is evident for all to see. On Sunday evening this Division 2 final was practically over by the end of the opening quarter. The townies who would have genuine Canon Hamilton ambitions were going through the motions and without much exertion had eased to an eight point lead. Fast forward to the final minutes and after battling throughout the Bridge’s second team who will compete in the Intermediate Championship to their credit only trailed by nine. Gerry O’Connor’s charges are in complete and utter control with several tap over point opportunities but rather than take them they continually try to engineer another green flag to inflict more pain on their opponents. I suppose a series of high profile clashes between the clubs in recent years will have that effect and they did eventually get their third major in …

Clare set for Wexican stand-off

The distinctive stench of turpentine has permeated around the county in the last two weeks as slates have been cleaned and canvases blanked ahead of Clare’s senior hurling championship resumption in Thurles this Saturday. Following the heartbreak of a third consecutive Munster Final reverse to trophy hoovers Limerick at the same venue last time out, picking up the pieces has never been more important as they look to regather self-belief, confidence and momentum once more in the All-Ireland series. While earning the unwanted record of being only the second team ever to lose three Munster deciders to the same opposition was harrowing enough, the despondency surrounding the below-par performance made it arguably the most disappointing of all three provincial final clashes. After all, Brian Lohan’s side had exceeded all expectations to push Limerick all the way to extra-time in a Munster Final for the ages in 2022 while the Banner subsequently almost took down the champions in their own home …

Promotion the main prize for semi-final winners

Adult Football League Semi-Finals (Winner on the day) Cusack Cup Semi-Final Lissycasey v St Joseph’s Miltown at Lissycasey, Friday 7.30pm (Jim Hickey, Cratloe) Considering the seesaw form of these sides in recent seasons, it’s hard to believe that only three years ago, Miltown were Cusack Cup and Lissycasey were Garry Cup champions. All because both have been in the second tier since and are now vying for a pre-championship boost of attempting to dethrone holders Ennistymon in the final. Lissycasey were subsequently beaten finalists to Corofin in 2022, the same season that Miltown dropped to the second tier. However, having secured a first Garry Cup crown in 18 years twelve months ago, it would be a major jolt to qualify for the Cusack Cup decider once more. Meanwhile it’s 17 years since Lissycasey last contested and won their sole Cusack Cup title, a major carrot in itself this Friday evening as they look to make home advantage count. The sides …

Ballyea in a league of their Eoin after powerful finish

Under 18A Hurling League Final Ballyea 1-20 Sixmilebridge 1-11 A devastating finish saw Ballyea complete a remarkable 13 point second half turnaround to snatch their first ever Under 18A League title on the away soil of O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge on Wednesday evening. Having led for the previous 30 minutes, the ‘Bridge seemed set for victory themselves when accentuating their 0-8 to 0-7 half-time edge with a goal after only 25 seconds of the restart as good play from Stephen Gavin was finished to the bottom right corner by Donal O’Leary. However, it was if subconsciously the home side assumed that the job was done as they would be sorely second best for the remainder as the defiant visitors outscored them by 1-13 to 0-03 in the final 30 minutes. Eoin Kennedy found his range from frees while the talismanic Eoin O’Connor provided the real spark to ignite Ballyea’s challenge when fielding a Dillon Killoughery delivery to cut in from …

900 million fans shows the popularity of volleyball

Volleyball is one of the most popular sports there is with over 900 million fans worldwide. That fanbase is growing all the time and the sport consistently ranks in the top five of the most watched global sports. At the end of the month Ireland will head to San Marino for the CEV SCA (European Volleyball Small Countries Association) Championship where they will face Scotland, Malta, Northern Ireland and hosts San Marino in the group stages. The Banner County have had huge success in the sport with the Senior and Junior All Ireland titles residing in the county courtesy of the Coláiste Muire and the Munster Thunder clubs. The strength of the sport in Clare can be highlighted by the fact that four Banner players will represent Ireland in the tournament. Amy O’Sullivan, Catriona Ní Riordan, TJ Sweeney and Maria Jones will all proudly don the green jersey in Serraville from May 30th to June 2nd. Three of the girls …

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