Sports

Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

Sport

Members of the Clare camogie team from 1974 gather for a re-union at the Old Ground hotel this Friday night. Forty years ago they defeated Dublin in the All-Ireland junior final at Croke Park to win Clare’s first All-Ireland camogie title. There were just a couple of camogie clubs in the county at the time, with Éire Óg and Shannon the main two. Some members of the team played their club camogie in Dublin and Cork. Ballynacally’s Margaret O’Toole who played for Éire Óg, was the Clare captain and the team was managed/coached by Éire Óg’s Michael Brennan. Teams were twelve a side with a goalkeeper, a full back, three half backs, three midfielders, three half forwards and one in the full forward line. Two members of the Clare team, Claire Harrington and Maureen Davoran, played with the Celtic club in Dublin, while Mary Mahon played with Muskerry in Cork. Team member Kitty McNicholas went on to serve in a …

GAA PRESIDENT Liam O’Neill has said young boys need to be treated sensitively, when playing hurling or football, to help ensure that their emotional growth is not stunted as they get older. He was speaking at aweek-long Gaelic Games Made Easy course in Barefield National School for primary school teachers, organised by Peadar McMahon and Joe Garry. “I was talking to the teachers in terms of attempts now being made to help young adults to express their feelings and to avoid people thinking that they’re alone if they have any difficulty. We’re working very closely with the Samaritans, with Pieta House and with any group of who would help in a situation where people find themselves in difficulty,” Mr O’Neill outlined to The Clare Champion after he had addressed the group of more than 30 teachers. “Young boys aren’t taught the language of emotion early enough. When I was a child if you got a belt you were told ‘big …

By Seamus Hayes Holders Cratloe will face either O’Curry’s or St Joseph’s in the quarter final of the Clare senior football championship. The quarter final pairings were decided at a meeting of Clare GAA board at Treacys West County Hotel on Tuesday night. Before the pairings were decided, the meeting unanimously agreed that the quarter final involving Miltown St Joseph’s will take place on Friday, September 5 in the event of Clare qualifying for the All-Ireland U-21 hurling final. The meeting was told that the Clare U-r 21 hurling management will facilitate Conor Cleary’s availability to his club on that date in the event of Clare being in the All-Ireland final on Saturday September 13. The draw paired Miltown against the winners of this Sunday’s meeting of Éire Óg and Lissycasey. The remaining two quarter final pairings are Doonbeg v Ennistymon or Cooraclare; Clondegad v Kilmurry-Ibrickane or St Senan’s. All four quarter finals will be played on the weekend of …

By Seamus Hayes The all parish clash of Ballyea and Clarecastle in the quarter final of the Clare senior hurling championship is just one of a number of interesting pairings thrown up when a number of draws were made at Clare GAA headquarters in Clareabbey on this Monday evening. Ballyea, runners up to Clonlara in their group, were first drawn from the three runners up (Clarecastle and Crusheen were the other two) to join the group winners, Cratloe, Newmarket and Clonlara in bowl 1. This left Clarecastle, Eire Og, Crusheen, and O’Callaghans Mills in the other bowl. In the case of Clonlara and O’Callaghans Mills, this will be the third year in a row that the teams will clash at the play off stage. Clonlara have won the past two clashes, narrowly on both occasions The following quarter final pairings resulted; Cratloe v Eire Og; Ballyea v Clarecastle; Newmarket v Crusheen and Clonlara v O’Callaghans. There was also huge interest …

By Seamus Hayes Twenty teams set out in search of the Clare senior hurling championship back in May and the number that can win the Canon Hamilton trophy in 2014 is now down to eight. The final two quarter final places were filled at Cusack Park on Saturday evening where O’Callaghans Mills and Ballyea overcame Broadford and Inagh-Kilnamona to complete the line up. They join Cratloe, Crusheen, Newmarket, Clarecastle, Eire Og and Clonlara who had already booked their last eight places before Saturday’s round three games. Level with their neighbours Broadford at 1-6 each at half time, few would have predicted such a one sides second half but the Mills dominated after the break to run out 2-19 to 1-7 winners. Not alone did the victory earn them a quarter final spot, it also sent them through to the senior B final where they will take on Eire Og. Three points behind at half time, Ballyea were level with Inagh-Kilnamona …

By Seamus Hayes There were big wins for Clooney-Quin, Newmarket and Inagh-Kilnamona as the race for the Clare senior camogie title got underway this Friday evening. Holders Newmarket on Fergus made their intentions clear when they proved to strong for Kilkishen, winning on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-6. They raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead and by half time they were 2-10 to 0-3 ahead. Clooney-Quin, beaten in two finals in recent years, were 2-9 to 1-3 ahead at half time in their clash with Sixmilebridge and they went on to win on a scoreline of 3-14 to 1-7. Inagh-Kilnamona and Truagh-Clonlara have only moved up to senior ranks in the past two years. they were level at 1-4 each at half time in their clash before the mid Clare side got the upperhand with Fiona Lafferty, Theresa O’Keeffe and Aoife Keane impressing as they went onto seal a 2-14 to 1-5 victory. the remaining first round game will …

It’s a particularly big weekend for sports enthuasiasts in the parish of Kilkishen and O’Callaghan’s Mills. The senior hurling team from the parish play their neighbours, Broadford on this Saturday evening with a place in the county senior championship quarter-finals at stake. On Sunday morning, the focus will switch to the European Athletics Championships in Zurich when Kilkishen’s Sean Hehir will compete in the men’s marathon. A member of Rathfarnham AC, Hehir, who played underage hurling before concentrating on athletics, has had a tremendous year. Last October, he won the prestigious Dublin City Marathon, becoming the first Irish winner of the title in 20 years. He described that success as “the stuff of dreams” and went on to pay tribute to the Marian club in Ennis, where he began his athletic career. A primary school teacher in Scoil Mhuire Gan Small in Inchicore, Dublin, Seaan, who is coached by three-time Dublin marathon winner, Dick Hooper, said after his October success that …

Shane Brennan under pressure from Paddy Maguirein their Division 4 National Football League game at Miltown Malbay.

By Seamus Hayes Clondegad, Miltown and Doonbeg booked their places in the quarter finals of the Clare senior football championship with confortable victories over Lissycasey, St. Senans and St. Josephs on Saturday evening. Billed as the tie of the round, the meeting of fellow parishioners Clondegad and Lissycasey at Cusack Park failed to live up to expectations. A strong performance by Shane Brennan inspired Clondegad to a marited five point win. Goals in the space of four minutes shortly before half time provded decisive. Tean captain Brian Carigg scored the first from the penalty spot while Podge McMahon quickly followed with the second as the Ballynacally based outfit opened a 2-5 to 0-6 half time lead. Lissycasey had the opening three points of the second half which suggested a rally but the winners regained control and were still five points ahead when the final whistle sounded, 2-10 to 0-11. Fresh from their giant killing act of the opening round when …

Galway 2-10 Clare 0-14 THIS was one of the stranger games that most of the small crowd will attend this year, with Clare eliminated after a match that was delayed for well over 10 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning. While Galway won after extra time there was controversy at the end of the initial 60 minutes as most felt that the referee had miscalculated and that the Tribeswomen had in fact outscored the Banner by a point. While there was disbelief in many quarters and anger among Galway officials at the situation, it would be only fair to point out that the players were going by the score that the referee was telling them and that Clare sought points in the closing minutes, at a time when they would surely have been looking for a goal if the gap had been a point wider. In the end the controversy mattered not a jot, but if Clare had come …

By Seamus Hayes The Clare team to play All-Ireland champions Galway in the quarter final of this season’s senior championship was named when the squad completed their preparations at Fr. McNamara Park on Friday evening. The team will face the Connacht side at the Gaelic grounds in Limerick this Saturday afternoon at 4p.m. Naomi Carroll will start her first game in this campaign when she teams up with team captain Kate Lynch at midfield. For then earlier rounds Carroll was unavailable due to being on international hockey duty with Ireland. Carol O’Leary returned at corner back having missed the team’s last outing which was against Tipperary. Otherwise the team, managed by Colm Honan with selectors Patricia O’Grady, Dave Barry and Peter Casey, is unchanged and it is Denise Lynch Kilmaley; Chloe Morey Sixmilebridge, Maire McGrath Sixmilebridge, Carol O’Leary Newmarket on Fergus;Roisin McMahon Newmarket on Fergus, Niamh O’Dea Kilmaley, Eimear Considine Kilmaley; Naomi Carroll Sixmilebridge, Kate Lynch Kilkishen – Capt.; Niki …

Cratloe's Podge Collins battles with Sixmilebridges Tadgh Keogh during their Senior Hurling Championship game at Cusack Park Ennis on saturday.

By Seamus Hayes Cratloe 1-18 Sixmilebridge 1-15 Clare senior hurling champions, Sixmilebridge, are out of the running for the 2014 title. At Cusack Park this Saturday evening, they suffered a three point defeat at the hands of their neighbours and great rivals Cratloe, a result that ended their hopes of holding onto the title they won impressively last year. Having already lost to Crusheen in the opening round, the Bridge had to win this one to remain in the race. To their credit, they put in a strong performance but, they just could not break down a stubborn Cratloe outfit. The winners played with the aid of the wind in the opening half and were five points up at half time when the score was 1-10 to 0-8, the goal coming from Conor McGrath midway through the half. That the defending champions were not going to go down easily was evident in the opening two minutes of the second half …

FORMER Clare hurling manager, Ger Loughnane has claimed that Podge Collins was not “half the player” in 2014 that he was in 2013. Speaking on RTE’s The Sunday Game last weekend, he attributed this to the 2013 All-Star playing football for his county in 2014. “You cannot maximise your potential. If you take even one of the stars of last year for Clare, Podge Collins; now why was he so good for Clare last year? Because any time he wasn’t training with the team, he was out on his own practising hurling, with maybe a hundred balls on his own hitting them from all over the field. Look at the way he played,” Loughnane said. “Now, this year, he does half and half and he ends up with nothing. He isn’t half the hurler he was last year. You can do it but how could you possibly be as effective if you just concentrate on one? Remember, all of the …

By Seamus Hayes Clare under 21 hurler Shane O’Donnell has been dealt another blow with confirmation that he suffered a hand injury in Wednesday’s Munster final win over Cork. A broken bone in the hand is set to keep the talented Ennis man out of action for the next four weeks. Having missed much of the season due to a hamstring injury, the Eire Og clubman returned to score a crucial goal in Clare’s extra time win over Tipperary in the Munster final. He was back in the starting line up forWednesday’s final date with Cork and scored his side’s first half goal before being replaced late in the game due to the injury. “He is extremely doubtful for the All-Ireland semi-final date with Antrim on August 23” joint team manager Gerry O’Connor said. The injury is a huge blow to his club Eire Og who face Wolfe Tones in round 2 of the senior hurling championship on this Sunday …

Amidst the excitement of the annual Galway Race Festival at Ballybrit, two of its most famous supporters left the track to receive honorary degrees this Wednesday. Top trainers, Dermot Weld and Jim Bolger were both conferred with Degree of Doctor of Arts (honoris causa) at NUI Galway for their outstanding contribution to the world of Irish horseracing. The enormous benefit they have brought to Galway through their long-standing association with the famous racing festival was acknowledged during the conferring ceremony. Dermot Weld has been the leading trainer at Galway for many years, while Jim Bolger has also registered many winners. Both are very well-known to many Clare racing fans, who are strong supporters of the Galway festival. Meanwhile, it will be all glamour and glitz at the Ballybrit venue on this Thursday for Ladies’ Day. The Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed Lady, Best Hat & Wear Irish Competition boasts a prize package of €20,000.

Talk of making history by wining a third successive Munster U-21 hurling title this Wednesday evening at Cusack Park doesn’t interest Donal Moloney, Clare’s joint manager. “We are not interested in history. This is a new team, the last 3 teams have been distinct teams, there have been common players but this is a new group of guys. It’s a different team which has to find its own spirit and its own life. This is their Munster final to win, it’s not a team together for 3 years”, the Scariff native said after seeing the team defeat Tipperary in a cracking semi-final that required extra time “We respect the fact that Cork are in the final. We expect a massive battle and we look forward to it”, Moloney went on. “Cork on a high after their Munster senior final win, Pat Kenneally is in charge of them and we know from playing them early in the year that they are …

Page 108 of 409« First...80 90 100 «106 107108109 110 »120 130 140...Last »

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 …
Read More »
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 …

Sport

Recent Posts