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 …

By Seamus Hayes All-Ireland hat trick hero from last September, Shane O’Donnell, has been named at full forward in the under 21 hurling team for this Wednesday’s final against Cork at Cusack Park (throw in 7.15p.m.) Having missed most of the senior championship season due to a hamstring injury, the Eire Og man was introduced for the closing stages of the semi-final win over Tipperary. His return to fitness is a major boost for the side ahead of their clash with Cork. Clare are the defending champions and are chasing a third title win in as many seasons. O’Donnell’s selection is one of two changes to the team that started in the semi-final. Eoin Enright is named as midfield partner to Colm Galvin with Tony Kelly moving to centre forward. The playes who make way for O’Donnell and Enright are Alan O’Neill and Shane McGrath. A final decision on the fitness of Cathal O’Connell will be made nearer match time. …

By Seamus Hayes The draw for round 2 of the Clare senior football championship, made at county GAA headquarters earlier this Monday evening, has thrown up some interesting pairings. Champions Cratloe will face Cooraclare, for the second year in a row, while, arguably, the tie of the round is the meeting of fellow parishioners, Lissycasey and Clondegad. First round giant killers St. Senans Kilkee will take on Miltown St. Josephs while last year’s beaten finalists will see Ciaran O’Neill manage the magpies against his own club St. Josephs Doora-Barefield Kilmurry-Ibrickane, shocked in the opening round by St.Senans, will face Shannon Gaels while another of the fancied teams for the title who lost their first round, Eire oOg, will take on Liscannor. North Clare neighbours St. Breckans and Ennistymon will face each other while the remaining tie will see O’Currys take on Kilrush. The losers of these four games will be out of the title race and into a relegation battle

By Seamus Hayes Clare senior football champions Cratloe got over the first hurdle in defence of the title they won for the first time last season when they accounted for Eire Og at Cusack park on Saturday evening. However, earlier in the afternoon, the first shock in this year’s race for the Jack Daly cup was recorded at Doonbeg where hot favourites Kilmurry-Ibrickane suffered a one point loss to St.Senans Kilkee. Elsewhere in first round games on Saturday, results went as predicted with St. Josephs, Miltown, Clondegad and Doonbeg all recording victories against Shannon Gaels, O’Currys, St. Breckans and Ennistymon respectively. The meeting of Cratloe and Eire Og proved to be an exciting affair. Cratloe raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead in the opening quarter with Podge Collins scoring 1-2. Eire Og, helped by a goal from minor Dara Walsh, fought back and led by a point, 1-4 tio 1-3 with five mintues remaining in the half. They stretched their …

THE National Aquathon Championship was held in Galway last weekend and two of the Ennis Triathlon Club athletes came out on top in their respective age categories. Ray Hynes took the national title in the long distance competition in the 40 to 44 age group and Pat Rutherford took the over-70s title. This event featured a 2km swim in Galway Bay, followed by a 10km run. This national success coincides with Ennis Triathlon Club’s hosting of their inaugural triathlon this Saturday at Ballyalla Lake. The event is sponsored by Pat Keogh Construction. Speaking after last week’s win, Ray Hynes said he was absolutely delighted with his Galway success and that it provided the best possible encouragement and motivation for him in his preparation for his first Ironman competition in Barcelona in October. Pat Rutherford was equally elated but admitted he was very glad to put his foot down on Grattan beach at the end of the swim. There are a …

By Seamus Hayes Well known Ennis Track Club athlete Rory Chesser bridged a four-year gap when he won the National 3,000m Steeplechase title at Santry Stadium last weekend. Chesser has been performing very well in England and from the start of last week’s race, he was up at the front. He produced a 64-second first lap and he had all the big names on his shoulder, including Tomas Cotter (Dunleer) and Freddy Kerron (Raheny Shamrocks). On the final lap, Chesser had a 20m lead and after getting over the water jump, he powered his way down the home straight to take the gold medal in a time of 8.46:95. Kilkishen native Sean Hehir, who represents Rathfarnham WSAF AC, competed in the final of the 10,000m and he was in the gold medal position with two laps go to but a strong finish by Mick Clohessy (Raheny Shamrocks) saw him take the gold medal, with Hehir dropping back to third spot …

(Peter O’Connell) Kildare 0-13 Clare 0-12 NOT scoring in the closing 25 minutes cost Clare a famous win over Kildare in Ennis on Saturday evening. When David Tubridy pointed a free, won by Rory Donnelly, ten minutes into the second half, Clare led 0-12 to 0-6 and Kildare looked seriously rattled. [doptg id=”35″]However the visiting Leinster county, upped their game, made some key substitutions and ran at Clare incessantly. Substitutes Eoghan O’Flaherty and Paddy Brophy kicked critical scores to help sculpt a place in the last 12 for the Jason Ryan managed team. Clare had played exceptionally well at stages during the first half. Points from Enda Coughlan, Podge Collins, Rory Donnelly, Martin McMahon, Shane McGrath (0-2) and a David Tubridy free helped Clare into a 0-7 to 0-4 interval lead. Alan Smith kicked three first half points for Kildare, while Padraig O’Neill added a point. The Clare supporters in the 7,745 attendance gave their team a standing ovation at …

By Seamus Hayes Clare 0-19 Tipperary 0-9 Clare sealed a place in the quarter final of the All-Ireland senior camogie championship with a comfortable ten point win over Tipperary at O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge on Saturday afternoon. [doptg id=”34″] The home side raced into a four point lead after five minutes and were never headed. In the quarter final on August 9, Clare will face neighbours Galway. Helped by four points from Chloe Morey frees, Clare were 0-10 to 0-5 in front at the break. they could have been further ahead at this stage but they were guilty of a few misses. Any hopes of a Tipperary rally were quickly killed off after the resumption as the home side hit five unanswered points in as many minutes to open a ten point lead. Naomi Carroll was introduced at the break and she made her presence felt in the second half. She had missed much of the campaign to date due to …

By Seamus Hayes The Clare team to face Kildare in this Saturday’s qualifier championship round 2 game at Cusack Park is unchanged from the team which started against Carlow last week. Shane Hickey, injured early last week, is fit again and has been named at corner back with Dean Ryan, impressive when introduced in Carlow, dropping down to the substitutes bench. Team captain Gary Brennan will again lead the team from midfield where he will be partnered by Shane McGrath.  The Collins brothers, Sean and Podge, will play in the half forward line flanking Enda Coughlan while the experienced Rory Donnelly and David Tubridy will flank Shane Brennan in the full forward line. The team is; Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick) Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Jamie Malone (Corofin) Gordon Kelly (Miltown St. Josephs), Ciaran Russell (Eire Og); Gary Brennan (Clondegad), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis); Sean Collins (Cratloe) Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) Podge Collins (Cratloe); David Tubridy (Doonbeg) Shane …

NOT a feat they’ll be boasting about but the 2013 All-Ireland champions broke new ground in the frenzied cauldron that was Wexford Park last Saturday evening. Since the back door and subsequent All-Ireland qualifier system was introduced in 1997 no reigning All-Ireland championship has exited at the earliest possible opportunity. Defeats to Cork and now Wexford, leaves Clare as the first holders of the Liam McCarthy Cup to fall at this juncture in their title defence. Clare didn’t hand back their All-Ireland title because the players weren’t prepared to give their last ounce. They were met with a fresher, fully committed Wexford team who should really have won the drawn game in Ennis, well before extra-time. Lets be honest here, if Wexford had lost, particularly the replay, Liam Dunne would have searching questions to answer. Their deployment of their two extra men, an advantage they hand for 30 minutes, was almost impossible to fathom. Rarely did they seek to stretch …

CLARE’S best displays this year have been when they have played with freedom and abandon. They have totted up significant scores in several games but have conceded far too much defensively. It might seem a bit churlish to point to areas of concern given that they hammered Carlow by 19 points but unless Clare can balance all out attack with a more coherent defensive approach, it is very unlikely that they will come close to matching Kildare. A few things must not happen. Half backs cannot steam forward in front of the ball, while one midfielder must sit if the other attacks either on or off the ball. If a half back or midfielder attacks, one of the half forwards not directly involved in the move will have to drift back to prevent Clare being caught on the break. Players not on the ball will have to be as vigilant as those who are. Kildare will cut through Clare if …

Home Share Clare, a family based support service that provides respite to children and adults with disabilities, has been chosen as the partner charity for the iTriInis Triathlon. The iTriInis Triathlon will be held around Ballyalla Lake, the Auburn Lodge Hotel and The River Lodge Leisure Centre on Saturday, July 26 and in the field of competitors will be three of Clare’s Special Olympians – Declan Clohessy, Barry O’Regan and Martin Cusack (pictured). The challenge is the first of its kind to be held in Ennis and the course is said to be perfect for newcomers to the world of triathlon, as well seasoned triathletes. The organisers are very inclusive in their planning approach; a splash and dash for children, a try a tri and a sprint race will be facilitated on the day. Three recent special Olympian medal winners are currently training to participate in a relay team for the sprint race.  Declan Clohessy will do a 750m swim, …

Clare  5-19 Tipperary 1-25 CHAMPIONS don’t die easily and Clare’s U-21 hurlers confirmed this at Cusack Park on Wednesday evening. Before an attendance of 7,257, they overcame Tipperary in an enthralling provincial semi-final and will now play Cork, who beat Waterford 3-18 to 0-16, in the final on July 30. [doptg id=”32″]The lead changed hands on many occasions but Clare’s ability to get through for goals proved crucial and two in the second period of extra time sealed the win. Adding to the enjoyment for fans was the return to action of Shane O’Donnell, who scored the game’s final goal in the last minute of extra time. For the third time in 11 days, a Clare hurling team has had to face into extra time in a crucial championship game. In a tie that ebbed and flowed, Aaron Cunningham levelled for the defending champions with two minutes of normal time to play. Both sides will look back on a number …

THE 2014 International Junior Tour of Ireland cycling race gets underway in Clare today and continues over the next five days in venues around the county. The world’s longest junior (U-18) stage event will see more than 80 cyclists compete over 532 kilometres of road. The Junior Tour represents the biggest opportunity young Irish cyclists will get to compete against some of the best junior cyclists from the United Kingdom, United States and across Ireland. For many it will dictate whether they decide to pursue cycling with the aim of going professional. Previous winners of the prestigious international bike race include professional road cyclist Nicholas Roche and Sam Bennett, who now rides as a professional with German team Netapp Endura.  The defending champion is Eddie Dunbar from Banteer in County Cork who will have the rare opportunity to line out again this week in a bid to become the first competitor ever to retain the title. The International Junior Tour …

By Seamus Hayes The Clare team to play Tipperary in this Wednesday’s Munster under 21 hurling championship semi-final shows two changes from the side which started against Limerick in the opening round. Alan O’Neill returns from injury and will line out at centre back where he was impressive during last year’s campaign. Conor Cleary moved to wing back releasing Jamie Shanahan to play at wing forward to the exclusion of Shane Gleeson. Eoin Enright who has been struggling to overcome injury loses out to Shane McGrath who will play at centre forward. Enright has recovered from a shoulder injury and is named amongst the substitutes. The team includes six players who all saw action against Wexford in the senior Qualifier replay on Saturday last. They are  Jack Browne, Seadna Morey, Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin and Peter Duggan who started in that game and  Jamie Shanahan who was introduced for extra time. Cathal O’Connell, a regular in last year’s victorious team,  will …