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Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

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Clare senior hurling championship preview

The first round of the Clare senior hurling championship will feature eight games this weekend. Derrick Lynch previews the action. O’Callaghans Mills v Broadford A mouthwatering East Clare derby with the men from Broadford finally at the promised land of senior hurling. That will carry momentum with it, while the Mills are coming off the back of a disappointing 2019. Form goes out the window in these games, but the greater senior experience of the Mills should see them through. Verdict: O’Callaghan’s Mills Clonlara v Newmarket Two sides who will see this game as one that is there to be won, and two sides who will desperately want to hit the ground running. Clonlara are without John Conlon and his loss will be immense. Newmarket may hold the edge in the physicality stakes, but a greater scoring threat for Clonlara might just see them through. Verdict: Clonlara Crusheen v Ballyea This game provided one of the results of the year …

The opening rounds of the 2020 Clare GAA club championships will be played behind closed doors. The decision was reached following a virtual meeting of clubs on Friday evening with a number of delegates outlining their concern about the tensions that distributing such a limited number of tickets could cause among members. With only 200 people being allowed to outdoor gatherings, it means capacity would have been limited for championships games with secretary Pat Fitzgerald outlining his view that only in the region of 30 tickets would have been available for each club to sell. Some clubs also outlined concerns that extra panel members would have been excluded outside of the match-day squad. It was decided that each club will now have in the region of 55 tickets to divide between the panel, backroom team and club officials. The third phase of the roadmap to reopen the country is paused until August 10, at which point crowds for outdoors events …

Derrick Lynch O’Gorman Cup Preliminary Round: Ennistymon 3-9 Miltown 0-1 This was not a result or a game that will live long in the memory for either side, but it was a significant one nonetheless. 11am on a misty Sunday morning is never where you will find the glamour ties, but this one was all about the fact that competitive football was back for the first time since Covid-19 brought everything to a screeching halt in March. There was also something of an irony towards the end, with everyone wishing Robert Harte’s full-time would come quickly, having waited so eagerly to hear his first one. The new normal was evident for all to see, as Hennessey Memorial Park was well decked out with signage advising patrons of their responsibilities to help prevent the spread of the virus. The stand played host not only to the handful of spectators, but also to both teams for togging out. There was hand sanitiser …

Derrick Lynch The manager of the Clare minor footballers feels an opportunity was missed by the GAA to have an open draw All-Ireland series for the grade in 2020. The revised draws for the Munster minor championship, which will be run on a knockout basis, sees Clare taking on Tipperary in the provincial quarter-final with the winners facing either Limerick or Waterford. Last year’s finalists, Cork and Kerry, will meet in the other last four tie. Clare have made steady progress under the guidance of Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Dermot Coughlan with the 1992 Munster championship winner steering his side to the Daryl Darcy Cup in 2019. It saw them emerge from the initial round robin series of the provincial competition before a narrow defeat to Cork saw them just lose out on a place in the decider. Coughlan, who is in his second year in the role, is looking forward to getting back to training but says he was fearful that …

Cratloe have bolstered their ranks ahead of their bid for a first Clare senior football title since 2014. Former Laois star Billy Sheehan is understood to have linked up with the Colm Collins trained outfit and trained with the south-east Clare club over the last week. The Kerry native, who played much of his club football with Emo, lined out with Dublin side St Jude’s in the 2018 senior championship final in the capital. They lost out to Kilmacud Crokes in the decider, with Quilty native Pat Burke netting a crucial goal in that game. Sheehan started out his club career with Austin Stacks and played for the Kingdom before making the switch to the Midlands. It was fellow Kerry man Mick O’Dwyer who called him up to the Laois side in 2004 to kickstart a career that lasted until 2015. Cratloe’s last title success came in 2014 which also saw the club secure a historic double of county football …

Derrick Lynch The 2020 Clare GAA club championships might still be a few weeks away, but the first live sporting GAA action in the county since the outbreak of Covid-19 takes place this weekend with the start of football’s O’Gorman Cup. The competition is run in memory of Doonbeg stalwart John O’Gorman and is restricted to players who have not seen intercounty action that year. Lissycasey are the title holders after victory over Naomh Eoin in the 2019 decider with both teams entering once more this year. 10 teams in total will take part with county champions Miltown, Ballyvaughan, Kildysart, O’Curry’s Ennistymon, Doonbeg, Cooraclare and Kilrush completing the line up. Roll of honour leaders Kilmurry Ibrickane have opted against taking part once more this year. Their last appearance in the competition was the 2018 final which saw them overcome Miltown in the decider after extra-time. The competition will run on a knockout basis for 2020 with two preliminary round ties …

Derrick Lynch In a purely sporting sense, it has been a really positive and uplifting couple of days. The prospect of live competitive action is now just days away, with the first two rounds of the O’Gorman Cup being played this weekend. The ice has already been broken with teams taking part in various challenge games across the county and beyond over the last week as that long spell without sport finally came to an end. All of it has of course to be tempered by the fact that we are by no means out of the Covid-19 shaped woods just yet, but thankfully for the first time since March we can see the track that will hopefully lead us through. The images from Dublin and the anecdotal stories from other places last weekend were not exactly encouraging, so it is vital that we do not lose sight of the fact that this is not yet over. Live sporting action …

A farmer, a father and a husband. They are the three titles that legendary Clare athlete Seamus Power uses to break down where his focus lies these days. A relatively small farmer is how he assesses himself, with the 50 cows in his dairy herd keeping his days busy. His evenings are busy too, with his three sons all having inherited the sporting gene from their father with football, hurling, soccer and inevitably, athletics, all on the agenda for the next generation. They know all about just how successful their father was from the stories they have heard of his achievements, but there is also the more tangible proof in the form of his medal haul from an outstanding career. It is fitting that the humble Power is not one for keeping his bounty on display, but yet when asked about them there is a hint of that confidence that saw him dominate the long distance athletics scene for well …

The Clare minor football championship will be run as an U-18 competition for 2020. It comes after a number of clubs objected to the decision to make it an U-17 championship, which would have ruled out players in their final year of the traditional minor grade. It is understood that a number of clubs objected to the move which was announced earlier this week, and an email circulated to clubs today confirmed that the decision had been reversed. The minor hurling championship had already been confirmed as being for U-18’s. Both codes will also run an U-14 competition, with the possibility of championships at other age grades later this year.

Derrick Lynch The Clare minor camogie squad have expressed their disappointment at the decision to cancel this year’s All-Ireland series. The Camogie Association confirmed last week that they would not be running the championship this year, with provincial series being run instead. That is despite the competition having already begun before the Covid-19 measures were put in place, with Clare losing out to Kilkenny in the opening round. The issue of the crossover between minor and senior squads was highlighted as an issue but that is something that those opposed to the move have disputed. The Clare management team led by Dervilla Moloney have been instrumental in leading the charge for the decision to be reversed, while some members of the squad have made their feelings known with letters to The Clare Champion. One of those came from the vice-captain of the team, Kilkishen’s Caoimhe Kelly “As a committed county player I write this statement on behalf of my teammates …

Derrick Lynch St Flannan’s Harty Cup winning coach Brendan Bugler feels more efforts could have been made to ensure the completion of this year’s All-Ireland colleges hurling championship. It is after the decision was taken not to conclude the All-Ireland series for post-primary competitions in light of the Covid-19 crisis and the packed sporting calendar over the next few months. The Ennis school followed up their provincial success by taking down defending champions St Kieran’s of Kilkenny, and were due to face St Raphael’s in a last four tie just days before lockdown measures were introduced. It had been hoped that some solution could be found to see the Croke Cup competition finished in 2020, but last week’s decision saw the campaign brought to a close. Whitegate clubman Bugler says recent easing of restrictions led to renewed hopes the competition would be concluded, and feels there were options available to be explored. “Initially we thought the chances of playing the …

Derrick Lynch The sporting landscape around the country might have been at a standstill for the last few months, but behind the scenes, one West Clare club was putting plans in place to take their development to the next level. Kilrush Rugby Club is based in Monmore, and in recent years the influx of younger players in particular has seen the club producing some brilliant talent across the girls and boys divisions. That success has also accelerated plans to rejuvenate the adult section of the club, with recruitment currently underway for both a men’s and women’s team for the coming season. It is not just on the field that the club is looking to further their development, but they are also looking to further the development of their field with work progressing on the construction of a second pitch at their grounds. Director of rugby in Kilrush, Andy Burke, outlined where the idea for the project came from “One thing …

Last year’s senior football finalists, St Joseph’s Miltown, the winners, and neighbours and old rivals Kilmurry Ibrickane will lock horns in the opening round of this year’s championship. The repeat pairing was the notable first round draw made by county board chairman Joe Cooney at Clareabbey on Wednesday evening. It is an intriguing tie given that last year a replay was required to determine the outcome. The football championship throws in the August bank holiday weekend. In hurling, kingpins Sixmilebridge face a daunting challenge in the opening round of their title defence when they face old adversaries Éire Óg. In last year’s campaign the sides met in the quarter-final where the Bridge were hard pressed to get the better of a Shane O’Donnell inspired Ennis side and in a game which could have gone either way. No doubt the Townies will be thirsting for revenge when the championship throws in on the weekend of July 24-25-26. Broafdford, who return to …

The 2020 Clare GAA club championships will begin on the weekend of July 24 with clubs opting to stick with the structures proposed by the Master Fixtures committee. At the most unique meeting of the County Committee ever held, delegates sat socially distanced in the stand of Cusack Park while the members of the executive were perched on a lorry which was parked along the sideline of the county grounds. The option of holding the meeting online had been discussed, but the outdoor setting was the preferred choice. Chairman Joe Cooney acknowledged the “strange circumstances” in which the meeting was being held amid the Covid-19 crisis, and held a minutes silence for those who had passed away since clubs last convened in February. Two clubs, namely Newmarket on Fergus and Clooney Quin had submitted correspondence to the secretary requesting permission to apply for loans in order to fund works at their grounds. The chairman informed the meeting that this was …

SPORTING nostalgia has certainly been popular throughout the pandemic, with All-Ireland finals and World Cup ties being broadcast on various channels. On a very local level, Wolfe Tones have been putting footage of old club games online every Sunday evening and it has proven very popular. Club officer Paul Hogan has led the initiative and said, “With the fact the GAA was gone, we just wanted to add something. Our aim too was to preserve as many Wolfe Tones games as we could. We’ve tried to cover all four bases of ladies’ football, camogie, hurling and Gaelic football. We’re fairly eating through them over the last few weeks. If there’s anyone in the county with old Wolfe Tones games, we’d be delighted to get them up on YouTube.” Many of the games shown have finished with Wolfe Tones hoisting silverware. “It has been mostly finals but the first game was a Munster semi-final against Patrickswell. Because it was on in …

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‘Fix the one percents and you’ll reach the magical one hundred’ – Hogg

2023 All Ireland Junior winner Sinead Hogg is a mainstay at the heart of the Clon defence and after a monumental battle with Eimear Bourke and Cait Devane she is ready to push on and claim the biggest camogie prize in Munster. ” Today wasn’t easy and the body is sore. It was a serious battle and in fairness to both teams it was a war of attrition. We had to just try and stay in the game at different stages because their six forwards are unbelievable players and can hurt you in the blink of an eye. It’s great to have that half back line in front of you cutting out the supply which makes it a bit easier for us in the full back line though and I think we did quite well. We were fully focused on delivering not only a performance but delivering a result and thankfully we did both.” Sinead feels as a group they have …
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‘I feel like I’m in a dream’ – Morris
Considine bows out after a glorious decade
Éire Óg Adare to dream of provincial glory
Munster final on Clare’s mind

‘Fix the one percents and you’ll reach the magical one hundred’ – Hogg

2023 All Ireland Junior winner Sinead Hogg is a mainstay at the heart of the Clon defence and after a monumental battle with Eimear Bourke and Cait Devane she is ready to push on and claim the biggest camogie prize in Munster. ” Today wasn’t easy and the body is sore. It was a serious battle and in fairness to both teams it was a war of attrition. We had to just try and stay in the game at different stages because their six forwards are unbelievable players and can hurt you in the blink of an eye. It’s great to have that half back line in front of you cutting out the supply which makes it a bit easier for us in the full back line though and I think we did quite well. We were fully focused on delivering not only a performance but delivering a result and thankfully we did both.” Sinead feels as a group they have …

‘I feel like I’m in a dream’ – Morris

Former coach to the Clare Senior set up and in his fourth year training his beloved Truagh-Clonlara Ryan Morris feels like he’s dreaming but admits this was their ultimate objective. ” I feel like I’m in a dream that I don’t want to wake up from. To see how far we’ve come from winning an Intermediate title to claiming a first ever McMahon Cup, going back to back and now a Munster final. It’s magical, it truly is. Last year we enjoyed celebrating after the County championship and the buzz around the place was incredible. The whole day out against Sarsfields was also really special but in truth we let the day be our focus and not the game itself. It wasn’t until we sat down to plan for this year that we felt the pain of that defeat. We set in motion a plan to retain our crown and have another crack at Munster but to do so we …

Controversy reigns as Tulla denied at death

Dr. Harty Cup Round 2 St Joseph’s Tulla 0-17 Cashel Community School 0-17 After an opening day defeat to Cork school Blackrock, the pressure was firmly on Tulla to deliver in Cappamore. Showing tremendous character against a quality Cashel side they managed to stay in the game throughout thanks to an outstanding defensive display by fullback Fionn O’Gara and a series of top drawer saves from Broadford’s Jack Lovett. It was the player affectionately known as ‘Fog’ though that towered above everyone else on the field and was quite simply majestic all afternoon. Decisive hooks, critical blocks and booming clearances were the order of the day from the Clooney-Quin player. When Cashel did manage to break through the Tulla rearguard, they met a wall of resistance in Lovett. On three occasions the netminder came to the rescue, firstly denying Briain O’Donoghue with a brave point blank save in the 15th minute, then thwarting corner-forward Ryan O’Sullivan just before the interval …

21st celebrations as Éire Óg return to helm

Clare Senior Football Championship Final Éire Óg 1-10 Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-6 “The Townies are back and we’re not going anywhere’ was the passionate concluding words to captain Aaron Fitzgerald’s speech as Éire Óg bounced back to Jack Daly winning ways in Cusack Park, writes Eoin Brennan. Having only lost one of their last 21 matches and that to Cratloe in last year’s semi-final after penalties, the Ennis side’s third senior crown in four years was fully merited as they rolled with the punches of a difficult day weather and opposition-wise before finishing in powerful fashion. The ‘Bricks, fueled by an intriguing mix of youth and vast title winning experience, certainly made Paul Madden’s side sweat after hitting the ground running with the first three points through Keenan Sexton (2) and Daryn Callinan. However, on a day in which they almost needed a perfect performance, crucially they coughed up possession at halfway for Mark McInerney to pick out Gavin Cooney for …

Strong Ennis performance seals win over Cobh Pirates RFC

Senior Men’s Junior League 2: Ennis RFC 26 – 6 Cobh Pirates RFC The Ennis Senior men’s rugby team were victorious 26 – 6 over Cobh Pirates during the Junior League 2. Ennis started off with a strong scrum, followed by Dylan Kenny breaking through tackles to score a converted score under the posts. Ennis’ defence stood firm and soon Joey Keane managed a huge steal with the Cobh Pirates just short of the try line. At the end of the first-half, the opposition scored a penalty, bringing the half-time score to 7 – 3. At the start of the second-half, the Cobh Pirates scored another penalty. With the score at 7 – 6, Ennis increased their defence and attack, allowing Cian Guilfoyle to score Ennis’ second try. Brendan Keane scored their third try, converted by Kenny, after a dominant Ennis scrum. With the game almost over and the Cobh Pirates on the attack, Guilfoyle intercepted on the halfway line …

Meehan and McEvoy shine as Banner overcome Wolfe Tones

Junior C camogie final Banner 1-9 Wolfe Tones 0-9 Novel could best describe this meeting on Saturday afternoon last between Wolfe Tones and Banner in the Junior C camogie final that drew a sizable attendance to Father McNamara park. Wolfe Tones with an experienced group of players faced up to a youthful Banner side with many dual players. Both sides had freetakers of a standard far higher than Junior C as Ciara Meehan and Sarah McEvoy shared a dozen scores over the hour. Wolfe Tones netminder Anna Brennan retired injured after 15 minutes as the Shannon side started slowly and didn’t score until the 17th minute from McEvoy with Laura Meaney adding a second Tones scores a minute later. Two further scores from Wolfe Tones in the final minutes of the half left them on four points, one behind Banner at the interval. Ciara Meehan was excellent from placed balls and missed just one over the hour. Half-time Banner (0-5) …

Whelan and Meaney score as Clondegad lower Banner

Junior B football final Clodegad 2-11 Banner 2-8 A season of underachieving in the view of both clubs in the Intermediate championship came to an adult end in Lissycasey on Sunday afternoon in the Junior B county final decider. As with most Junior finals it can be a hazardous task to allocate a favourites tag so all was up for grabs before what was a disappointing following from the two clubs. Scores were hard to come by the opening quarter with the two sides sharing a paltry five points as Clondegad led (0-3) to (0-2) before Ciaran Connelly struck for the first of four goals in the game. Within two minutes Banner had cut the lead of Clondegad to the minimum with their first goal as long time performer Fiachra Hayes who started in place of William Bello was their shooter. Clondegad full forward Oisin Griffin won a high ball and his breaking ball was doubled to the net by …

Éire Óg Fawle as Kevin’s goal seals final place

Junior A football semi-final Michael Cusacks 1-9 Éire Óg 0-8 Renowned Michael Cusack’s defender Kevin Fawle is not recognised as a goalscorer but should ultimate success come the way of the men from the Burren and Belharbour they will look back at Fawle’s 50th minute goal as one of the decisive moments of the year. Éire Óg will have left Corofin with deep regrets posting perhaps their least effective showing of the season that was well below their quarter-final showing against Cooraclare as Michael Cusack’s were very fortunate to get extra time before dispatching the challenge of St Breckan’s second string. Éire Óg opened the scoring with goalkeeper Cian Howard kicking over their first score from a free and he added a second free after eight minutes. Domhnall McMahon operating at full forward with others pulled out kicked over Michael Cusack’s first score just before Jack McGann and McMahon once more were on the scoresheet after 13 minutes to take the …

Flynn and Duggan goals keep St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield senior as the ‘Bridge drop down

Senior camogie relegation final St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-9 Sixmilebridge 1-10 There was heartbreak for Sixmilebridge and jubilation for St Joseph’s in equal measure in Clooney on Saturday afternoon. Relegation to Intermediate camogie for the Bridge who in a bygone era won multiple championships as St Joseph’ chasing their first maintained their status and once more are the only Clare club to possess four senior GAA, Camogie and LGFA sides. With the LGFA county final on the horizon for St Joseph’s they did not want a low note to be played in the run up with relegation from senior camogie and set out their stall early with (2-2) in the opening half with Ciara Duggan and Siobhan Flynn scoring (1-1 each). Chloe Morey hit back between the 14th and 18th minutes with (1-2) to keep Sixmilebridge in contact as Olivia Phelan had initiated the scoring for Sixmilebridge after four minutes. Determined tackling by both sets of defenders ensured a low scoring contest as …

Tulla fall to Harty Cup opening round loss

Blackwater Community School, Lismore 2-16 St. Joseph’s Tulla 0-20 St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla suffered an agonising two-point reverse in their Harty Cup Group 3 campaign on Wednesday afternoon. The defat, at the hands of a pacy Blackwater Community School from Lismore, leaves them under pressure to advance to the knockout stages. For all that Tulla did well in this contest, a sloppy start proved detrimental to their chances in Kilmallock, falling eight points behind inside the opening quarter. It was a position that the students, coached by Terence Fahy, Aidan Harte and Tomás Kelly couldn’t recover from fully. Even when they were on top and looked like taking the lead, they were hit with a sucker punch of a goal that filled the Lismore confidence heading into the second half. Indeed, a stunning save from Billy Murphy in the Lismore goal denied them a potential game changing goal, with Darragh White having to settle for a point instead. The …

New Clare ladies football manager

IN a statement this afternoon Clare LGFA announced the appointment of Listowel’s Graham Shine as the new Intermediate team manager for the coming season. The former Limerick and Kerry Ladies manager has been appointed for two years, with an option of a third, in charge of the county’s flagship side. Board Chairman Sean Lenihan advised that there were a number of applicants for the post from both within and outside the County and thanked the unsuccessful candidates for their interest in the position. He outlined Shine’s extensive experience at Club and County level over many years and wished him and his backroom team well over the next couple of years starting soon with preparation for Clare’s return to Division 2 of the National Football League commencing in mid-January. A qualified personal trainer and fitness instructor, Shine was part of former Manager Wayne Freeman’s Backroom Team last year so he knows the panel of players involved here to date. He has …

Banner five still alive in Munster Junior Football PPS Championships

Clare’s interest in the Munster Junior (Under 17) Post-Primary Schools Football Championships have been reduced to five after a busy week of derbies in all five grades. St Joseph’s Spanish Point (C), St John Bosco Community College, Kildysart (D) and Under 17E trio St Michael’s Community College Kilmihil and St Patrick’s Comprehensive School, Shannon and Ennis Community College who are due to face each other this morning (Thursday) in Wolfe Tones at 10.45am are the only schools left in the first provincial championship of the 2024/25 season. The Frewen Cup is destined to return to Kerry for another year after St Flannan’s College bowed out at the quarter-final stage to St Michael’s Listowel by 1-13 to 1-09 in The Bog Garden in Rathkeale on Wednesday afternoon. Trailing by 1-4 to 0-4 by the break, the Ennis College grabbed a lifeline on the restart when Kieran Doyle converted a penalty. With Dara Kennedy and TJ Moore dominating the engine room, Darragh …

Crusheen present double trouble for Parteen-Meelick

Junior A Camogie Championship Cup Final Crusheen v Parteen-Meelick at Fr McNamara Park Ennis, Saturday at 4pm (Kevin Walsh, Wolfe Tones) Momentum is the clear driving force as heavyweights Crusheen and Parteen-Meelick finally meet in earnest to decide the Junior A Camogie Championship honours. I say finally as they were forced into a dress rehearsal final group decider a fortnight ago but as expected it was merely a shadow-boxing exercise especially on the red half of the divide as Parteen-Meelick eased to a 9-27 to 0-07 win. Don’t expect the same in Fr. McNamara Park on Saturday afternoon as Crusheen, off the back of their commanding Junior A Ladies Football Final triumph over Cúil Gaels last Sunday will be determined to achieve a historic double. Parteen-Meelick were pencilled in for a ladies football final too last Saturday but being a Junior B Shield Final, they opted to put their full focus on this prestigious decider. There’s no shortage of camogie …

Clancy crushes Cúil dreams of silverware

Junior A Ladies’ Football Final Crusheen 3-10 – Cúil Gaels 0-14 Crusheen back at the start of the century under the management of the late Michael Cullinan possessed some of the best underage players in the county winning four Under 16A titles plus Minor, Junior A and Intermediate honours finally contested a senior final joined with Kilmihil. Time moved on, players left and lean times followed but once more Crusheen are back in the Intermediate championship for 2025 following a five-point success over Cúil Gaels in Lissycasey on Sunday evening. Cúil Gaels for their part had ample scoring chances over the course of the hour and really worried Crusheen but unfortunately from the estuary’s perspective they kicked a dozen wides as opposed to just five for the title winners. At least four of the Cúil Gael points skimmed the Crusheen crossbar much to the relief of Grace Gleeson. Yet, the matchwinner was at midfield for Crusheen, namely Anna Clancy with …

Shannon Town shade cup spoils in low-key derby

(FAI Junior Cup) Shannon Town A 2 – Bunratty/Cratloe 1 Shannon Town inched the derby spoils to book their place in the next round of the FAI Junior Cup but it wasn’t the greatest of advertisements for an early morning kick-off in Lynch Park in Shannon on Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, all the ingredients were ripe for a memorable derby as a sizeable crowd was in attendance to witness a rare clash of these neighbours while there was the added layer of new Shannon Town manager Davy Hogan playing against his former Premier winning club. However, perhaps the players weren’t given sufficient notice of the 10:30am kick-off as the teams never really livened up until the final quarter. Amazingly, there wasn’t a shot of note throughout the entire opening period and essentially it was only with Charlie Morrison’s 68th minute penalty that this prudent tie finally opened up. It was a huge relief to hosts Shannon Town who, as …

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