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Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

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Clare Youths Bidding For Spot In Inter-League Semi-Final

Clare’s Youth’s soccer side are back in action this weekend as they face near neighbours Limerick in the last eight of the Inter League Cup. The Banner youngsters were narrowly beaten 3-2 by Galway a fortnight ago in their only group game which meant they would be on the road for their last quarter-final tie. The decision by Tipperary North to pull out of the competition after the draw for the group stages had been made meant that Clare and Galway were left with just one game prior to this round, and Clare manager Ruairi Price feels that the amount of work it takes to prepare for the competition far outweighs the game time involved. “The most frustrating thing about it is that you put in so much work for so little game time. I have been on the road for nearly six months watching Youths players and we have only had one game. That is nuts. It is out …

St Flannan’s had to wait 13 years to get back to a Harty Cup final, but 2020 will be remembered as the year they prepared for two finals in the space of a fortnight. The storms that have been battering the country in recent weeks saw the original fixture postponed well past the 11th hour as high winds and driving rain saw the game pulled less than an hour before throw-in in Mallow. This weekends Storm Jorge, a red weather alert, saw the game postponed a further 24 hours. St Flannan’s and CBC will head back the scene in the hopes of finally crossing swords in the province’s most famed colleges hurling competition. St Flannan’s coach Brendan Bugler admits the correct decision was taken on the day to not reduce such a prestigious event to a weather lottery. “It was the right decision on the day to postpone the fixture. We went down thinking it would be played but when …

When St Flannan’s were in their Harty Cup pomp early in the millennium, one man who was central to a lot of their great days out was Newmarket’s Colin Ryan. The 2013 All-Ireland winner enjoyed huge success during his time at the Ennis school with two Harty Cup titles along with a Croke Cup to round off a golden era. He says that time in St Flannan’s was a special period. “It was where the real love of hurling started, and it was great going to school every day with a hurley in my hand and training four days a week with lads you would never have played with. It was the first taste of bringing clubs together and I suppose there was an element too of lads being mad to get out of school for a small bit too and bond. When we look back on the amount of games we played and the amount of time we missed, …

WINNING A Harty Cup is a special moment in any hurler’s life. The prestigious Munster hurling competition is fervently followed by Alumni and current pupils alike, brightening up many a wet winter Wednesday with white-hot competition on the hurling field. Pat Healy was lucky enough to “share that special bond” with his St Flannan’s side that reigned victorious in 1987, before capturing All-Ireland glory, and the Clarecastle man is hoping his son Darragh can now do the same this Saturday. “Hopefully they get over the line and win it but when you are 17 or 18 you may not always appreciate the moment or that the people you play with Saturday, that you will have a bond with that group forever. And that’s not an overestimation. Ger Rodgers, who I played with all those years ago, text me before the abandoned final recently to wish Darragh well. And that’s 33 years after we won it. That will supercede any one …

The Clare District Soccer League has been granted conditional planning permission to construct a stand at Frank Healy Park in Doora. The application to the local authority was to “build a new spectator stand with dressing rooms and storage areas underneath, upgrade the existing waste water treatment system and all associated site and ancillary works”. Conditional permission was granted last week, with one of the conditions being that a new wastewater holding tank be installed. The grounds were named after the late Frank Healy in 2016 in memory of the contribution that the former chairman of the league had made to the game in Clare.

There were two things that were obvious in the build up to last Saturday evening’s Oscar Traynor encounter in Doora. The weather was going to be poor and this Wexford team weren’t coming to Ennis to make up the numbers. With the exception of the first 15 minutes where Clare threatened with some early set pieces, their performance over the course of the game, like the number of supporters in attendance, was very poor particularly when you consider it was an All Ireland Quarter Final. On paper before the game kicked off, it was obvious that this Clare side, albeit minus the aerial threat of Stephen Kelly, had the potential to claim a home win and book a semi final spot. If I could handpick an attacking quartet from Clare Soccer based on talent and skill, I would most definitely end up with Hayes, Roche, McCarthy and Mahoney as my favoured choice to provide the fire power to beat this …

The 2020 Clare Ladies football club leagues get underway this weekend with games across the four divisions. The top tier comprises of six teams, with defending league champions Banner Ladies, senior championship holders Kilmihil, intermediate champions Cooraclare, West Clare Gaels, Cuíl Gaels and Doora Barefield all vying for honours. The first weekend of games sees Banner Ladies taking on West Clare Gaels, Cooraclare host Cuíl Gaels while Kilmihil go to Doora Barefield. There will be plenty interest in Division Two, where Kilmurry Ibrickane make their return to action following a number of absent years. The Síle Callinan Memorial 7’s winners will face neighbours Miltown along with Burren Gaels, Eire Óg, Kilrush and Fergus Rovers. Kilmurry take on Kilrush in the opening round while the other ties see Miltown travel to face Burren Gaels with Eire Óg hosting Fergus Rovers. Division Three will be contested by Clarecastle, Doora Barefield (2), Liscannor, Clooney and Junior A champions Doonbeg. Division Four comprises of …

THIS Friday evening, the late Ger Hoey will be honoured and remembered when Tullaroan, the Intermediate All-Ireland club champions of Kilkenny, take on an AIB employee team in St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield GAA in a memorial match for the Ger Hoey Cup. This year will mark the first year the game is held in Clare and the organisers are hoping to attract a sizable crowd to Gurteen for the 6:30pm throw-in. Ger, who passed away suddenly in February 2009, was a long-serving employee of AIB – as well as a member of their GAA club – and the company set up the memorial match in his honour following his untimely passing. AIB have sponsored the club championships for 29 years and with Ger being a winner of the 1999 All-Ireland club title with Doora-barefield, they felt this was the right way to honour his memory. “Usually the game was on the day before Paddy’s day in Dublin but with the GAA …

Munster U-20 Football Semi-Final: Cork 1-12 Clare 2-7 A spirited finish from Clare was not enough to reel in Cork as the Rebels held off a late surge to advance to another decider where they will defend their title. Clare will rue missed scoring chances with 11 wides over the course of the contest while a poor third quarter where Cork reeled off 0-7 without reply would prove decisive. There has been plenty talk in both counties about commemorative jerseys to mark the efforts of local heroes of the War of Independence, but it was the Rebel county who found themselves in the eye of an ambush worthy of Rineen at half-time. With 15 minutes on the clock, Cork led 1-2 to 0-1 and were looking well in control of proceedings. They were causing problems for the Clare kick-out and the quality of delivery to the inside line yielded several scoring chances. Tom O’Brien was called into action inside the …

The Clare senior football champions have appointed their new manager. Cork native Ned English will take up the reins in Miltown for the coming season, with his backroom team to be finalised in the coming weeks. English, who runs the Castlecor Potato company, has extensive experience at club level having managed numerous teams in both Cork and Limerick. He was also in the running to be Cork senior football manager in 2015. He takes over from David O’Brien who stepped down after a year in charge which saw him lead his native club to the Cusack Cup and championship double. Elsewhere two of Clares best known GAA figures are combining in an effort to win the Limerick senior hurling title. All Ireland winning Clare selector Tony Considine has been appointed as manager of Kilmallock for the coming year. His backroom team includes Kilmurry Ibrickanes Odran O’Dwyer as the strength and conditioning coach. The former international rules star is also coaching …

Clare manager Michael Neylon has kept faith with the same starting 15 for Wednesday evening’s Munster U-20 Football semi-final clash with Cork. The Banner booked their spot in the last four with comfortable win over Waterford on Thursday evening last, but will be aware that a much sterner test lies ahead. The game gets underway on Wednesday evening in Hennessey Memorial Park in Miltown at 7pm. Clare: Tom O’Brien; Manus Doherty, Michéal Murray, Ciarán McMahon; Daniel Walsh, Cillian Rouine, Sean Conway (c); Oisín Looney, Eoin Rouine; John Murphy, Emmet McMahon, Thomas Clancy; Diarmuid O’Donnell, Shane Meehan, Mark McInerney.

National Hurling League Preview: Clare v Kilkenny Clare head to Nowlan Park on Sunday afternoon as the only unbeaten team in Section 1B of the National Hurling League and with one foot firmly planted in the knockout stages. Last weekend’s win over Laois saw Brian Lohan’s side move clear at the top of the standings, and if they avoid defeat against Kilkenny it will see them into at least a quarter-final spot with a round to spare. It was expected that given the elongated nature of the process to appoint the Wolfe Tones man, it could take some time for Clare to settle into their stride. It might be only February, but the signs are all there that there is a renewed vigour about the team that has manifested itself quickly. The vibes from the camp are that the training methods are simple, with an emphasis on honesty and work-rate as the key factors. That has been evident in how …

Derrick Lynch It has been a hectic start to the season for Clare Ladies football with three quick-fire games to open the campaign, including two trips to Ulster. There was no game last weekend, but that did not mean that the schedule eased in any way. That was also the case for Caoimhe Harvey, who celebrated her 21st birthday last Thursday. She is no stranger to the inter-county scene as she looks forward to her fifth season with the Clare side. The West Clare Gaels woman admits the first few games of this campaign have been testing, but says everyone is just focused on learning as they go. “For the last three weekends we have been playing really tough teams. It has been hard playing senior teams and while we have not got the results that we wanted, but as a group of players and management, we took a lot from them. We are improving in every game and hopefully …

EIMEAR Kelly was in tip-top form for Clare in their defeat of Offaly, landing 1-3 in a great display, and the Truagh-Clonlara forward will be hoping for more of the same in Nowlan Park this Sunday. Clare will look to make it two from two against a strong Kilkenny team as part of a double header with round four of the National Hurling League and Kelly says the venue or the opposition hold no fears. “We are all guns blazing for them, yeah. We’re really focussed on ourselves this year and really trying to work on things in training and getting them out onto the pitch during games then. If we execute them, the results will come. We have a bigger panel for selection than we had against Offaly, but we are still finding time to get game time into the younger players like Robyn Conway, Greta Hickey and Síofra ní Chonaill. To be able to see them in competitive …

Derrick Lynch: COMMENT I am not sure how familiar the Desert Rose Band are with either Ladies Football or Camogie, but their big hit from 1987 goes a long way in describing the manner in which the two associations operate. It is becoming increasingly clear that at national level, it really is a case of One Step Forward And Two Steps Back when it comes to trying to coax them to work together for the good of the most important resource they have; their players. How many times over recent years have the two associations been the sole architects of negative headlines in the face of fixture controversies? Just take the most recent cases of Orla O’Dwyer in Tipperary and Caoimhe McGrath in Waterford. Both are equally talented in both codes, but both have also found themselves in the situation where they have either had to choose which team to play with, or in the case of O’Dwyer, undergo the …

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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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