Sports

Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

Sport

Injury time strike ends Magpies’ reign

St Joseph’s 0-7 Doonbeg 0-6 A powerful last quarter at Lissycasey on Saturday saw St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield cause the shock of the 2011 Clare Senior Football Championship by ousting the defending champions, Doonbeg.The Magpies may have been most people’s favourites to win this one but few will deny St Joseph’s were deserving winners on a day when a strong wind and driving rain made conditions very difficult for the players.Shrewd changes in the second half played a big part in this win, with substitutes Christy O’Brien and Colm Mullen kicking the final two scores of the match. From his juvenile days, Mullen was noted as an accurate and skillful forward. With Saturday’s game in the first minute of injury time, the ball was delivered to the St Joseph’s man and from 40 yards out on the right wing he made no mistake for what proved to be the winning score.Doora-Barfield looked to be in a strong position when they trailed …

Time for West Clare clubs to amalgamate?

ST Joseph’s Doora-Barefield’s stunning defeat of county champions Doonbeg has underlined the changing demographics of Clare football. Couple this with Cratloe’s advancement to the semi-final and the fact that Wolfe Tones should really have beaten Kilkee and there is clear evidence that West Clare’s football power base is eroding rapidly.It is a common belief in the west that this development is not good for Clare football. The fact that many Cratloe, Doora-Barefield and Wolfe Tones footballers are dual players is held as evidence against them. The view is that these players will opt to play hurling, rather than football, for Clare if they have a choice to make.However, before anybody in West Clare suggests that the rise of East and Mid-Clare football is bad for the game in the county, they should examine why many players from their own areas don’t represent the county. If some of the top footballers in West Clare can’t be bothered playing for Clare, why …

Late Harte attack keeps Kilkee afloat

Kilkee 0-12 Wolfe Tones 2-6 FOUR points down and a man short two minutes from the end of normal time, Kilkee looked to have kicked their last ball in 2011. Another team might have accepted that they were gone and thought about heading for home but Kilkee stuck at it and three Michael O’Shea frees drew them to within a point of Wolfe Tones. Following the third of these frees, which was kicked in the fourth minute of injury time, Wolfe Tones goalkeeper Jason Casey lined up the kick-out. Unfortunately, for the Shannon men, the kick-out went straight down the middle where Barry Harte was waiting. The Kilkee centre-forward didn’t need much encouragement to run at Wolfe Tones and angle over a magnificent equalising left-footed point.Seconds later, Michael Talty called for the ball, meaning St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield would have to wait at least a week to find out who their semi-final opponents will be.The plus for Wolfe Tones is …

Kilmurry’s second string do the business

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-7 O’Curry’s 0-5 AS praiseworthy as this result is from Kilmurry Ibrickane’s viewpoint, it is not a great sign of the strength of the intermediate football championship when a club’s second team reaches the final. There is no doubt but that Kilmurry fully deserve their place in the final against Clondegad. They have won all four of their games and nobody can argue with that.Having been relegated from senior last year, O’Curry’s would have been hoping for an immediate return. This result rules that out and O’Curry’s will now have to hope that their older players don’t retire and that some of their younger ones keep developing.In a game played in exceptionally difficult conditions in Kilrush, Kilmurry led 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time, with Odran O’Dwyer scoring all four points, while Ger Quinlan was the only O’Curry’s man to get on the scoresheet in both halves.O’Dwyer scored again for Kilmurry early in the second half to extend their …

Kilmurry’s second string do the business

Gaels and Kilrush through to final (Senior B)

Shannon Gaels 1-10 Ennistymon 1-6 WHILE neither team wanted to play in the Senior B Championship and would ideally have much preferred to have been playing championship quarter-final football last Saturday, they served up a competitive hour’s football in Quilty. Following this four-point win, Shannon Gaels will play Kilrush in the final on Sunday week.Brian Cunningham, John Paul O’Neill and Noel Kennedy kicked early Gaels points before Michael Houlihan and Seán McGonigle, with a well-worked goal, replied for Ennistymon.However, Shannon Gaels added a brace of points to take a one-point, interval lead, 0-5 to 1-1.John Paul O’Neill netted the crucial score of the second half, when he goaled 15 minutes from time.Shannon Gaels: Keith Ryan; Brian Bermingham, John Neylon, Fergal Kenny; Michael Coughlan, Frank Cleary, Tomás Cleary; Michael O’Donoghue, Noel Kennedy; Fergal O’Neill, Brian Cunningham, John Bermingham; Brian O’Shea, John Paul O’Neill, David Neylon.Subs: Seán Reynolds for Fergal O’Neill and Fergal O’Neill for Brian O’Shea.Ennistymon: Noel Sexton; Michael Devitt, Laurence …

’Bridge U-16A make it five-in-a-row

Sixmilebridge 5-5 Éire Óg 0-9 Sixmilebrige strolled to their fifth U-16A Hurling Championship in a row last Saturday evening in Cusack Park as they smashed in four goals in the opening half to lay the foundations for a well-deserved victory over Éire Óg. Heavy downpours throughout the day, allied to the fact that Cratloe and Lissycasey had only hours previously played out a turbulent senior football quarter final, created a slippery and cut-up surface at the county grounds. The conditions made it difficult and this was illustrated in the stop-start nature that defined the opening half. ’Bridge midfielder Brian Corry, star of their semi-final win over Clarecastle, was the first to trouble the scorekeeper as he shot what was the score of the day inside five minutes. Collecting the ball along the sideline, Corry struck sweetly off his left side, which sailed between the posts to give the winners an advantage that they would never relinquish. A pointed free …

Banner Ladies win fourth successive minor A title

Banner Ladies 4-20 Burren Gaels 0-6 Banner Ladies won their fourth successive minor A football title when they beat Burren Ladies in last Saturday’s final. While the final scoreline was emphatic, Burren Gaels made the Banner fight for every inch in the first half. A dipping ball in the 13th minute, kicked in by Banner’s Rebecca Culligan, found the net. This was a score from which Burren Gaels didn’t recover. Difficult weather conditions in Corofin dampened the flow of the game from the outset but, fighting a headwind, the Banner registered five points from four of their six forwards, Eva O’Dea’s opener, sister Niamh’s two points from frees, Orlaith Lynch and Karen Roche all scored before Burren’s Niamh Considine put one up on the board. The indomitable Niamh O’Dea tacked on another two points, one from a free, and as the Burren Gaels found their flow they put some nice passages of play together down the left wing, inspired by …

Cratloe can keep double hopes alive

Having qualified for the senior football semi-final for the first time in their history, Cratloe go into this Saturday’s hurling quarter-final against Tulla determined to keep their challenge for the double alive.They didn’t have the best of starts to the campaign when they lost to Tubber in round one but they have fought their way back into contention and will wear the favourite’s tag this week.Tulla, on the other hand, had a much better start to the championship, winning their first two games but they have struggled since. They were comprehensively beaten by Sixmilebridge in round three and, last time out, went under to Wolfe Tones. It can be argued that there was nothing at stake when they played the Shannon outfit but had a near full-strength team and they were up against a side that had lost all their previous games in the group.Tulla did have some injury problems that evening and it remains to be seen if Andrew …

Kilmaley to edge out Clonlara

Clonlara and Kilmaley, the only two unbeaten sides, will be in opposition on Sunday evening. Clonlara have topped Group 1 with three wins and a draw while Kilmaley were runners-up in Group 4 with two wins and two draws to their credit.The absence of Domhnaill O’Donovan and Darach Honan due to injury is, without question, a huge blow to the South East Clare side but they have reached this stage of the competition without both players.O’Donovan has been out of action since May due to a back complaint while Honan hasn’t played since the summer due to a groin strain. There appears to be little chance that either will see action this year, although there are reports that O’Donovan is back doing some running.Current county minors Colm Galvin, Cathal O’Connell and Shane O’Brien are expected to be in the Clonlara line-up. All three have impressed in the side’s progress to this stage of the championship.O’Connell will join his brothers Nicky …

Champions to progress

Titleholders Crusheen have shown mixed form this season but they have reached this stage of the championship without suffering a defeat. They emerged as the top team in what many considered to be the group of death. They delivered the results when required and this was particularly evident in round three, when they came up against Newmarket. A strong finish from the champions left Newmarket needing other results to go their way if they were to qualify, but this didn’t happen.Broadford are surprise quarter-finalists and the key result for them was their fourth-round victory over St Joseph’s. They have shown mixed form over the past couple of seasons and after disappointing in 2010, they have bounced back this season.They had a bye in the opening round and were unlucky to lose their first outing against Clonlara in round two. Since then, they have been on a winning run and have improved with each outing. They will need to show further …

Sixmilebridge should have enough

Tony Carmody would probably have preferred if the pairings had provided anything other than a Sixmilebridge v Inagh-Kilnamona meeting.Having taken the decision to join Sixmilebridge at the beginning of this year, he now finds himself preparing to line out against his native club. The former Clare star returned to training at the weekend after being out of action for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury that he sustained when leading Clare to the All-Ireland intermediate title in Thurles a few weeks earlier. It’s expected he will be fit to take his place in the half-forward line on Saturday evening.Caimin Morey is also back in contention for a place in the line-up, having returned from the US, where he spent the summer months. Rory Shanahan is another who was in the US for the summer and he is also back in contention.The expectation is that Eamonn Glynn will be in the starting line-up for the Inagh-Kilnamona outfit for this …

Injury time goal earns Newmarket dramatic win

Newmarket on Fergus 3-7 Sixmilebridge 3-6 Niki Kaiser was the heroine for Newmarket-on-Fergus on Friday night, when injury time goal, in the 61st minute, snatched victory from Sixmilebridge who had led from the 15th minute. The much-anticipated pairing of these neighbouring clubs lived up to its expectations with much at stake. Sixmilebridge had to register a win to push this group to a play-off, whereas a draw would have sufficed for Newmarket. Newmarket started stronger and when Ruth Kaiser sent a long-range shot into the square from midfield in the seventh minute, younger sister, Niki, was on hand to gather the rebound from the ensuing scramble and finish to the net. Áine O’Brien had the opportunity to push the Blues further in front three minutes later, but saw her free swept off course by the strong breeze favouring Sixmilebridge. Niamh McInerney accurately picked out Ciara Whelan with her puck out and Whelan passed to Naomi Carroll who cut through the …

Townies master the elements and the ’Bridge

Éire Óg 2-2 Sixmilebridge 0-3 Éire Óg overcame the odds to claim a place in the U-16A final with a deserved 2-2 to 0-3 win over Sixmilebridge. Excellent defending from both sides meant that it was ten minutes before Sixmilebridge registered the opening score of the match with a well-taken point from play. They tacked on two more points over the next eight minutes to give them a three-point lead. However, Éire Óg’s Caroline Walsh wiped out the ‘Bridge’s hard earned advantage when she hand-passed the ball to the net to leave the sides all square at the break. The Ennis girls hit the ground running from the second half throw in. Lisa Greene goaled in the second minute, giving her side a great boost. A pointed free from Orla Devitt gave Éire Óg a four-point lead. The Éire Óg half-back and full-back lines dealt with everything the ‘Bridge threw at them. Caroline Walsh sealed victory …

Woodstock win Pierce Purcell title

Woodstock were crowned All-Ireland Pierce Purcell champions on Friday when they defeated Corrstown by 3.5 to 1.5 in the final at Castlerock in Antrim.In the semi-final on the previous day they had overcome the Connacht champions, Athenry.In the final, Frank Doherty and Mike Kelly lost 8 and 6 but three comprehensive wins after this led to the pairing of Declan Coote and Jimmie Kelly being called in. Jason Considine and Brian Mulcahy had a 4 and 3 win, Tom Hehir and Martin Dormer were 8 and 7 victors while Shane Fitzgerald and Michael O’Brien recorded a 6 and 5 success.The team was feted at a function in the clubhouse on Saturday night following their return home.This was Woodstock’s second time winning the Purcell, having being successful in 2003 when Jimmie Kelly, Liam McInerney, Michael O’Brien, Mike Kelly and Frank Doherty were team members. Assistant manager Robbie Dormer was a member of the 2003 team.In the Wednesday open singles, Ross Darmody …

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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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