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Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

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Tubridy Haul Not Enough As Clare Lose Out In National Football League Opener

A tally of 0-8 for David Tubridy was not enough for Clare to overcome Westmeath in their National Football League Division Two opener with the Leinster outfit coming out on top by 2-9 to 1-11 in TEG Cusack Park. Clare had the wind in the opening period but trailed 1-5 to 1-3 as they headed for the dressing rooms. It had been a bright opening, with the visitors to Mullingar ahead by 1-2 to 0-1 after the opening 10 minutes. The Clare goal came from Gavin Cooney who pounced on a breaking ball after Dermot Coughlan’s initial shot was blocked, and he slid a cool finish to the net. That was quickly followed by a David Tubridy free, but another 27 minutes would pass before another Clare score materialised. Anthony McGivney rattled the net for Westmeath after good work from the impressive Ray Connellan, and they built on that to open up a two point lead. David Tubridy broke Clare’s …

Derrick Lynch Clare’s National Ladies football league campaign gets underway this weekend when Armagh make the trip to Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park in Doonbeg. It is the first of seven games in their Division Two campaign with a new format for the league this year. The semi-final stage has been scrapped with the top two in the standings at the end of the league series going straight through to the final. It is a third year in the role for manager James Murrihy, and he says with the talent in the squad it was easy decision to continue for another campaign. “We are really looking forward to getting the league underway because we feel we have some good work done now over the last few months. We started back in November and we have been working away since then. We had a challenge game before Christmas and we have had another three since just we are just really looking forward …

Derrick Lynch Eoin Cleary has been through five previous National League campaigns with Clare but this one will be a little different to all the rest. Gary Brennan’s departure from the panel for the coming year not only left a gap to filled on the starting 15, but it also meant that the captaincy duties would need to be reassigned for the first time in nearly a decade. Having made his debut against Waterford in the championship in 2014, Eoin Cleary has developed into one of the top forwards in the country and it was no real surprise that he emerged as the successor to Brennan in taking on that responsibility. He admits while he never thought the armband would come his way, he is looking forward to taking it on to the next level. “I am looking forward to the challenge ahead. We had Gary as the previous captain and what he brought to the set-up was unreal along …

Twelve months ago, Shane O’Donnell had a very different task ahead of him. The Éire Óg sharpshooter was facing into the second half of a Harvard scholarship. This year, his January will be slightly different. O’Donnell says he relished the life opportunity going to Harvard afforded him, but this year he says he’s relishing the chance to have a full season back with the Clare hurlers. “It has been a brilliant couple of months so far and I have really enjoyed the preseason, which was obviously quite different from a personal point of view to last year. Once you move closer to the league, people get to put the torture and horror of preseason behind them,” Shane joked. “Last year was a great experience for me, but from a hurling point of view it wasn’t the ideal preparation for championship. I missed out on all the preseason and the league, and I can already feel myself being more confident for …

Derrick Lynch It has been a memorable 12 months for the new Clare ladies football captain Ellie O’Gorman. Fresh from leading Kilmihil to a first ever Clare senior crown, she was then chosen to take over the captaincy role from Laurie Ryan for the county team. That came quick on the heels of changes in a professional sense too as she found herself moving closer to home for work having spent three years in Dublin as a maths teacher. She is now based in Galway and travels with her now vice-captain Grainne Nolan to training with the journey much less arduous than a round trip to the capital with just her thoughts for company. Maths teaching is something she is passionate about, and credits her secondary school teacher and fellow Kilmihil native Bernie Burke with giving her that love for the subject. Football is clearly a passion too and she admits being asked to take over as captain for the …

IT MUST be very hard to watch your county compete in make-or-break games from halfway across the world, knowing you would be on the squad were you at home. That itch will be scratched in 2020 by Aaron Cunningham as he has re-joined the Clare senior squad since his return home from Australia. The Wolfe Tones man decided to travel the world in 2017 and his voyage took him to San Francisco and Melbourne, with a few pitstops along the way. The Shannon man is now back and – his fellow clubman and Clare manager Brian Lohan will hope – it’s with a vengeance. Cunningham is known for his speed and the 26-year-old will be hoping to hit the ground running in 2020, but he knows it is going to take a massive effort to hit the heights he did before leaving. “I thought about going back with Clare and I said that I wasn’t going to do it if …

St Flannan’s 0-18 Our Lady’s Templemore 1-13 ST FLANNAN’S booked their place in the Harty Cup final with a dramatic two-point victory over Our Lady’s Templemore in Nenagh this afternoon. Despite having a strong breeze, the Ennis school trailed by 1-7 to 0-9 at the break and it appeared they had a tough task on their hands. The Clare side never wavered under pressure and it was Templemore that eventually yielded the lead in the final quarter of the game as an onslaught led by Cian Galvin and Ashley Brohan from placed balls ensured St Flannan’s would doggedly prevail. They now face CBC of Cork in the final. It was a nervy start for Flannan’s with four wides in the first three minutes but once they settled – they were the dominant side of the first half. Stephen Casey, Cian Galvin and Ashley Brohan had the lion’s share of scoring for Flannan’s in the first half while Kevin Maher and …

AS the curtain raises on another national league campaign for Clare, manager Brian Lohan insists his squad want to go on a run in this year’s league and to make the most out of every inter-county game his side have this year. Clare kick off their campaign against Carlow this Sunday in Cusack Park and Lohan and his charges are keen to hit the ground running. “We are looking to go as far as we can in the national league. There aren’t that many inter-county games in a year; this year we are only scheduled to have 10. Five of those are national league games, so that tells you how important they are. “You’re also going to try and see as many guys playing as possible, but at the same time you’re going to be trying to win games and get a bit of confidence from that. There is nothing worse than losing games so, it will be a bit …

IT IS the biggest game of their lives for most of Jim Minogue’s squad but the Scariff-Ogonnelloe manager is confident his side are ready to surprise a few people. The East Clare amalgamation take on reigning All-Ireland champions Slaughtneil in Ashbourne, Meath this Sunday for a place in the All-Ireland senior club final and while they will be outsider Minogue says you wouldn’t know it from his side. “The mood in the camp is very good and training has been going really well. We’re progressing very nicely and we’re going to be good to go. Some had the U-21s after the Munster final and then they took a break for college exams, but we went back at it St Stephen’s day, so we have had a good run at it. “It is a great challenge for us and Slaughtneil are an unbelievable team. What they have achieved is unreal, but we are going into the game well prepared and ready …

Derrick Lynch Colm Collins is facing into his seventh National Football league campaign as Clare senior football manager when he takes his side to Cusack Park in Mullingar this Sunday for the opening round of the 2020 series. Since his debut season in 2014, Collins has overseen arguably the most progressive period for the game in the county with the climb from the basement tier to the top half of the standings serving as testament to that. It is also worth noting that since he has taken over the reins, Clare have never dropped back down a tier in the league with Sunday marking a fourth consecutive season in the top 16 teams for the Banner. That record becomes all the more importance with this year’s league taking on added significance as the new format seeing the teams that drop out of Division Two potentially missing out on a run in the All-Ireland qualifiers later in the year. Collins feels …

Derrick Lynch A first Harty Cup final appearance since 2007 is the goal for St Flannan’s this weekend when they go to McDonagh Park in Nenagh to face Our Lady’s Templemore. The Ennis school came through a tricky local derby against St Joseph’s Tulla in a historic quarter-final tie, with Diarmaid Cahill’s outstanding individual goal in the final quarter eventually swinging the balance in their favour. St Flannan’s have been improving in each of their outings so far in this campaign with a perfect record in the group stages before that win over Tulla. They have been forced to come through some stern tests along the way too, but there is a real sense that there is even more to come from a hugely talented squad. All that has to be measured against the fact that they are probably coming up against their toughest opponents to date. The Tipperary outfit began their campaign with an eye-catching win over a fancied …

THE All-Ireland club semi-final this Sunday is the biggest game in the history of Scariff-Ogonnelloe camogie club, not that you would know it talking to centre-back Ciara Doyle. The ice-cool 20-year-old WIT student is extremely focussed on the task of beating reigning three-time All-Ireland champions Slaughtneil of Derry, but she has an unwavering belief in the ability of her team to create history. Her club have already had quite a season, landing not only their first ever senior county title, but also their first senior provincial title. While many would classify this as a ground-breaking season, Ciara says Scariff-Ogonnelloe want, and are capable of, more. “We don’t really care who we’re playing or what people are saying our chances are of winning – we just focus on ourselves and go and play freely and enjoy ourselves. We are a highly determined team and I don’t think there has been one game this year where we have gone out without utter …

Derrick Lynch St Flannan’s go in search of a place in the Harty Cup final for the first time since 2007 when they go up against Our Lady’s Templemore this Saturday afternoon. The Ennis side came through a tense local derby with St Joseph’s Tulla to reach this stage, while the 2017 champions left it late before a JD Devanney goal got them out of jail against local rivals Thurles CBS. St Flannan’s have been impressive in their run to the last four as they came through their group campaign unbeaten to bridge a near decade of a gap since they last made the knockout stages. Coach and two time Clare All Star Brendan Bugler says no one was thinking about this point of the competition when the new season rolled around. “At the start of the year we did not really look ahead to this stage and decided to just focus on each individual game that was put in …

Derrick Lynch He followed in the footsteps of his brothers in representing the Clare senior footballers but the youngest of the Brennan siblings will be the last man standing when Clare take on Westmeath this Sunday. Cillian Brennan has quickly developed into one of Clare’s most solid and assured defenders since making his breakthrough at senior level, but with big brothers Gary and Shane now having departed the panel he finds himself alone in flying the Brennan flag. Having soldiered along with Gary for the last few campaigns, the primary school teacher admits while it will be a change to not have his brother and captain there, he’s confident there is enough talent in the squad to take Clare to the next level. “It is a small bit different without him alright but there is a great group of lads there and we really do have a huge amount of leaders throughout the panel. We are lucky to have that …

To captain a Munster title-winning side must be some feeling but that is a distant memory now for Mairéad Scanlan as the Scariff-Ogonnelloe sharpshooter has her sights firmly focused on taking down the most prolific club team in the country. Slaughtneil of Derry have swept all before them in the last three years and the East Clare side standing in their way have serious intentions of spoiling the party. “They’re going for four-in-a-row, they are a serious, serious team. There has to be unreal hunger there to keep coming back and doing what is required. We have prepared really well, and they are there to be beaten and I think we have a huge chance. “If you are going to be knocked out, you are hoping it is the best team that do it. They are an immense team, but we haven’t even thought of the possibility of losing. We are all approaching this in such a positive frame of …

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Tones just shade 12 goal thriller

Minor C Camogie Championship Final Wolfe Tones 6-13 Parteen-Meelick 6-10 Wolfe Tones definitely earned their Minor C Camogie Championship breakthrough, having been tested to their optimum by a never-say-die Parteen-Meelick in what was a truly memorable decider in Fr. McNamara on Wednesday evening, Sharing twelve goals equally, supporters were not only afraid to take their eyes off it but even fearful of blinking in case they missed a goal. It was a compelling end-to-end contest that proved a superb advertisement for Clare Camogie as the standard on offer far exceeded expectations as both sides left everything out on the field in pursuit of some much-needed silverware. And yet considering the final scoreline, it’s perhaps difficult to believe that there were no goals at all until additional time in the first half. Indeed, injury-time in general appeared to ignite something special in these sides as seven of the twelve goals were scored in those added minutes, five of which arrived amidst …
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Can the real Inagh-Kilnamona please stand up?
Group of Death comes alive
Intermediate predictability dashed by compelling Group 4
Blues complete unprecedented clean sweep of underage honours

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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