Sport

Intermediates and minors in historic success

Clare 2-15   Limerick 2-13 CLARE hurling made history for the second time in three days when the intermediate team captured the provincial title for the first time on Wednesday evening.A strong second-half showing saw them deservingly account for neighbours Limerick before an attendance of 3,168. Playing a huge role in the success was veteran Niall Gilligan, winner of Munster and All-Ireland senior medals with the county in 1997. The Sixmilebridge man was the game’s top scorer, contributing 0-7.Clare made the better start and by the tenth minute had built up a five-point lead. Team captain Tony Carmody opened the scoring in the second minute, Declan O’Rourke quickly following with a like score.A point separated the sides when Daire Keane won possession from an Andrew Fahy puckout and he broke through to fire home the game’s opening goal.Just when it looked like Clare might pull away for a comfortable win, Limerick came into the game strongly. Corner-forward Michael Ryan caused a …

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Minor hurlers crowned Munster champions

Clare 1-20   Waterford 3-9 A particularly superb first half performance laid the foundation for Clare’s historic Munster minor hurling final victory over Waterford at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday.In winning their fourth provincial crown at this level, Clare repeated last year’s final success over the Déise County, thus retaining the Munster minor title for the first time in the county’s history.It was, by any standards, an outstanding performance and while some followers might have been a little anxious when Waterford hit for their third goal, four minutes from the end, there was never really any danger of defeat.Waterford scored first when Jake Dillon pointed a 40m free in the first minute but Clare responded with five unanswered points and by the tenth minute were in control in most positions.It was 0-7 to 0-3 by the mid-point of the half when a rare slip by the Clare defence made the opening for the game’s first goal. The highly rated Stephen Bennett, …

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Aldo meets his new cousins

John Aldridge represented Ireland 69 times and played 104 games for Liverpool in a professional career that incorporated 889 games. He scored 19 goals at international level and 476 career goals. On the field he has seen it all. Off it Aldridge probably thought that he had seen most of it as well.He must have felt that a bus journey around Clare for a week, as the FAI prepare for this weekend’s AGM, would hardly prove too taxing. That was until the Liverpool-born ex-centre-forward visited Kilrush on Wednesday. Having stepped off the mini bus that was transporting the FAI delegation, ‘Aldo’ headed for Crotty’s bar for lunch. On his way he met Roy ‘Modda’ Danagher, who introduced himself as a distant cousin.This came as quite a surprise to the Scouser, who thought his Irish connections were all on his mother’s side. ‘Modda’ was armed with a detailed family tree, which suggests that John Aldridge’s great-grandparents, Maggie Aldridge (McCarthy) and Walter …

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Davy’s Clare future in Waterford’s hands

Comment OUCH. Hell surely hath no fury equal to that of a Waterford ‘supporter’ 17 points down at half-time in a Munster final. If those clothed in Waterford jerseys leaving Pairc Uí Chaoimh at half-time had their way, Davy Fitzgerald would have been sacked at 4.35pm.The word ‘supporter’ is used advisedly though. Committed ones would not have left during the interval however bad things were. They would have stayed, peered through their fingers perhaps but not abandoned their county. All of that is not of much relevance to Fitzgerald this week though.He is in the middle of the most challenging fortnight of his management career. Can he somehow lift Waterford between now and Sunday week when they play Galway? The answer is yes, as long as he has the belief and trust of the Waterford dressing room. If he doesn’t, Fitzgerald and Waterford are finished with each other and Waterford’s year will be cut short by Galway.Clare hurling people would …

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Clare out of camogie championship

Kilkenny 2-15   Clare 2-8 Clare’s hopes of reaching the concluding stages of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship were dashed with a loss to Kilkenny in round five at Nowlan Park on Saturday.It was a must-win game for Clare to remain in contention for at least a play-off place and for Kilkenny to secure a semi-final spot. For 58 minutes, the outcome was in doubt but in the end Kilkenny upped the ante and a goal in the 59th minute decided the game.Kilkenny opened the scoring with a point inside the opening minute before Clare were awarded a free following a foul on Chloe Morey by Kilkenny’s Aoife Neary. Morey dropped her shot into the square and Naomi Carroll was on hand to finish to the net.Kilkenny responded with four points to go back in front by two. Then another Morey free dropped dangerously into the Kilkenny square but Clare were guilty of fouling and the resulting shot down the wing …

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Magic minors turn on the style

When Clare hurled at full pelt in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, the ease of their instant touch, smooth striking and flawless free taking was clearly visible. What was perhaps less aesthetically endearing, yet hugely influential, was Clare’s frantic yet co-ordinated work-rate when Waterford had possession.  Any of the 36,654 in attendance in Cork who couldn’t indefinitely put off a visit to the packed Pairc Uí Chaoimh toilets, could identify with the Waterford minors. Neither the Déise minors nor those queuing to use the facilities had much room to manoeuvre. Clare were much more up for it and infinitely more skilful than their opponents. They even looked imposing in their warm-up routine, with every player getting plenty of striking time. For example they played conditioned games with teams split into five groups of six. Waterford were divided into two cumbersome groups, with many of their players not getting a meaningful touch, as they battled with their team-mates caught in the warm-up bottle …

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Waiting on semi-final opponents

The minor hurlers won’t know their semi-final opponents or whether they will be playing on August 7 or August 14 until the quarter-finals are decided.The quarter-final pairings were decided on Monday and Waterford beaten finalists will play the Leinster runners up, Kilkenny with Galway taking on Antrim. Both games will take place on Saturday or Sunday week.Clare and Waterford cannot meet in a semi-final just as Dublin (Leinster champions) and Kilkenny can’t meet at that stage. This means that if Waterford manage to beat Kilkenny, Munster champions Clare will be playing either Galway or Antrim in the semi-final.The semi-final pairings will determine which day the games will take place.Whatever about the pairings, not knowing when the game is to be played is a difficulty not just for the team management in terms of their training plans but also for the county board with regard to domestic fixtures.The senior and intermediate hurling championship is set to resume on the weekend of …

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Five-star performance from Gilli

TOWARDS the end of May there was much talk in hurling circles that Niall Gilligan might be tempted to return to inter-county hurling and join the Clare intermediate team in preparing for the Munster championship semi-final.The vast majority of supporters didn’t believe that it would happen but intermediate team manager Kevin Kennedy got a resounding yes from the Sixmilebridge man, who has been outstanding in the campaign to date.When he hobbled off the pitch in Sixmilebridge last Saturday in a Clare Champion Cup tie against Newmarket, his chances of playing in the Munster final looked slim but he reported fit for action at Cusack Park  on Wednesday and delivered a five-star display“It’s fierce enjoyable and it was a brilliant game of hurling. This year Kevin (Kennedy) asked me to come in and the club was on a break, so I accepted. There is mighty young talent there and fair dues to Kevin and his team, they got a good mix …

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Kennedy admits relief

WHILE congratulations were being dished out to all involved in the intermediate’s Munster success, the man most sought out by supporters after the final whistle was team manager Kevin Kennedy.“It’s a proud moment,” he admitted. “I don’t know how many years I have been with this team. I have been with them off and on since 2001. I am glad for the players, those that were used and those in the subs that didn’t get a game and who were with me in previous years. They have given me a lot and I am glad that they now have a Munster medal at this grade. There were times when I had a job to field a team for this competition but tonight we had a perfect panel,” the Ennis-based detective garda said.“Our first half tonight was poor. They pulled a man back as a sweeper and we didn’t cope too well with that. We asked them at half-time if this …

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Newmarket win keeps title hopes alive

Newmarket 1-16   Sixmilebridge 1-10 IN a repeat of last year’s Clare Champion Cup final, Newmarket turned the tables on neighbours and great rivals, Sixmilebridge on Saturday morning at O’Garney Park.The result ended Sixmilebridge’s involvement in this year’s title race but has kept the Blues in contention for the title.The home side’s hopes weren’t helped by the fact they lost Niall Gilligan after 25 minutes with a hamstring injury. Earlier, defender Robert Conlon had been replaced due to injury, while, in the second half, they lost corner-back Tadhg Keogh with a shoulder injury.That said, they weren’t able to match the play of the visitors, who had some excellent individual performances from Stephen Kelly at full-back and Alan Barrett in the half-back line in particular.Newmarket raced into a five-point lead after 10 minutes with four scores coming from frees by Colin Ryan and one from Martin Murphy. The game was 12 minutes old before the home side opened their account.At half-time the …

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Éire Óg end Kilmaley’s unbeaten run

ÉIRE Óg caused a surprise in Division 2B of the Clare Champion Cup last Friday evening when they recorded a merited win over previously unbeaten Kilmaley at the latter’s venue.However, despite the defeat, Kilmaley are still through to the semi-final, as they have a superior score difference to Éire Óg and Ruan after the three teams finished on the same points total.The result means Ruan will have to spend another year in Division 2B, as Éire Óg have finished ahead of them on score difference, which will see them promoted along with Kilmaley. Ruan had beaten Kilmaley in the opening round of the competition.Éire Óg travelled to Kilmaley knowing that anything other than victory would see them stay in the division for another term. They took the game to the favourites from the start and were well on their way to victory at half-time when they held a nine-point advantage with the score at 1-13 to 1-4. Thomas Downes scored …

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Way clear for league semi-finals

AFTER the final round of games in both the intermediate and junior A hurling leagues, played on Monday evening, the way is clear for the semi-finals in both grades.A five-point win over Clooney-Quin (2-10 to 0-11) helped Inagh-Kilnamona seal top spot in the intermediate league when they finished their campaign without defeat, dropping just one point in their eight-game programme.Crusheen, last year’s junior A champions, finished in second spot, followed by Newmarket. Meelick’s victory over Kilmaley earned them fourth position and a place in the semi-final.The semi-final pairings are Inagh-Kilnamona v Meelick and Crusheen v Newmarket.Cratloe and Kilmaley finished with three points each and both are relegated.In the junior A league, Clonlara concluded their nine-game programme unbeaten with victory over O’Callaghan’s Mills on Monday evening. St Joseph’s beat Broadford to seal second place, a point ahead of the Mills, with fourth spot going to Whitegate, despite their one-point loss to Corofin. In the semi-finals, Clonlara play Whitegate and St Joseph’s …

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Bumper medal haul at Munster finals

CLARE Community Games representatives continued their superb showing at the provincial finals which were held at the University of Limerick last Saturday.When competition concluded, Clare had won 33 gold and 91 silver medals.Two Clare teams won gold medals, Ennis St John’s in the boys’ U-12 soccer and the Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry U-13 boys’ rounders team.There were also individual gold medal winners in the judo category for Róisín and Ciara Cahill, Nicky Hardiman (Doora-Barefield), Tara Walsh and Ikem Ugwuery (Ennis St John’s).Ennis St John’s U-12 soccer team comprised Jack Connolly, Frank Roche, Ikem Ugwueru, Jesse Onejekwe, Darren O’Brien, Nathan Hannick, Kevin O’Connor, Josh Costin, Conor McDaid, Philip Talty, Robbie Woods, Ronan Lannigan, Fionn Nolan, Rory Brennan, Sam Ogundare and Stephen Kennedy. Extra time was required in the final before Ennis emerged as winners.The Sixmilebridge-Kilmurry boys’ U-13 rounders team included Ronan Tuohy, Cian McInerney, Eanna Chaplin, Paul Corry, Conor Hassett, Eric Purcell, Ethan Slater, Gavin Fawl, Jake Dineen, Oisín Fitzpatrick and Gavin McGonagle.They will …

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U-16 100m title for Róisín

O’BRIENSBRIDGE’S Róisín Harrison, a member of Emerald AC, won the girls’ U-16 100m at the National Juvenile Athletics Championships in Tullamore on Saturday.She won her heat in 12.60 and went on to win the final in a personal best time of 12.53. She came fourth in these championships last year.In second place was Bronwyn Keogh from Fingallions in Dublin, with a time of 12.74s and third was Katie Bernie from Newbridge, Kildare in 12.90.That was Róisín’s last 100m of the year and she is unbeaten in the event in both the schools and club competitions this year.The 200m, her favoured event, will be on July 23 and 24.

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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

Recent Posts

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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‘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 …

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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 …

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‘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 …

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‘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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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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