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Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

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Still flying it after 50 years

This Saturday many Gaels that made the Doonbeg jersey famous will gather in Tubridy’s Bar to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Flying Magpies’ three-in-a-row of senior championships from 1972 to ’74. Joe Ó Muircheartaigh spoke to some of them ahead of the big night in the Long Village. Tommy Comerford got a clock, while Michael Haugh got a coal scuttle – on it went because every one of the successful team got some present or memento as a personal thanks for their efforts during the year in the famous black and white jersey of the Doonbeg Magpies. They were flying it at the time, and it was the ‘Bard of Bansha’, Pádraig Haugh’s way of saying thanks because far from being content to immortalise the achievements of the team in verse, he put his hand in his pocket to give them something extra to remember a year that brought senior championship and Cusack Cup honours to the team and …

Cratloe’s Naomi Carroll has been named in the Irish women’s hockey side that will aim to secure qualification for the Olympic Games. Ireland will compete in an eight-team tournament which will take place between January 13th and 21st in Valencia, Spain. This is the final opportunity for nations to reach the Summer Olympic Hockey Tournament in Paris. Carroll, who has been capped 140 times by her country will be aiming to lead from the front as Ireland go in search of a ticket to Paris. Irish hockey stars Chloe Watkins and Beth Harper have been recalled to the national squad for next month’s Olympic qualifiers in Spain. This means that Ireland can call upon nine players who were part of the national side that secured qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. Sean Dancer’s side secured their place at this tournament after a fifth placed finish at the EuroHockey Championships. They lost out to England and Germany in the group stage of …

Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Final Corofin v Castlelyons (Cork) at TUS Gaelic Grounds Limerick, Saturday 6pm (Conor Doyle, Tipperary) Corofin will be determined to make it third time lucky for both themselves and the county when taking to the field in Limerick on Saturday evening. While it’s a first ever Munster Intermediate Club Hurling decider for the famed North Clare dual club, they have experienced the occasion twice before in football, the latest only being two years ago against Kerry’s Na Gaeil in Mallow. So with half that team expected to line out on Saturday evening, it’s an experience that simply has to stand to them. At least the playing field is level as while Kerry representatives have dominated the provincial intermediate and junior football championships with a whopping 33 Munster titles out of 40, the hurling equivalents are much more attainable as evidenced by Monaleen’s surge to provincial and All-Ireland honours last year, having only edged out Doora/Barefield …

JOHN Conlon and Shane O’Donnell have been named on the PWC Hurling All Star team for 2023. It is the second All Star for both, with Conlon winning one in 2018 and O’Donnell in 2022. Limerick dominate the selection with seven of their All Ireland winning team taking All Stars, with beaten finalists Kilkenny picking up five and one going to Galway’s Conor Whelan. Conlon was named at centre back and the Clonlara man enters a distinguished club of players who have been honoured as forwards and defenders in their career after he was named full forward in 2018. Famously he had to leave his brother’s wedding in April to face Limerick, and with victory and the man of the match award secured, he returned for the evening celebrations. The All Star caps a great year for Conlon which also saw him pick up his second county senior championship. O’Donnell was in sparkling form for much of the summer with …

It was clearly Clonlara’s day but undoubtedly John Conlon’s too as the sole survivor of the 2008 breakthrough had finally gotten his hands on a second Canon Hamilton. Having arguably been made to suffer more than any other club in the county when it came to the business end of the senior championship, that the sequel came in a year in which little was expected of the side obviously made the achievement all the more special for the 2018 All-Star. “I just dropped to my knees [at the final whistle]. Look, I never thought at the start of the year that we’d be in this position. I suppose we had been playing Senior B for the last few years and not performing really well but it just goes to show you the work that has gone in. Donal [Madden] and his management team have just put in a serious effort and all the players have bought into everything they’ve done. …

Poet and GAA man Brendan Kennelly once told a great story about his undergraduate days in Trinity College when he lined out for a motley crew of footballers that had the good fortune to be sprinkled with the stardust, belligerence, and derring-do of the great Kevin Heffernan. Kennelly was a county minor in his day and even played in an All-Ireland final in the grade, but the ‘Uncrowned King’ of Marino and the Big City that was Heffo was the nonpareil — the man apart and above all his peers on that Trinity team that tried to put it up the traditional powers of the universities’ game like UCD, UCC and UCG, even Queen’s. And in putting the Dublin legend on this pedestal the Ballylongford bard recalled one game in the late 1950s when he and others felt humbled and were left “humiliated by Heffo’s greatness” in the way he just bent proceedings to his will, just because he could …

Doora-Barefield’s Ethan Coughlan made his first competitive start for Munster as the province started their defence of the United Rugby Championship (URC) with a victory, writes Ivan Smyth.. Coughlan also managed to cross in the left corner for his first Munster try as the home side defeated The Sharks 34-21. The Ennis RFC graduate lined out alongside Irish international Joey Carbery in what was his fourth appearance in the URC for Munster. His try came in the 77th minute as John Ryan produced a fine pass out wide. Alex Kendellen sucked in the defence before finding Antoine Frisch. The centre took the ball into the tackle before offloading to Coughlan as the scrum half dived over in the corner. Shannon RFC’s Kieran Ryan was one of three Munster players to make their competitive debuts. The game was also notable for Andrew Conway’s first Munster start since June 2022. It was a shaky start for the reigning URC champions with Shane …

Oscar Traynor Trophy Munster Region Round 1 Limerick District League 2 Clare District League 1 Clare’s grandstand finish proved too late to derail neighbours Limerick who relievedly held on for an opening victory in this year’s Oscar Traynor Cup in Jackman Park Limerick on Wednesday evening. Two first half strikes including a decisive sucker-punch just before the half-time whistle catapulted the home side into the ascendency that they would never relinquish despite a late injury-time backlash for Donie Garrihy’s side. With the Avenue United contingent delayed due to a car malfunction en route, Clare’s request to delay the kick-off time fell on deaf ears and it would a disconcerting blow as the visitors lacked bite early on and would be punished on the break in the 12th minute when Kieran O’Connell centred for waiting Shannon native Eoin Duff to finish at the second attempt. Jack Ryan came closest to regaining parity in the 29th minute when Nathan Boaventura’s corner wasn’t …

The Hawes name is synonymous with both St Breckan’s and Cratloe, with different branches of the family being in different camps this Sunday, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh, who spoke to Nicky Hawes who will celebrate his 80th birthday on the eve of the county final When Cratloe left a Munster football title behind them in the Gaelic Grounds in 2013 one of the first men down on the pitch after the game to commiserate with the players was a Lisdoonvarna man. Former county player and St Breckan’s stalwart Neil Hawes was there first and foremost as a supporter because all of Clare was behind Cratloe that day as they closed in on a Munster title against storied Dr Crokes as Cathal McInerney, Conor McGrath, the Collins’, Conor Ryan et al ran riot in that second half. A point up and a man up after Colm Cooper was banished and time almost up. It was so close. It was there. When …

Noel Conolin was part of the first St Breckan’s squad to contest a county senior final in 1985, but nearly 40 years on he’s in the Cratloe corner now as a coach, mentor and part of the community. He knows Sunday will be a tough day out, whatever happens, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh He’s Cratloe now and can go into the minutiae and quote liberally from the club’s ‘Into the Blue’ blueprint for the future, but his blood still drips a maroon hue. It’s Noel Conolin from the Spa, who now spends all his GAA time in Páirc Mhichíl Uí Eithir, downtown Cratloe as he calls it because it’s at the centre of everything in the parish. As he talks Cratloe he seamlessly time travels back to Lisdoonvarna where he footballed his youth and was part of the first great wave that brought St Breckan’s to the county senior final for the first time nearly 40 years ago. “We lost …

Earlier in the summer when St Breckan’s slumped to a disappointing Cusack Cup Final defeat by neighbours Ennistymon, and Cratloe were defeated by Kildysart at the group stage, few could have predicted they would be the two teams marching behind the Tulla Pipe Band on County Final Day. Having steadily improved throughout the championship, St Breckan’s and Cratloe are deservedly taking their place on Clare football’s biggest occasion this Sunday (3pm). St Breckan’s are contesting their first final since 1996 as their unquenchable quest for a first-ever Jack Daly trophy has intensified while it’s nine years since Cratloe last tasted senior football glory albeit that they have contested finals in 2016 and ’20. Cathal McInerney, Podge and Sean Collins, Liam Markham and Enda Boyce are all that remain from the starting line-up in their breakthrough senior triumph a decade ago, with that experience invaluable in such a novel final pairing. Breck-ing the mould While it’s this generation’s first county senior …

St Breckan’s supporters won’t be singing ‘There’s only one Cian Burke’ if St Breckan’s are fortunate enough to lift the Jack Daly trophy for the first time in Cusack Park on Sunday. All because there have been two Cian Burke’s on the panel these past few years albeit that Cian ‘Jimmy’ Burke is now pursuing an army career. So why is he called Cian Burke and his namesake Cian ‘Jimmy’ Burke? ‘Jimmy had actually nothing to do with him. Donie [Garrihy] was the manager at the time and he just started calling him Cian ‘Jimmy’ and it stuck just to differentiate between the two.” Cian Burke is leading St Breckan’s into a first senior final in 27 years, a remarkable if overdue accomplishment that was only brought home to the captain by the reaction of their supporters in the immediate aftermath of their titanic extra-time bout with St Joseph’s Miltown a fortnight ago. “You actually don’t know how much it …

Mike Brennan must have initially thought that contesting county finals would be a regular occurrence after his introduction to Clare football in 2020 saw Cratloe soar to the championship decider against Kilmurry Ibrickane. However, that was to be his and Cratloe’s last taste of senior final action, until now that is after defying the odds to lower three of last year’s final four on their return to Clare football’s greatest day. “Let’s be honest, beating Éire Óg was a massive result for us. We definitely had belief as we knew as a group of players that we had it within us but I suppose it all depends on the day. I felt that we were very prepared going in, I mean Colm [Collins] is just top class so we knew what job we had to do and as best we could set up tactically and it definitely helped us. “Granted, we had a poor start but the goal really settled …

All but the senior decider are down for decision on Sunday week (October 1st) as eleven clubs vie for adult ladies’ football championship honours at intermediate and junior levels. The Intermediate Final clash of West Clare rivals Kilrush and Miltown Malbay takes precedence as a coveted place at senior level is on the line for two sides that have certainly paid their dues when it comes to finals. Newmarket-on-Fergus’ welcome return to adult football has proven hugely encouraging so far as they look to halt Fergus Rovers’ remarkable momentum-fuelled run from Junior B in the A decider while Rovers’ successors will be either Burren Gaels or Kilrush’s second strings. The make-up of the Shield Finals at intermediate and Junior A will be confirmed this weekend as Clooney-Quin host Clarecastle on Sunday evening (5pm) for the right to take on Doonbeg in the intermediate version while Wolfe Tones and Banner Ladies must meet again to book their place in the Junior …

The Junior A quarter-final draw held last Monday evening ended with Killimer v St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, Michael Cusacks v Ballyvaughan, Kilmurry Ibrickane v Eire-og, Parteen/Meelick v Clondegad. All games to be played over the weekend September 30th/ October 1st. EireOg………….0-14 St Breckans………..0-5 The footballers of Eire Og can do little wrong at the moment as they overcame the challenge of St Breckans. Former Clare star Denis O’ Driscoll well known to the students of Ennis opened the scoring early in the game. Luke Pyne and Andrew McElwee were central to the first-half dominance of Eire-og as they led (0-8) to (0-3) at the break. For most of the second-half Eire Og were the better side but could not turn possession into goals despite keeping the scoreboard ticking over even though Colin Reidy saw a great effort come off the crossbar. With Colin Smythe and Alan O’ Neill dominating at midfield and Kevin Brennan busy upfield the Ennis side were …

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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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