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Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

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Niamh has her sights set on US colleges’ indoor season

If her older brothers are up for a Christmas run, Niamh Markham is ready. The Bradley University Masters student is home from the US for Christmas. Already a teacher training graduate of St Pat’s in Drumcondra, Niamh, who is from Derryguiha, which straddles Coolmeen and Kilmurry McMahon, is studying Non Profit Leadership in the US, while also running for the college. While at home, she is training regularly with her old club, Ennis Track, and around the roads of West Clare. She is confident that she would definitely leave her eldest brother in her wake. “Brian Markham is into the GAA now. He’s football mad. I’d definitely take him, although maybe not over the sprint. He knows that. I’d say he wouldn’t even race me now. Liam is still in Chicago and is working over there. He’s still running and he joined Padraig Pearses GAA Club. He started playing with them this summer. It’s always going to be in us …

Munster Junior Cup Round Two: Newmarket Celtic 2-0 Turnpike Rovers Newmarket Celtic were forced to overcome a stubborn challenge from Turnpike Rovers before sealing their spot in the next round of the Munster Junior Cup. Second half goals from substitute Daithí O’Connell and David McCarthy eventually broke a resolute Rovers defence who had stood firm until the closing quarter of the game. The sides were dead-locked at half-time with Newmarket having the lions share of possession in the opening period. The closest the home side at McDonough Park came to breaking the deadlock in the first half was just before the break when a teasing cross from the right by Ian Collins was met on the volley by Garry Higgins. He managed to beat the keeper but not the frame of the goal as the ball crashed off the underside of the crossbar and was cleared away to safety. That trend continued in the second half with Eoin Hayes connecting …

There is no change to the executive of Clare GAA for 2019. There was one contest on the night as PJ McGuane was voted in to remain as vice-chairman having been challenged for the position by Cratloe’s Jack Chaplin. Joe Cooney remains for another term as chairman while Michael Gallagher (Treasurer) and Michael O’Connor (PRO) were also returned unopposed. Mr Cooney also told the meeting that during the period where he will be contesting the Local Elections in 2019, he proposed that Mr McGuane take over the chairmanship. The Cooraclare clubman said he would give the proposal serious consideration. Both income and expenditure for the board in 2018 surpassed the €2 million mark with an overall surplus of €154,000 declared. Ballyea’s motion that games which finish level after extra time be decided by a replay received backing from clubs despite Clare’s Central Council delegate John Fawl advising that a change is coming which will see penalties used to decide …

Peter Duggan is a man riding on a crest of a wave and he knows it’s something to savour. The Clooney/Quin man enjoyed a stellar 2018 which saw him pick up a first ever All-Star award for his performances across the season as he finished as the championship top scorer. Another award came his way this week but this one was of a much more sentimental variety. Principal of Duggan’s former stomping ground in Clooney National School, Shane Greene, presented him with a memento from the staff and students as he returned to a place that holds many fond memories for him. Students were decked out in their Clare and Clooney/Quin colours to welcome back their local hero while he also presented medals to the boy’s football team who were runners up in their final of the Cumann na mBunscoil tournament earlier this year. Duggan admits it was a special moment for him to be welcomed back in such fashion. …

Ennistymon CBS eased their way in the semi-finals of the Munster Colleges Senior C Football Championship with a dominant display against their Kerry opponents in this replayed tie. These sides couldn’t be separated after their initial clash, but 1-8 from the boot of Kealan Guyler helped ensure their passage to the last four. Playing with the aid of a considerable wind in the opening half, the North Clare side had a dream start. Dual inter-county minor star Guyler got on the end of a well-worked move to palm the ball home inside five minutes after he had opened the scoring from a free. The Kerry men responded with a point of their own but this was quickly followed by a fine long distance score from Eoin Rouine. The big midfielder then powered through the centre to hammer home a brilliant goal and establish a lead that Ennistymon CBS would never lose. Brendan Rouine added another point soon after before St …

GAA clubs and schools in Clare have received almost €177,000 from developments grants issued by Munster GAA. The money is part of a total allocation of €1.1 million across the province for capital development projects. Among the top recipients in Clare were Inagh/Kilnamona GAA club who received €27,595, with €26,128 going to Scariff GAA club and Clonlara GAA club who benefitted to the tune of €19,767. A total of 22 applications from Clare were successful for this year’s scheme with sanding grants also allocated to clubs carrying out works on their pitches. The incoming chairman of Munster GAA Liam Lenihan presented the clubs with their cheques at Clare GAA Headquarters in Clareabbey last Wednesday evening. The full list of clubs and schools who received monies is as follows: Ballyea €12,543.37 Broadford €1,557.38 Clonlara €19,767.72 Clooney Quin €2,400.80 Corofin €6,271.69 Cratloe €5,943.68 Doonbeg €1,334.00 Eire Og €10,197.76 Inagh/Kilnamona €27,595.42 Kilmurry Ibrickane €6,271.69 …

A 94th minute goal for Galway saw them leave Frank Healy Park with a point from their Oscar Traynor clash with Clare. It was a cruel blow for a gallant Banner side who had come from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 in the closing stages in what were difficult conditions in Doora. The visitors started the brightest and took the lead in the 12th minute as Ryan Shaugnessey slotted home to the back of the Clare net from just inside the area. Clare goalkeeper Jason Tierney was a busy man in the opening half as he produced some outstanding saves but he could do nothing about Galway’s second goal as Shane Conconnan got on the end of a low cross from the right wing to finish from close range. David McCarthy did force the Galway netminder into a fine save after he had a go from distance but at the break it was the Tribesmen 2-0 in front. Shane Keegan’s …

Colin Guilfoyle’s second half goal helped Clare to a 1-19 to 2-13 win over Wexford in the Jack Lynch Memorial Challenge. The game was held in Dr Daly Park in memory of the Tulla native who passed away from leukemia 12 months ago aged just 20. With the famous venue living up to its windswept reputation, the sides battled through difficult conditions to produce an entertaining encounter. They were level inside the opening quarter with the Clooney/Quin pair of Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor on target for the Banner who were playing with the aid of the elements. Wexford struck the opening goal of the game on 18 mins when Aidan Nolan flicked a shot to the net after Ian Byrne’s free had dropped short. Clare responded with further scores from Taylor and Duggan while Niall Deasy also got in on the action to leave Clare in front at the break by 0-10 to 1-5. The sides traded scores once …

THREE Travellers who had stopped playing soccer for Sporting Ennistymon following incidences of racist abuse, have now returned to the club. Michael Sherlock, Patrick Sherlock and Martin Mongan all returned last week, as the club’s B side were defeated by Rineanna Rovers. Speaking to The Clare Champion on Wednesday , Michael Sherlock said, “We just said we’d go back. There’s a long winter ahead.” While the matter was featured firstly in The Clare Champion and then in the national newspapers, as well as on national TV and radio, Michael said no-one from the FAI or the Clare District Soccer League had ever made contact with him. “I never heard anything from anybody,” he said. The club’s PRO Matthew Crowe said they are glad to have the players back. “It’s brilliant. It’s a great boost to the club. They’re great players and they’ve been involved since they were 13 or 14.” Michael and Patrick Sherlock are brothers and another brother of …

THE Clare hurlers will play Cork in Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday December 29 at 2pm in their opening group game in the Munster Senior Hurling League. They will play Waterford in Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Sunday January 6 at 3pm in their second group two game. The opening round of the Co-Op Superstores Munster league will feature All-Ireland champions, Limerick playing Tipperary in the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick on Friday, December 14 in group one. The league final will be played on Sunday January 13 with the venue and time to be confirmed. “The Munster Council is pleased to facilitate this competition for our counties as it provides participating teams with a great opportunity to prepare for the very competitive Allianz League,” Munster Council chairman, Jerry O’Sullivan said at the launch this week.

COLÁISTE Muire, Ennis have qualified for the All-Ireland senior A volleyball final, which will be played in UCD on Wednesday December 12. Members of the current team won the Junior schools shield in 2013, the Junior schools Cup in 2014 and the Cadette A in 2016. This is the second time the school will contest the senior A final, having lost out to Naas two years ago while the schools second senior team won the B final last year. They defeated Holy Family Newbridge, three sets to one, in the semi-final, which was played in UL Arena on Tuesday. Colàiste Muire lost the schools senior cup final in a five set match against Newbridge last April in Kilkenny so it was a sweet victory. The squad has trained really well and are determined to bring the senior A title to Ennis for the first time. Their opponents will be decided on Friday when St Mary’s Naas play St Raphael’s Loughrea. …

CLARE boxers Paddy O’Donovan and Martin J Mongan met with mixed fortunes in the welterweight and heavyweight finals of the national senior and U/21 championships at the National Stadium in Dublin last Friday night. Welterweight O’Donovan, who boxes out of the Our Lady of Lourdes club in Limerick, prevailed for his tenth national title in as many years with a superb performance against Jason Kyne (Celtic Eagles) while Mongan came up short on a split 3-2 decision, against Dubliner Daniel O’Brien . Mongan, with height and reach advantage over O’Brien, carried all the big shots in the first round and looked as if he might overwhelm his opponent but O’Brien rallied in the second to tie up matters with a series of solid and accurate right-handers. It was ‘ tit for tat’ in the early seconds of the final round. O’Brien took the initiative midway through the round with a good left hook to Mongan’s head and the punch seemed …

TWO Clare GAA clubs will table motions at the upcoming Clare GAA convention to alter the refereeing situation for senior championship games within the county. Sixmilebridge will propose to implement a referee-swap system, whereby referees from outside Clare would officiate at all senior club matches within the county and, likewise, Clare referees would travel outside the county to officiate elsewhere. The move, described in the motion, is to “avoid the current situation of clubs not being able to agree on referees and would provide the utmost impartiality”. Ruan GAA will propose that, “The appointment of referees for all adult championship games in both codes from 2020 onwards be the responsibility of the Clare GAA Referees Association”. This would effectively move control of referee appointments to games from the fixtures committee to the referees association solely. Sixmilebridge PRO Syl O’Connor stressed that his club’s motion was considered two years ago and that while some might “see this in a different light”, …

HE will be completely behind Miltown on Sunday and will celebrate as much as anyone if they create history and win their first Munster senior club final. Yet deep down, Seanie Malone will feel slightly adrift. While 2018 has proven a superb season for his club, Malone has been injured for most of it. The 26 year old, who works as a Quality Technician at Mincon in Shannon, currently has a broken bone in his foot and unfortunately it is his third long term injury this season. “I tore my hamstring at the Brian Casey tournament in Lissycasey. I was out for six weeks with that. I was back and played in the Wolfe Tones game in the championship. We were training on the following Tuesday night. I tore a cartilage in my knee and had to have an operation on that. I was out for about eight weeks and came back from that. I had put a lot of …

Miltown corner-back, Eoin O’Brien, talks about nicknames, tyres and his mother ahead of Sunday’s Munster club final against Dr Crokes in Limerick. ASK for Eoin O’Brien in Miltown Malbay and chances are you will be met with a blank stare. ‘Who?’ Ask for ‘Tayto’ and they will know exactly who are talking about. The Miltown defender is the type of back that forwards would prefer to be placed well away from. Tenacious, tight and a man whose full on approach lifts the crowd, Tayto is a key part of Miltown’s back line. The big question though is how did Eoin lose his identity to Tayto? “My neighbour John Murrihy,” he revealed. “I was in sixth class in primary school and he said my head looked like a spud. But there was a fella in Miltown called Spud already so I was called Tayto. And it stuck,” the Miltown man laughed. On balance one would opt for the Tayto moniker ahead …

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Banner brilliance dominates hurling All-Star nominations

Clare’s epic 2024 season that saw them capture the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2013 and the Allianz League title for the first time since 2016 sees them deservingly dominate the list of PwC Hurling All-Stars nominees announced this morning. The Banner braves are the standout contingent in the list of 45 names and have 14 players nominated across all areas of the field. In addition, star forward Shane O’Donnell is nominated for PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year where he is joined by Cork’s midfield dynamo Darragh Fitzgibbon and Limerick’s defensive rock Kyle Hayes. The PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year nominees are Clare’s Adam Hogan, Cork’s Eoin Downey and Limerick’s Cathal O’Neill. There are eight counties represented in total. The breakdown is Clare 14, Cork 10, Limerick nine, Kilkenny four, with Waterford, Wexford, Dublin and Antrim having two representatives each. Goalkeepers: Patrick Collins (Cork), Nickie Quaid (Limerick) and Eibhear Quilligan (Clare). Defenders: Adam Hogan …
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Tones just shade 12 goal thriller
Can the real Inagh-Kilnamona please stand up?
Group of Death comes alive
Intermediate predictability dashed by compelling Group 4

Intermediate predictability dashed by compelling Group 4

Intermediate Hurling Championship Round 3, Group 1 Clarecastle v Smith O’Brien’s at Páirc Micheál Uí hEithir Cratloe, Saturday 5pm, (Andy McMahon, Cratloe) They’ve met regularly in the Clare Cup and even the Magpies’ second string have battled Smith O’Brien’s but at adult championship level, this appears to be the first time that their flagship sides have clashed. It would potentially have been a heavyweight showdown if the Killaloe-Bridgetown side were at their 2021 or ’22 levels while it will still be a battle, the loss of key players to emigration for Smith O’Brien’s should mean that Clarecastle possess the better balance to shade matters and top the group. Verdict: Clarecastle Ruan v St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at Crusheen, Saturday 5pm, (Jim Hickey, Cratloe) It’s only three years ago since St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s first team raided for five goals to floor Ruan in the intermediate semi-final. However, it’s a strong sign of the Parish that while their first team is now operating …

Clooney or not Clooney, that is the question

On initial viewing, the race for the Fr. Murray Memorial Cup (intermediate camogie) appears fairly straight-forward. After all, with all three semi-finalists from 2023 (Tulla, Whitegate and Éire Óg) and senior demotee Clooney-Quin split evenly between the two groups, the business end overtly looks clear-cut. Clooney-Quin’s senior experience along with negotiating their way to intermediate glory as recently as 2021 makes them the stand-out candidates, with Tulla currently ranking a close second having contested back-to-back intermediate finals, three if you include the replay in 2022 against eventual champions Clarecastle/Ballyea. They won’t want to see another mid-Clare side join them in the second tier but for Tulla, it’s all about learning from their previous deciders and leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of reaching the promised land of senior. Whitegate were beaten finalists to Clooney-Quin in 2021 and actually meet them first this Thursday evening at 7pm, in what is potentially a Group A decider in Clooney and the same …

Clare camogie power base is still in the East

Current kingpins Truagh-Clonlara and Scariff-Ogonnelloe may have switched roles last October after the latter’s two year reign but having clashed in the last three finals, they will be overwhelming favourites to do so once more come October 19th. It’s up to the chasing pack to alter that perceived narrative as with only the finalists seeded for this year’s race for the McMahon Cup, the groups initially appear a bit lopsided. After all, with three of last year’s semi-finalists (Scariff-Ogonnelloe, Inagh-Kilnamona and Feakle-Killanena) pooled in Group B, the fact that there are two business end berths means that one major contender has to fall at the group stages. Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s vast experience of three titles in the last five seasons makes them the forerunners to maintain their perfect group record as since bounding back to senior level in 2017, they have progressed to the penultimate stage at a minimum. That’s a seven year record that no other senior side in the county …

Doora/Barefield hit the ’Bricks for six

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 6-10 Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-13 Senior Ladies’ Football Championship Group A Round 1 It took free kicks to finally separate these sides in the Division 1 League decider but this time it was six timely goals that ensured revenge for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield but also a major opening boost to what is unquestionably the group of death in this year’s senior ladies football championship in Gurteen on Sunday afternoon. Such a heartbreaking means of losing a final seemed to be channelled into Sunday’s display for the Parish who were never behind at any stage despite facing into the strong conditions in the opening period. Decisive first half goals through Roisin Fowley, Lyndsay Clarke and Aoibhinn McMahon kept wind-assisted Kilmurry Ibrickane at arm’s length in the opening period, with Chloe Moloney inevitably leading the charge with seven points in what was a compelling tussle with fellow county senior Siofra Ní Chonaill at 3-5 to 0-9 by the break The …

‘There was hurling in Clonbony before there was hurling in Sixmilebridge’

When Limerick referee Johnny Murphy blew his full time whistle at the end of what was arguably the greatest All-Ireland final of all time there was naturally a huge outpouring of emotion the length and breath of this beautiful County. For the people, especially the hurling fraternity, in places like Ennistymon, Clonbony and Kilkee there was also an overwhelming sense of pride as Miltown’s Conor Cleary and Ennistymon’s Cathal Malone walked the steps of the Hogan Stand. Heroes forever more to every Clare person, be they man woman or child, these two great warriors are now the proud owners of a coveted Celtic Cross medal and their achievements will no doubt inspire a whole new generation of children to pick up a hurley and dream of following in their footsteps. Sport has always been part of the DNA of the Banner and hurling has always had a massive following all over the County. In recent weeks the John Hynes Memorial …

The rocky road to recovery

The resilience shown by Clare hurlers Ryan Taylor and Tony Kelly to battle back from serious injuries has been lauded by team physiotherapist for the last three years, Shane Malone. While Shane has attended All-Ireland homecomings in his native Kerry following All-Ireland successes, he described last week’s welcome for the Liam McCarthy Cup in Clare as “incredible”. He will never forget the hundreds of Clare hurling supporters who lined the streets and rural roads to welcome the team home, which was a real “eye opener”. “The enthusiasm and love for Brian Lohan and the team is quite different from my previous experiences. I was very impressed by the volume of support out there for the Clare team. It shows the high esteem they are held within the county. “The response from Clare fans all year has been unbelievable. There is a great connection between Brian Lohan and the county and people respond when they like what they see. “The way …

‘A special day and a special win’ – Diarmuid Ryan

The relief; the jubilation on the field when it was all over; the calm and satisfaction afterwards as Clare left Croke Park secure in the knowledge that they’d be back in a few weeks time. These were the winning moods and personas displayed among the players as they went on their way after the glass ceiling of this All-Ireland semi-final stage had finally been cracked. A first All-Ireland semi-final win over Kilkenny since 1997 and only a second championship win over Kilkenny ever; a day of atonement for the most recent semi-final defeats against Kilkenny; an All-Ireland final day out to look forward to on July 21. “It’s a special feeling for sure,” said Diarmuid Ryan. “A special day and a special win but we’re going to knuckle down for two weeks and the All-Ireland final.” As he spoke the reset had already taken place – the hoopla had died down, with Ryan and the rest of the players being …

‘We grabbed it with both hands’ – Tony Kelly

It’s a measure of the standards that Tony Kelly has set in his 13 years as a senior inter-county hurler and of his star quality that despite being subdued for the first 45 minutes of the All-Ireland semi-final that he still ended up as one of the game’s most influential players. Doing the maths tells this story – no Clare player ended up with more than him from play as he top-scored jointly with David Reidy who had a huge game in the 61 minutes of game time that he got. And for the Ballyea colossus, who has slipped into the veteran classes almost unnoticed, his three-point burst down the long home straight of this All-Ireland was a crucial part of the power-play that ultimately swamped Kilkenny and left them shellshocked at the end. And you could say that this comeback was really kickstarted by Kelly, with his opening point being the first response to the Billy Ryan goal, which …

Dominant display drives Blues to record 26th Clare Cup title

Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-19 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-11 The victor wasn’t a surprise but the manner of Newmarket-on-Fergus’ 26th Clare Cup title certainly proved to be as the roll of honour leaders had a rather bloodless final triumph in Clarecastle on Friday evening. Bridging a six year gap to their last Clare Cup crown, it was an utterly commanding display when first responding to the hammerblow of an early goaled Inagh-Kilnamona penalty to outscore them by 1-7 to 0-1 in the second quarter and carve out a match-winning 1-11 to 1-04 interval cushion. Indeed, it wouldn’t have flattered the Blues had the half-time chasm been doubled as amidst their second quarter siege, James Carrig’s side passed up four glorious goal chances in as many minutes just before the recess. Niall O’Connor was outstanding at the back, Peter Power was equally influential at the other end while Stephen Casey was also hugely effectual when switched to shadow Inagh-Kilnamona’s talisman Fred Hegarty. This was an impressive …

Kearns’ golden goal secures Division 3 Hurling League title for the Parish

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-14 O’Callaghan’s Mills 0-17 It really doesn’t matter if you lead early in a match or are chasing the game for lengthy spells but what does matter though is who is ahead when it counts the most and that’s at the final whistle. On Sunday morning out in Tulla the men from the Parish epitomised resilience and got their just rewards for never surrendering when grabbing the lead for the only time in the sixtieth minute to practically steal a cracking league final that was played in a hugely sporting manner. It was two second strings but nobody who was in Dr.Daly Park would have guessed that as these two played out a superbly contested battle that ebbed and flowed throughout with the result in doubt right up until referee Pat Healy’s full time whistle. Level on six occasions it took a late late Conor Kearns goal to decide the destination of league honours. One could only …

Éire Óg go to town on the ’Bridge

Éire Óg 3-20 Sixmilebridge 2-14 There’s always a certain level of respect between clubs but sometimes there’s also a level of contempt that is evident for all to see. On Sunday evening this Division 2 final was practically over by the end of the opening quarter. The townies who would have genuine Canon Hamilton ambitions were going through the motions and without much exertion had eased to an eight point lead. Fast forward to the final minutes and after battling throughout the Bridge’s second team who will compete in the Intermediate Championship to their credit only trailed by nine. Gerry O’Connor’s charges are in complete and utter control with several tap over point opportunities but rather than take them they continually try to engineer another green flag to inflict more pain on their opponents. I suppose a series of high profile clashes between the clubs in recent years will have that effect and they did eventually get their third major in …

Clare set for Wexican stand-off

The distinctive stench of turpentine has permeated around the county in the last two weeks as slates have been cleaned and canvases blanked ahead of Clare’s senior hurling championship resumption in Thurles this Saturday. Following the heartbreak of a third consecutive Munster Final reverse to trophy hoovers Limerick at the same venue last time out, picking up the pieces has never been more important as they look to regather self-belief, confidence and momentum once more in the All-Ireland series. While earning the unwanted record of being only the second team ever to lose three Munster deciders to the same opposition was harrowing enough, the despondency surrounding the below-par performance made it arguably the most disappointing of all three provincial final clashes. After all, Brian Lohan’s side had exceeded all expectations to push Limerick all the way to extra-time in a Munster Final for the ages in 2022 while the Banner subsequently almost took down the champions in their own home …

Promotion the main prize for semi-final winners

Adult Football League Semi-Finals (Winner on the day) Cusack Cup Semi-Final Lissycasey v St Joseph’s Miltown at Lissycasey, Friday 7.30pm (Jim Hickey, Cratloe) Considering the seesaw form of these sides in recent seasons, it’s hard to believe that only three years ago, Miltown were Cusack Cup and Lissycasey were Garry Cup champions. All because both have been in the second tier since and are now vying for a pre-championship boost of attempting to dethrone holders Ennistymon in the final. Lissycasey were subsequently beaten finalists to Corofin in 2022, the same season that Miltown dropped to the second tier. However, having secured a first Garry Cup crown in 18 years twelve months ago, it would be a major jolt to qualify for the Cusack Cup decider once more. Meanwhile it’s 17 years since Lissycasey last contested and won their sole Cusack Cup title, a major carrot in itself this Friday evening as they look to make home advantage count. The sides …

Ballyea in a league of their Eoin after powerful finish

Under 18A Hurling League Final Ballyea 1-20 Sixmilebridge 1-11 A devastating finish saw Ballyea complete a remarkable 13 point second half turnaround to snatch their first ever Under 18A League title on the away soil of O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge on Wednesday evening. Having led for the previous 30 minutes, the ‘Bridge seemed set for victory themselves when accentuating their 0-8 to 0-7 half-time edge with a goal after only 25 seconds of the restart as good play from Stephen Gavin was finished to the bottom right corner by Donal O’Leary. However, it was if subconsciously the home side assumed that the job was done as they would be sorely second best for the remainder as the defiant visitors outscored them by 1-13 to 0-03 in the final 30 minutes. Eoin Kennedy found his range from frees while the talismanic Eoin O’Connor provided the real spark to ignite Ballyea’s challenge when fielding a Dillon Killoughery delivery to cut in from …

900 million fans shows the popularity of volleyball

Volleyball is one of the most popular sports there is with over 900 million fans worldwide. That fanbase is growing all the time and the sport consistently ranks in the top five of the most watched global sports. At the end of the month Ireland will head to San Marino for the CEV SCA (European Volleyball Small Countries Association) Championship where they will face Scotland, Malta, Northern Ireland and hosts San Marino in the group stages. The Banner County have had huge success in the sport with the Senior and Junior All Ireland titles residing in the county courtesy of the Coláiste Muire and the Munster Thunder clubs. The strength of the sport in Clare can be highlighted by the fact that four Banner players will represent Ireland in the tournament. Amy O’Sullivan, Catriona Ní Riordan, TJ Sweeney and Maria Jones will all proudly don the green jersey in Serraville from May 30th to June 2nd. Three of the girls …

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