Having spent a few years patrolling the sidelines, with both Cork and Dublin, former Rebels All-Star Ger Cunningham is revelling in the armchair role he has now taken up. He talks to Gerry McInerney about Sunday’s prospects Momentum is key and former Cork player and selector Ger Cunningham believes Clare’s new-found confidence can be traced to a seminal moment in Thurles a few weeks ago. Jake Morris’ late strike rebounded back into play off the butt of Donal Tuohy’s post and, in a sweeping counter-attack, Clare opened up the Tipperary rearguard for Ian Galvin to strike the killer goal. From hanging on to Tipperary’s coat-tails for virtually the duration of the match, Clare kicked on and Peter Duggan delivered the coup de grace with an audacious point from the sideline. Clare got the result, if not the performance but it was the break the team craved and maybe, just maybe, the spark required to ignite their season. That view was …

Regardless of the result on Sunday, Tipperary All-Star John McGrath believes Clare have the potential to win another All-Ireland. He spoke to Dan Danaher. Tipperary All-Star John McGrath has experienced the ecstasy of victory and the agony of defeat in major games this year. From the high of lifting the Fitzgibbon Cup aloft in February as University of Limerick captain, the Loughmore-Castleiney clubman endured the low of a two-point defeat to Clare in Thurles on June 10. Tipperary may have been one of the favourites for the Liam MacCarthy this year but Clare’s thrilling victory dumped the Premier County out of the Munster and All-Ireland series and ended the inter-county season for the 2012 All-Ireland medal winner. “It was a massive honour to be chosen as UL captain this year” he said, considering hurlers like Clare star forward, Tony Kelly and Tipperary ace marksman Jason Forde were also members of this team. “UL had a lot of inter-county players on …

An unchanged team from that which lined out against limerick two weeks ago has been named by the Clare senior hurling management for Sunday’s Munster senior hurling final clash with Cork at Semple stadium in Thurles throw in at 2p.m.) Seadna Morey has recovered from the leg injury which forced him out of the win over Limerick in the early stages of that game and he will line out at wing back. The team is Donal Tuohy (Crusheen); Patrick O’Connor (Tubber) Captain David McInerney (Tulla), Jack Browne (Ballyea); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge) Conor Cleary ( Miltown St. Josephs, Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge);Colm Galvin (Clonlara) Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge); Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), David Reidy (Éire Óg);Podge Collins (Cratloe),John Conlon (Clonlara),Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg)  Subs; Andrew Fahy (Whitegate),Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones),Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona) David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley) Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin) Niall Deasy (Ballyea) Ian Galvin (Clonlara) Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley) Conor McGrath (Cratloe) Darragh Corru (Tulla)

Plenty of distractions have eased Brendan Bugler into retirement from the inter-county scene, while he also has come to enjoy being a spectator again, writes Owen Ryan. MUCH has been written in the last couple of years about the plight of the sportsman whose career at the highest level finishes, leaving a gap in the structure of his life. Brendan Bugler could be in that position, having invested thousands of hours into preparing for Clare hurling teams but, having drawn a line under it at the end of 2017, he is very happy in his own skin. “I’m lucky this year, I’ve had a couple of distractions as well. I’ve thrown myself into a couple of little things and there’s a little nine-month-old as well who is keeping us fairly busy. We’re building a house too. “This year I’ve been really busy, maybe next year, when I’ve a bit more time to sit down in the evenings, I might miss …

Peter Duggan has been hurling all his life. Now, the Spancilhill man is ready to see Clare bring home a Munster title, he tells Sports Editor Seamus Hayes His name has scarcely been out of the limelight since the hurling championship got underway seven weeks ago, which isn’t surprising given that, in four games, he has amassed a tally of 1-42. Peter Duggan has had the bug to play for Clare since he first started hurling in his back garden as a youngster. That desire to wear the saffron and blue grew stronger from the day he represented the county in the Primary Game at half-time of a Munster championship fixture involving Clare in Thurles. “Seven of the current panel, including Tony Kelly and Jack Browne, played in the Primary Game that year and that drove us on. Even when we were preparing for the Primary Game in Clareabbey, we used to see the then senior players going in and out …

By Seamus Hayes Tom makes history in Kilrush HISTORY was made at Kilrush Golf Club at the weekend, when Tom Prendeville won the captain’s prize for the third year in a row. The local man who plays off a handicap of 15 returned a score of 103 and had three strokes to spare over Mark Shannon (7) who returned 106.33in the race for captain Cyril Kelly’s prize. They were followed by John O’Sullivan (20) with 107. 67, Tom Cleary (20) with 2109.67 and Colm Murphy (19) with 11o.33. Jim Young junior (5) won the gross with 123 whle the leading qualifier was Anthony Gilmartin (20) with 64. Greg Young (6) won category 1 with 114.00, Finbarr McMahon(17) won category 2 with 110.67 while Sean Moran (22) won category 3 with 70. Other prize winners were Past Captain: Gearoid Williams (13) 112.23; Committee Prize: Joe Linnane(17) 116.67; Front Nine: Brian Scanlan (14) 29.00 ; Back Nine: Seamus O Doherty  (12) 32.00 …

Clare 1-19 Offaly 2-14 In Colm Collins’ near five year reign as Clare senior football manager, the team has provided many exciting games but few have been as entertaining or as nervewrecking as this afternoon’s clashwith Offaly in round 2 of he qualifiers. Before an attendance of 3 493 in blistering heat, this was end to end stuff and he result was in doubt right to the final whistle. Clare deserved their narrow victory and while Offaly can point to some missed chances, Clare can equally do he same and, arguably, to a greater number of missed opportunities. The Banner outfit had some outstanding performances and foremost for the visitors on the day were Jamie Malone and Eoin Cleary who, between them, accounted for 1-10 of heir side’s total. While Offaly had made the better start, they were fortunate to go to the interval on level terms with Clare. The midlanders had the better of matters in the opening quarter …

Kerry 3-21 Clare 1-7 The gulf in class between Kerry and most other counties in Munster was highlighted again this Saturday afternoon when, for the second year in a row, they scored a comfortable win over Clare in the Provincial minor final In bright sunshine at Pairc Ui Caoimh, the defending champions struck for 1-12 without reply in a fourteen minute spell in the opening half as they opened a fourteen point gap which put them into a commanding position and the result was never in doubt after this. They were slicker throughout the field and their teamwork proved much too sharp for their opponents After scoring the opening two points, Kerry were rocked in the eleventh minute when Clare got through for a goal which Thomas Kelly finished well to give the Banner side the lead for the only time in the game. Kerry’s response was devastating as , in the space of two minutes they had landed 1-1 …

CLARE hurler David Reidy is free to play in Sunday weeks Munster final against Cork in Thurles. The Clare Champion has learned that the Clare half forward and free taker has been successful in his appeal today in Croke Park. The Éire Óg clubman was red carded during Clare’s round robin Munster championship defeat of Limerick in Cusack Park last Sunday. Initially, Limerick substitute, Tom Condon, was red carded. Referee, James Owens, consulted with his umpires in making the decision to dismiss Condon. However, before play resumed, he again spoke to his umpires and decided to also issue Reidy with a red card, deeming foul play in an incident with Limerick’s Diarmuid Byrnes, who tumbled to the ground, following what looked like minimal contact. Reidy can now concentrate on preparing for the July 1 final, which is a repeat of the 2017 decider. There is no news yet if joint manager, Donal Moloney, will be free to patrol the touchline. …

SCARIFF Harbour Festival is to be officially opened by Armagh football legend Oisín McConville over the August bank holiday weekend, in an interview with Carol Byrne he discusses his visit to the Banner county, growing up in Crossmaglen and conquering his gambling addiction. BORN in South Armagh in 1975, Oisín McConville grew up in a place and at a time where the sounds of gun fire and the tremors of bomb blasts were so commonplace they were almost part of the scenery. From the age of five he knew to walk briskly past the army barracks in Crossmaglen on his way to school and not to amble or dawdle in the presence of soldiers or police. As he reflects on his time growing up he says he is thankful that this is an experience his kids will never have. As Oisín prepares to come to the Scariff Harbour Festival, an event which bridges the divide between North and South, he …

The Clare under 20 and minor football teams for this weekend’s Munster championship games have been named. The under 20’s take on Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn on this Friday evening at 7.30p.m in the Provincial semi-final. Cork had a comfortable win over Tipperary last week while Clare will be making their first appearance in the competition this year. The under 20 team is; Stephen Ryan (Kilrush) Jack Sheedy (St. Breckans) Jayme O’Sullivan (Wolfe Tones), Peter Collins (Doora-Barefield); Ikem Ubwueru(Eire Og), Mark Meaney (Coomeen) captain, Tom Hannan (Doora-Barefield; Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels), Jack Hannan (Doora-Barefield); Jonah Culligan (Ballyvaughan) Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Sean Crowley (Kilmihil); Cian Shannon (ennistymon) Jack McGann(St. Breckans) Ross Phelan (Kilrush) Meanwhile the minor football team to face Kerry in Saturday’s Provincial final at Pairc Ui Caoimh (throw in at 4.30p.m) has also been named and it is.Michael Garrihy (St.. Breckans); Jack Reidy (Shannon Gaels) Dara Conneely (Ennistymon), John Murphy (Ennistymon); Gavin D’Auria (Eire Og) Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon) …

Huge turnout for Dave Foley testimonial at Dromoland By Seamus Hayes THE David Foley testimonial day on Friday was a huge success. After twenty years as the professional at Dromoland, Foley is leaving to take up a position in Scotland. The winners of the team event with an impressive 121 points were Majella and Ellie Cotgreave, Mary Anne Sheils and Moira Cunningham.. they had ten points to spare over John O’Shaughnessy, Tom O’Sullivan, Ellie and Tony Cotgreave who were two ahead of Nigel and Alex Frost. Fergal and David Kennedy. In fourth spot with 108 were Mick O’Shea, Michael Flannery, Barry Walshe and Don barrett while the fifth placed team comprised David Fitzgerald, Shay O’Vallaghan, Eoin Garrahy and Jeeves Kochhar and they had 105 points. Sunday’s 18 hole singles competition at Dromoland was won by Alan Ryan with 41 points from Declan Cusack with 39 and Robert Bailey with 38. Hugh O’Neill won the 18 and over handicap section with …

Clare 0-26 Limerick 0-15 THE Clare hurlers produced their best 70 minute display of the 2018 season in obliterating Limerick in Cusack Park. They will now play Cork in the Munster final on July 1.   In a superb second half display, Clare outscored Limerick 0-13 to 0-6. They were sharper, more cohesive and much better balanced. Following a frantic first half, Clare led 0-13 to 0-9. Both teams lost a man to a straight red card in the 33rd minute when Limerick’s Tom Condon and Clare’s David Reidy were sent off.   Peter Duggan put over 0-7 in that half from frees and a 65, while Shane Dowling pointed 0-4 from frees for Limerick in a match played in front of a crowd of 18,802. John Conlon was a constant threat, in the opening half, putting over two points, while he created Jamie Shannahan’s point from distance with a cross field pass. Clare substitute, David Fitzgerald, introduced for Seadna …

Clare 0-8 Limerick 0-8 The first of three big Shannonside GAA derby games this weekend ended in the spoils being shared prompting many to ask if this result will be repeated at Cusack Park tomorrow when the senior and minor hurlers from both counties clash in crucial championship games. O’Garney park in Sixmilebridge hosted the clash of Clare and Limerick in this All-Ireland senior camogie championship tie this afternoon and at the end of sixty minutes play the honours were shared and both remain in the hunt for a place in the play off stage of the championship. Both sides will point to the fact that they failed to capitalise on wind advantage in a game in which a number of decisions of referee Andrew Larkin were a major talking point. Clare had the aid of the breeze in the opening half and while Niamh Mulcahy gave Tipperary the lead in the opening minute, Clare led 0-3 to 0-1 after …

The Clare senior and minor hurling management teams have announced changes to the starting line ups for Sunday’s crucial games with Limerick from the sides which played Tipperary in Thurles last week Following their hugely impressive performances when introduced last week, Podge Collins and Seadna Morey have been included in the starting senior line up for Sunday’s game at Cusack Park. They replace David Fitzgerald and Conor McGrath in a side that is otherwise unchanged from that which started last week The team is Donal Tuohy (Crusheen) Patrick O’Connor (Tubber),  David McInerney (Tulla) Jack Browne (Ballyea); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Conor Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs) , Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge); Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), David Reidy (Éire Óg); Podge Collins (Cratloe), John Conlon (Clonlara). Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg) Subs: Andrew Fahy (Whitegate), Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones), Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona), Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley), Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin), Niall Deasy (Ballyea), Ian Galvin (Clonlara),Michael …