Sports

Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

Sport

A special county final for the McGanns

Ennis native Rory McGann will referee the 2016 Clare Senior Hurling Championship final. A member of the Newmarket club, it will be his first time in charge of the senior hurling showpiece in the county. Rory’s sister Ann Marie will act as umpire, the first lady to do so at a Clare senior hurling final. A club referee since 2004, McGann has taken charge of a number of high profile local games, including the U-21 A championship final earlier this year, the intermediate final last year, the U-16 A and U-14 Féile finals in 2015, the junior A and U-15 A championship finals in 2014 and the minor A and U-14 A championship finals in 2013. His appointment for Sunday means that he has officiated at county championship finals at every grade from U-12 upwards. Appointed to the Munster provincial panel in 2013 and the National Referee Panel in 2016, some of McGann’s appointments of note include the Munster minor …

A championship that has produced its share of talking points without setting the world alight with regard to the standard of play draws to a close on Sunday. The expectation is, however, that Clonlara and Ballyea will give patrons an afternoon to remember. In opposition in the senior hurling decider are some of the players who have shone in an eight-year period where county teams have won Munster and All-Ireland honours at minor, U-21 and senior levels. Supporters have marvelled at the performances of the likes of Tony Kelly, Colm Galvin, Darach Honan and John Conlon, while the O’Donovan brothers will forever be remembered when Cormac was the scorer of a last-minute point that won the 2009 All-Ireland U-21 title and when Domhnall earned a replay in the 2013 senior final. Ballyea’s only previous final appearance was in 2003, when they had to give best to their fellow parishioners. Clarecastle man Fergie O’Loughlin went into the history books as he …

Clare will take on Limerick in the first round of both the Munster senior hurling and football championships in 2017 and dates for these meetings will be decided in the coming weeks. The hurling clash will be a semi-final game which means that the winners will be through to the Provincial final and the All-Ireland quarter final. With new managements in charge in both counties, the clash means that Paul Kinnerk who has been a key figure in the success Clare have enjoyed at both under 21 and senior levels in recent years will find himself plotting the downfall of the players he helped steer to Provincial and All-Ireland glory in the saffron and blue as he is the coach to Limerick for 2017. Ironically the football draw is the same as last year with Clare facing Limerick in the opening round for the right to face Kerry in the semi-final. Clare will have home advantage for their clash with …

It’s official. Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor are the new joint managers of the Clare senior hurling team. At the October meeting of Clare GAA at the county’s centre of excellence in Caherlohan this evening, they were unanimously appointed for a two year term on the proposition of Dan Treacy (Scariff), seconded by Josie Nevin (Eire Og). There was no indication as to who will be in their backroom team. Board chairman Joe Cooney told the delegates that the make up of a number of the management teams has yet to be finalised. It is understood that Donal Og Cusack will be continuing as team coach. Limerick man Liam Cronin who has coached Eire Og this season will be in the set up along with Jimmy Browne from Clonlara who was a member of the backroom team with Moloney and O’Connor when they led Clare to three Munster and All-Ireland under 21 titles. Ciaran Corcoran from Broadford, a member of …

Cratloe 1-9 Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-12 CRATLOE’S Cathal McInerney showed his class and composure when he steered over an injury time equalising point, to rescue a draw for his side and ensure a replay on Saturday or Sunday week in the 2016 Clare senior football final. The last drawn county final was in 2003 when Kilkee beat Kilrush in the replay. McInerney steered over the equaliser following a foul on Cratloe’s John Galvin, who was one of two players yellow carded following a brawl at the end of the first half. The incident happened as both sets of players were returning to their dressing rooms, through the communal tunnel. The respective dressing room doors, which lead directly to the field, were locked, therefore both teams had to use the tunnel. Before the second half started, referee Rory Hickey yellow carded Galvin and Kilmurry’s Mark McCarthy, while he showed a straight red card to unused Kilmurry substitute John Willie Sexton for his …

Newmarket 2-11 Kilmaley 0-13 A contribution of 1-7 from inter county man Colin Ryan played a key role in Newmarket retaining their senior hurling status when they accounted for Kilmaley in this replay at Sixmilebridge this afternoon. Played before an attendance that was much smaller than anticipated, Newmarket’s superior physical strength was a crucial ingredient in their win but Kilmaley have good reason to be disappointed with the end result. At the end of the first half in which they had the better of matters their lead was just two points. They would not have been flattered had they been at least six points to the good. They continued to hold the upperhand in the opening ten minutes of the second half but again failed to turn that dominance into scores. From here on Newmarket got a grip on proceedings and the switch of Stephen Kelly to the half forward line helped them win more possession. Eleven minutes from the …

Confirmation that Anthony Daly has withdrawn from the race to succeed Davy Fitzgerald as Clare senior hurling manager could mean that the only other nominees for the position, Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor will be elected to the post at Tuesday’s October meeting of Clare GAA. As joint managers they have been in charge of Clare at minor and under 21 levels in the past decade leading the county to Munster minor and to Munster and All-Ireland under 21 titles. Daly’s withdrawal may well have solved a potentially difficult situation for the Clare GAA executive who, now, will not have to choose between the joint team of Moloney / O’Connor and Daly. Daly decided to withdraw “in the interest of unity within the county”. It is understood that he was disappointed that he had no contact from the Clare GAA executive since nominations closed on Monday last. The two time All-Ireland winning captain with his native Clare, the Clarecastle man …

A championship-winning captain in 1993 and 2002, Aidan ‘Horse’ Moloney picked up his third medal in 2004. Player-manager as far back as Kilmurry’s 1999 county final defeat to Doonbeg, Moloney has extensive club management experience built up since 2006. Over the last 10 years he has managed Shannon Gaels, Cooraclare, Kilrush and Kilkee, bringing Kilrush to within a point of Kilmurry in the 2012 county semi-final replay and winning a Cusack Cup with Cooraclare in 2009. Moloney played in five county finals with Kilmurry but it wasn’t all rosy in the garden. Incredibly, Kilmurry did not win a single championship game in Moloney’s first 10 years of playing senior club football. “When I could kind of play football, we were struggling. We were harmless enough,” is how the 1992 Munster championship winner with Clare phrased it. “We won a minor in 1980 and 1981. A lot of that team went on to win the championship in 1993. Martin Cahill, Martin …

Wexford manager Liam Dunne and former Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald following their All-Ireland qualifier replay at Wexford Park in 2014. Photograph by John Kelly.

Former Clare hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald was ratified as the new Wexford manager at a special meeting of the county board in Enniscorthy on this Friday Manager of Clare from 2012 until last month, the Sixmilebridge man still had a year to run in his second term in Clare when he stepped down a few weeks ago after a players meeting had expressed a view that change was needed. Fitzgerald had discussions with officers of the Wexford County Board and faced an interview panel in Portlaoise earlier this week. Amongst those understood to have been considered for the Wexford post is Tipperary native Eamonn Kelly who, ironically, has been part of the backroom team with Fitzgerald’s home club in Sixmilebridge for the past two years. Kelly managed Offaly senior hurlers in 2016. It is understood that Fitzgerald has been appointed for three years with a review to take place after two years. It’s expected that J.J. Doyle who has managed the …

EIGHTEEN minutes into the county semi-final, Cratloe goalkeeper Pierce DeLoughrey was considering all options. Where was the nearest exit and should he make a run for it? Four times the size five had settled in the net behind the Limerick-based army man and he held himself directly responsible for three of Miltown’s goals. His mind was racing and the last thing the Cratloe captain envisaged was that his club would somehow excavate their way into the 2016 county final. Eleven points down, DeLoughrey was convinced that it was going to be a long winter. “I gave away two goals and for the third one, I was beaten on my near post. So it was my fault for three of them. I was embarrassed and frustrated. But I tried not to throw the rattle out of the cot because I was captain. You have to try and lead by example so, as down as I was, I tried to get on …

SOURCES in Wexford have indicated that Davy Fitzgerald will be ratified as the new manager of the Model County’s senior hurling side tonight (Friday). Manager of Clare from 2012 until last month, it had been widely expected that the Sixmilebridge man would make a return to management sooner rather than later. However, the speed at which he has secured a new high-profile appointment, less than three weeks after finishing with Clare, is still something of a surprise. It is understood that Fitzgerald had discussions with officers of the Wexford County Board and faced an interview panel in Portlaoise earlier this week. Others to have been linked with the job included outgoing Offaly manager Eamon Kelly and former Galway manager Anthony Cunningham. Wexford haven’t won an All-Ireland since 1996 or a Leinster title since 1994 but they won three Leinster U-21 titles in-a-row between 2013 and 2015 and there is some young talent available with the likes of Lee Chin and …

A TUG of war is developing between two-time All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Daly and the duo who guided Clare to three All-Ireland U-21 titles in-a-row for the vacant senior hurling manager’s position. According to board chairman Joe Cooney, Clare GAA is in the process of putting an interview panel in place to meet with the nominees. He told The Clare Champion that the candidates “will be interviewed over the next couple of days and we will then bring a report back to the executive and hopefully we will come up with some conclusion”. The chairman confirmed that there are just two nominations for the post vacated by Davy Fitzgerald a few weeks ago, after a meeting of the players had expressed a view that a change was required. Asked if he expects to have a decision for next Tuesday’s October board meeting, he replied “if possible, yes”. However, he added, “This may not be possible, as some of the nominees …

Clare senior football captain Gary Brennan has been included in the list of 45 players from which the 2016 GAA- GPA football All Star team will be chosen. Brennan is nominated for one of the two midfield positions along with Brian Fenton (Dublin), Peter Acheson (Tipperary), Matthew Donnelly (Tyrone), Paul Conroy (Galway) and Colm Cavanagh (Tyrone). Brennan is rewarded for his prominent role in the Banner’s march to the All-Ireland quarter finals and their Division 3 national league title win. He is Clare’s first footballer to be nominated for an All-Star since 1997 when defender Frankie Griffin and forward Martin Daly were nominated. Clare only football All-Star is Corofin’s Seamus Clancy. He won his award in 1992 following some stellar defensive performances in Clare’s Munster senior championship winning season. All-Ireland finalists Dublin and Mayo have received 11 nominations each, Tyrone have six, Tipperary have five, Kerry and Galway have four each and Donegal have three nominations. The nominees for the …

Cratloes dual star Conor McGrath is taken from Cusack Park Ennis by stretcher after his side lost out to Clonlara in the Clare County Championship Hurling semi final today. Pic Arthur Ellis.

Clonlara 1-18 Cratloe 1-16 An all round better balanced Clonlara booked a place in the Clare senior hurling final for the second year in a row when they accounted for their South Clare neighbours Cratloe at Cusack Park this Sunday afternoon. Whether or not the end round would have been different had Cratloe star Conor McGrath not suffered a shoulder injury which ended his involvement in the match with over ten minutes remaining is a matter of speculation. With 1-7 to his credit at the time, he was a big threat to Clonlara but with just over ten minutes remaining he was forced out of the tie and was clearly in pain as he received attention on the sideline. The sides were level three times in the opening eleven minutes before the winners opened a three point gap by the end of the first quarter and they held this lead to the break when the score was o-12 to 0-9. …

Ballyea 0-22 Feakle 2-13 Ballyea moved to within a step of a first ever Clare senior hurling championship title when they accounted for Feakle at Cusack Park this afternoon. A superb performance from Gearoid O’Connell at centre back was a key ingredient in this victory on a day whenTony Kelly again top scored for his side with )-8 to his credit, six coming from play. Feakle played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half but Ballyea were in a strong position at half time when the sides were on level terms, 0-9 for the eventual winners to 1-6, the first half goal having come from Colin Nelson. The winners made a blistering start to the second half with five unanswered points in the first seven minutes and from here on Feakle were chasing the game. they fought back to within two points of the winners when Martin Daly goaled three minutes from time but try as they …

Page 78 of 409« First...50 60 70 «76 777879 80 »90 100 110...Last »

Sports

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 …
Read More »
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 …

Sport

Recent Posts