AS they head for Tullamore on Sunday, Clare’s priority will be to produce a second 70-minute performance once the clock hits 2pm. If they can reproduce and sustain the level on view against Westmeath, the result will look after itself. However, it must be expected that Offaly will test Clare’s resolve far more than Westmeath did. The Lake County were very poor and aside from a few minutes late in the first half, they didn’t take the game and simply folded late in the second half. Offaly are just two points behind Clare in the league table and a win on Sunday would almost guarantee their Division 3 status for 2016 and put them in with an outside chance of promotion. Offaly lost to Tipperary last weekend, having beaten Sligo 1-13 to 0-14 in their previous fixture. They will look to players such as Michael Brazil, Niall Smith, Niall Bracken and Niall McNamee on Sunday to steer them to what …

With joint team captains Tony Kelly and Cian Dillon out due to injury, Eire Og’s Shane O’Donnell will captain Clare when they face Kerry in round 4 of the Allianz hurling league on Sunday. There are four changes in personnell from the side which defeated Laois last week. Donal Tuohy, Oisin O’Brien, Colm Galvin and Conor McGrath all start in place of Andrew Fahy Cian Dillon, Colin Ryan and Gearoid O’Connell. The game will mark a first senior competitive start for Clonlara’s Oisin O’Brien who was added to the panel recently. Goalkeeper Donal Tuohy will play his first game in this season’s league campaign. In the absence of full back Cian Dillon, Tubber’s Pat O’Connor is handed the full back role The team is Donal Tuohy (Crusheen); Oisín O’Brien (Clonlara), Pat O’Connor (Tubber), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), David McInerney (Tulla), Conor Cleary (Miltown St.Josephs); David Reidy (Éire Óg), Conor Ryan (Cratloe); John Conlon (Clonlara), Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle), Aaron …

Clare 1-18 Westmeath 0-10 WITH just three fixtures left to play in division 3 of the NFL, Clare took a huge stride towards promotion with a comprehensive win over Westmeath in Ennis on Sunday. They now sit joint second in the table, along with Tipperary. The Munster teams are two points behind Kildare, who have won all four of their games to date. Clare travel to O’Connor Park in Tullamore next Sunday, where they play Offaly who are currently on four points. Clare blitzed Westmeath who were completely off the pace, particularly in the first half. Such was Clare’s dominance they led 0-7 to 0-0 after 23 minutes with David Tubridy, Eoin Cleary, Pearse Lillis and Cathal O’Connor putting over those early points. Westmeath, who reached the 2015 Leinster final and were expected to at least contend for promotion, didn’t kick their first point until eight minutes before half time when substitute Shane Dempsey scored. They did come within four …

Clare 1-21 Laois 0-16 Clare made it three wins from three outings in this season’s Allianz hurling league when defeating Laois at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise this evening. While the visitors led from the outset, they struggled to pull away from the home side who will wonder if they might have caused an upset had they not been so wasteful when they enjoyed a good spell midway through the second half. Clare started brightly and raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after just three minutes but a brace from Willie Hyland brought the midlanders to within a point. By the mid point of the half it was 0-7 to 0-3 in favour of the visitors who went on to lead 0-13 to 0-8 as the game went into ‘injury time’ at the end of the opening half. Two minutes of ‘injury time’ were signalled and in the second of these a delivery from Bobby Duggan caused problems for the …

There are four changes in personnell on the Clare senior hurling team for this Saturday’s league clash with Laois at Portlaoise from that which started against Wexford last time out. Into the side come Andrew Fahy, Brendan Bugler, Aaron Cunningham and Bobby Duggan and they replace Patrick Kelly, Jack Browne, Aron Shanagher and Conor McGrath. Jack Browne is ruled out due to injury. Brendan Bugler will be making his first start since last summer. He has recently returned to action following surgery on his shoulder. The team is; Andrew Fahy (Whitegate): Pat O’Connor (Tubber), Cian Dillon (Crusheen) Captain, Paul Flanagan: Brendan Bugler (Whitegate) David McInerney (Tulla), Conor Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs): David Reidy (Eire Og), Conor Ryan (Cratloe): John Conlon (Clonlara), Colin Ryan (Newmarket) Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea); Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones), Shane O’Donnell (Eire Og), Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle). By Seamus Hayes

Clare 1-14 Limerick 0-11 Inspired by a superb defence, Clare scored a merited win over Limerick in this round 3 tie Allianz football league tie at NewcastleWest this afternoon. A particularly strong first half display saw the visitors open a six point lead by half time when the score was 0-9 to 0-3 and when the scored the first three points of the second half to go nine clear, Limerick had a mountain to climb. The margin was still nine with a quarter of an hour remaining but Limerick piled on the pressure and landed four unanswered points to cut Clare’s lead to five with as many minutes remaining. The visitors killed off the home side’s mini revival two minutes from time when captain Gary Brennan flicked a Shane McGrath delivery to the net. IanRyan landed two frees in injury time for the home side but Clare had sealed victory by then. The visitors were dealt a huge blow ahead …

Mary Immaculate College 1-30 University of Limerick 3-22 Mary Immaculate College Limerick won the Fitzgibbon cup (inter Universities hurling championship) for the first time when they defeated the holders, University of Limerick in a thrilling final hosted by Cork I.T this Saturday afternoon. Four Clare players contributed in a final which required extra extra time to produce a winner. Eoin Quirke (Whitegate), Colm Galvin (Clonlara) and Darragh Corry (Tulla) were in the starting line up while Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley) was introduced at the three quarter stage in place of Galvin in a tie in which the teams were level on no less that nineteen occasions. There were six Clare players in the starting U.L team. They were Gearoid Ryan (Clarecastle) at corner back, Jack Browne (Ballyea) at full back, Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley) at midfield, Kevin Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona) at midfield, David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) at wing forward and Cathal McInerney (Cratloe) at corner forward. U.L were managed by Brian Lohan. Afterwards winning …

History will be made in Cork this Saturday afternoon when University of Limerick and Mary Immaculate college Limerick clash in the final of the Fitzgibbon cup (inter Universities hurling championship). U.L, managed by Clare’s All-Ireland winning full back from1995 and 1997, Brian Lohan are seeking to retain the title for the first time while Mry Immaculate College are seeking to win the title for the first time. The holders scored a 3-14 to 0-16 win over UCD in the first of the semi-finals played on Friday while Mary I were two point winners, 0-11 to 0-9, winners over the Davy Fitzgerald managed Limerick I.T. There is a strong Clare representation in both finalists. Amongst those expected to feature in the champions line up are Jack Browne (Ballyea) Gearoid Ryan (Clarecastle), Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley), Kevin Hehir and David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona), Cathal McInerney and Shane Gleeson (Cratloe). They will again be without the injured Tony Kelly (Ballyea) The Mary Immaculate line up …

Clare 0-18 Wexford 1-11 Clare justified favouritism in this round 2 Allianz division 1B hurling league tie at Innovative Wexford Park this afternoon but there were a number of anxous moments before the Banner side emerged with a merited win. Greater experience and a higher level of fitness proved key ingredients for Clare who finished strongly, outscoring their opponents, 0-9 to 0-1 in the final twenty minutes. It was anybody’s game with the scores level with just four minutes remaining but Clare hit four points in three minutes to seal victory and keep their unbeaten run this season going. An injury hit Clare faced a strong wind in the opening half having been forced to make three changes in personnell from the side which beat Offaly in the opening round a week earlier. Colm Galvin and Darach Honan were ruled out due to injury while Peter Duggan was unavailable due to suspension. Into the side came Ballyea’s Jack Browne and …

The Clare senior hurling team to face Wexford in round 2 of the Allianz National hurling league division 1B will not be finalised until Sunday morning due to a number of ongoing injury concerns. Fourteen of the starting fifteen have been named with a vacancy left at left half forward. It is understood that John Conlon, forced out of the action early in the second half of last Sunday’s first round win over Offaly due to injury,will be given a chance to prove his fitness. Omitted from last week’s starting line up are Colm Galvin and Darach Honan due to injury and Peter Duggan who is suspended. Conor Ryan switches from wing back to replace Galvin at midfield with Jack Browne chosen at wing back.Gearoid O’Donnell is named in place of Peter Duggan at wing forward while Aron Shanagher is named in the full forward line in place of Honan. The team announced is as follows Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona): Patrick …

Clare have secured a home venue for the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor inter league junior soccer competition. On the weekend of March 19/20, the Donie Garrihy managed Clare league side will entertain either the Donegal League or the North East league who play their quarter final tie on this Sunday in Letterkenny. The draw was made at the AUL complex in Dublin on Wednesday night at half time in the quarter final tie between the Leinster senior league and the AUL, a tie won by the Leinster side after a penalty shootout. Clare manager Donie Garrihy and coach Denis Hynes were present at the draw and Clare were first out of the hat. “I am delighted that we have a home tie. This is an All-Ireland semi-final and having home advantage gives an opportunity to the football family in Clare to come out and support the team and watch the best players in the league represent their county”, commented …

Clare 2-21 Offaly 0-15 As expected, Clare made a winning start to life in division 1 B of the Allianz hurling league when they accounted for Offaly at Cusack Park this afternoon. A strong last ten minutes to the first half during which they scored 1-7 while conceding just a point laid the foundations for this comfortable win. While Clare officials will be pleased with the outcome, there is sure to be some concern at the fact that they finished with a tally of fifteen wides. There is also some concern about injuries picked up by both Darach Honan and John Conlon, both of which were replaced as a result [doptg id=”100″] The fact that three players were sent off might suggest that this was a dirty game but this was not the case. Fourteen minutes into the second half Peter Duggan (Clare) and Conor Doughan(Offaly) were involved in a tangle off the ball and referee Sean Cleere produced a …

St. Flannans 1-14 De La Salle, Macroom 1-13 Clare football received a great boost this week when St. Flannans qualified for the Frewan cup (Munster colleges junior A football championship) final thanks to a one point win over De La Salle, Macroom. An outstanding performance from Philip Talty who kicked 0-8 from play played a key role in this win which has given the Ennis side a place in the final against St. Brendans Killarney or Colaiste Chriost Ri from Cork. St.Flannans found themselves three points in arrears with less than three minutes played but they kicked the next five to take a two point lead and they went on to open a 0-10 to 0-5 lead as half time approached. Macroom had the last two points of the half to trail by three at half time whenthe score was 0-10 to 0-7. Macroom had the first score of the second half before Gearoid Cahill converted a free for the …

THE only team Clare beat in last season’s Senior Hurling Championship will provide the opposition for the Banner men ins Sunday’s opening game in the 2016 National Hurling League. Offaly will travel to Cusack Park in Ennis as underdogs and anything other than a comfortable win for Clare, recent impressive winners of the Munster League, will rank as a surprise. That said, Davy Fitzgerald’s charges cannot take anything for granted against a Midland side that is under new management this season. Tipperary’s Eamonn Kelly, a member of the Sixmilebridge management team that went through 2015 without suffering a defeat in either league or championship, will have learned a lot about Clare from his time here last season and while he said this week that Offaly are not as far down the road in their preparations as Clare, the Banner outfit will need to be wary of the visitors. Clare will be without joint captain Tony Kelly and utility player Seadna …

Goalkeeper Patrick Kelly and ace forward Conor McGrath will start for the first time this season for the Clare senior hurlers when they open their Allianz league campaign against Offaly at Cusack Park on Sunday. Manager Davy Fitzgerald and his backroom team have named a strong starting fifteen as Clare set out on a road which fans hope will lead to a return to the top division. Goalkeeper Patrick Kelly is the only member of the starting line up that didn’t get any game time in the recent Munster league which Clare won, beating Limerick in the final. Tony Kelly, Patrick Donnellan and Seadna Morey weren’t considered due to injury The team is Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona): Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Cian Dillon, Capt. (Crusheen), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea): Conor Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs), David McInerney (Tulla), Conor Ryan (Cratloe): David Reidy (Éire Óg), Colm Galvin (Clonlara): Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), John Conlon (Clonlara): Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Darach Honan (Clonlara), …