Waterford 1-14 Clare 2-7 THE Clare lady footballers were narrowly beaten in the Munster intermediate final in Mallow on Saturday afternoon. Playing with a very strong breeze in the opening half, Clare went in tied 0-7 each at half time. To have a realistic chance of winning they really needed to have established a five or six point interval advantage but Waterford played some impressive, controlled football into the breeze. They were very adept at carrying the ball and their scoring taking was also impressive with centre forward Maria Delahunty putting over two excellent first half frees and a point from play in the opening half. Clare were more direct in their play, which they had to be given that they were backed by the breeze. Gráinne Nolan and Ailish Considine looked sharp in the opening half while Carol O’Leary carried ball and ran at Waterford. The Newmarket girl was one four dual players forced to chose between representing Clare …

Cork 0-20 Clare 0-17 From an early stage in this hurling qualifier round 2 tie at Semple stadium, it was clear that there would be little between the teams at the final whistle. And so it proved, but, for Clare fans that is little consolation as they ended up three points adrift of their Cork opponents after as really exciting contest which produced thirty seven scores. [doptg id=”75″] Clare will be concerned last the fact that they failed to score in the final ten minutes. Substitute Colm Galvin put them two clear in the 60th minute and, with the aid of the wind, things looked good for Clare. Cork, however put in a storming finish and four superb points from Pat Horgan together with one from substitute Paudie O’Sullivan sealed victory for the Leesiders and ended Clare’s championship season. Clare will looked to missed chances on an evening when they had a total of eighteen wides, twelve coming in the …

The Clare senior hurling team is unchanged for Saturday’s eagerly awaited qualifier clash with Cork at Semple stadium in Thurles (throw in 7p.m.) from the side which easily accounted for Offaly last week With a full squad available, manager Davy Fitzgerald and his selectors have opted to again keep Colm Galvin, recently returned from a spell in the U.S., in the reserves where, this week, he is joined by joint captain Pat Donnellan who missed last week’s win due to suspension. The team named for duty is Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon, Capt. (Crusheen), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge): Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Jack Browne (Ballyea): Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Tony Kelly (Ballyea): John Conlon (Clonlara), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge): Darach Honan (Clonlara), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Conor McGrath (Cratloe). By Seamus Hayes  

After just a year in the job, Ephie Fitzgerald has resigned as trainer of the Clare senior footballers. His decision comes in the wake of Clare’s disappointing exit to lowly Longford in the qualifiers. The former Cork player and Nemo Rangers clubman cited “family and work commitments” as the reason for his decision to step down from Colm Collins’ management team. Fitzgerald, who has coached Nemo Rangers to four Cork senior football championship titles, succeeded fellow Corkonian, Paudie Kissane in the job at the start of the year after he too hadvacated the position after one year in the role. And things may get worse for football boss Colm Colins as selector Ger Keane has strongly hinted that he may call time on his involvement with the squad. After Saturtday’s match with Longford, Ger Keane told The Clare Champion that “it’s more than likely I will step down. I have three years done and with family and work commitments, it …

Clare Camogie Board has responded to a statement issued by the Camogie Association on Tuesday regarding the clash of fixtures with the Clare ladies football side on Saturday next. In a statement, the Clare board said, “The All Ireland Camogie Championship draft fixtures are issued in October each year for consultation to all county boards. These issued in November to the LGFA. The best opportunity to avoid Camogie/LGFA fixture clashes is when the fixtures of both associations are at the planning/consultative stages. Clare Camogie Board notified the Camogie Association on Tuesday, November 11 of the potential clash of various fixtures in the 2015 season, including that of the 11th July 2015.” The statement noted the Clare board again notified the Camogie Association of the clash within 48 hours of the Clare ladies footballers having qualified for the Munster Intermediate Final on Saturday, June 20. “The board are extremely disappointed that having taken the appropriate actions within viable timelines to avoid …

On Wednesday evening Clare camogie board issued a statement in which they clearly take issue with the camogie association’s comments concerning a clash of fixtures involving the association and the ladies football association on Saturday July 11. Clare are scheduled to play round 2 of the All-Ireland senior camogie championship on Saturday afternoon when they host Dublin while the Clare lady footballers will play the Munster intermediate football final against Waterford in Mallow on the same afternoon. Four players are common to both panels In their statement the national body suggested that the best opportunity to avoiding such fixture clashes is when both associations are at the planning/consultative stage According to the Clare statement, issued through the board’s public relations officer Brid McNamara “Clare Camogie Board notified the Camogie Association on Tuesday 11th November 2014 of the potential clash of various fixtures in the 2015 season, including that of the 11th July(next Saturday). “Clare Camogie Board again notified the camogie …

  Clare will play Cork in round 2 of the hurling qualifier on this Saturday. It’s expected that the game, a repeat of the Al-Ireland final of 2013, will form part of a double header with the Limerick v Dublin tie. Venue and times will be announced after a meeting of the CCC in Croke park this Monday afternoon. Cork, beaten by Waterford in the Provincial semi-final, bounced back into contention with a big win over Wexford at Wexford park on Saturday. Clare and Cork last met at the end of February in the league when Cork emerged with a comfortable 1-24 to 0-17 victory at Pairc Ui Rinn. In 2013 the teams produced two thrilling contests in the All-Ireland final with Clare emerging as winners in a replay By Seamus Hayes  

Clare 3-26 Offaly 0-15 Clare had their expected easy win over Offaly in this qualifier tie played before an attendance of 14,268 at Cusack Park on Saturday evening A lively start which saw them go 1-5 to 0-1 ahead after just eight minutes laid the foundation for Clare’s victory Three in a row in as many minutes helped Offaly close the gap but excellent scores from Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath kept Clare ahead and when the half time whistle sounded they were 1-13 to 0-9 ahead Two goals inside the first eight minutes of the second half killed off any hope of an Offaly rally. As Clare opened up a big lead they were able to give game time to five substitutes including Colm Galvin who came in for the last seven minutes much to the delight of the big Clare following at the game Scorers—Clare Tony Kelly 0-8; Conor McGrath 1-4; John Conlon 1-2; Shane O’Donnell 1-0; Conor …

Longford 2-12 Clare 1-12 THE Clare footballers exited the All-Ireland qualifiers following a very disappointing loss to Longford in Cusack Park on Saturday evening. The kicking of 12 wides was a huge factor in Clare’s demise. However they also made poor decisions on the ball, conceded scoreable frees and generally did not look as sharp as Longford, who were slicker and much more economical in possession. Following a season of progress in 2014, where they won promotion and played five championship games, 2015 will go down as a year in which Clare stood still, albeit they did retain their division 3 status. However championship wise, while they beat Limerick in Ennis, they have since lost heavily to Cork and now at home to Longford. Jack Sheedy’s team were reduced to 14 men when Diarmuid Masterson was sent off on a second yellow card 12 minutes from time but the extra man seemed to make no discernible difference. Dessie Reynold’s second …

Over 1,200 young camogie players will take part Camán to Croker next Tuesday. Organised in association with Torpey Hurleys, players from 64 clubs, including Parteen and St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, will have a wonderful opportunity to experience the atmosphere of Croke Park. This is the fourth year of the development initiative catering specifically for U-12 players. A series of regional blitzes took place earlier this year in Semple Stadium, Thurles; Newry, Pearse Stadium in Galway and O’Connor Park, Tullamore. President of the Camogie Association Catherine Neary said, “Camán to Croker is a fantastic initiative which focuses on a very important group, players under twelve years of age. It provides them with an opportunity to experience the skills and fun of the game and leaves them with fantastic memories of playing in Croke Park, a place where all young GAA players want to play. Seán Torpey of Torpey Hurleys said, “We are delighted to have seen the growth of this event …

The Clare senior hurling team to face Offaly in Saturday’s first round All-Ireland championship qualifiers shows four changes in personnell from the side which line out against Limerick in the opening round of the Munster championship in May Seadna Morey replaces Domhnall O’Donovan at corner back, Brendan Bugler returns from a one-match suspension to line out at wing back in place of the suspended Patrick Donnellan, Conor McGrath has recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place at corner forward in place of David Reidy, while Darach Honan starts at corner forward and this results in Gearoid O’Connell, who played at midfield against Limerick, dropping down to the substitutes bench. The team is Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona): David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon, Capt. (Crusheen), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge):Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Jack Browne (Ballyea):Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Tony Kelly (Ballyea): John Conlon (Clonlara), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge):Darach Honan (Clonlara), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Conor McGrath (Cratloe); Subs: Donal …

Having missed most of the season due to a troublesome groin injury, Doonbeg’s David Tubridy is back in the Clare senior football team and has been named to start at full forward on Saturday evening against Longford in Clare’s opening game in the qualifiers. The sharpshooter’s inclusion is the only change to the side which lined out against Cork in the Munster semi-final. He replaces Cooraclare’s Rory Donnelly in the full forward line. There is further good news for Clare with both Shane McGrath and Enda Coughlan named amongst the substitutes having recovered from the injuries which saw them miss the game with Cork. Both are expected to play at some stage on Saturday. The team is; Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Ciaran Russell (Eire Og), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (Miltown), Dean Ryan (Eire Og); Gary Brennan (Clondegad) captain, Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen); Sean Collins (Cratloe), Jamie Malone (Corofin), Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Eoin Cleary (Miltown), David …

Senior hurling boss Davy Fitzgerald has named the 26-man panel for this Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier with Offaly at Cusack Park, throw-in 7pm. Brendan Bugler, Conor McGrath, Colm Galvin and Aaron Cunningham all return to the panel, while Cathal O’Connell misses out due to a calf strain. Captain Patrick Donnellan is absent due to suspension. The starting 15 will be announced on Friday night from the panel of Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona), David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon (Crusheen), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Jack Browne (Ballyea), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), John Conlon (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge), David Reidy (Éire Óg), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Conor McGrath (Cratloe), Donal Tuohy (Crusheen), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones na Sionna), Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle), Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara), Darach Honan (Clonlara), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), Conor Cleary (Kilmaley), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara), Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea) and Colm Galvin (Clonlara).

The first of the season’s adult GAA competitions concluded when Killimer defeated Kilmurry-Ibrickane to capture the division 5 football title at Doonbeg. In doing so they avenged a one point defeat suffered in the opening round. The new champions showed a lot of improvement throughout the league and were convincing winners of the title when they scored a 2-15 to 0-8 success Elsewhere a number of the domestic leagues moved closer to conclusion. Kilmihil will play O’Currys for the division 6 football title this weekend after they managed a one point win over Ml. Cusacks. In the division 3 football league, Corofin sealed a place in the final and promotion to division 2 for next season when they recorded a 0-11 to 0-6 win over Coolmeen on Sunday. On Saturday evening, Liscannor secored a semi-final spot with a two point win over St. Senans, Kilkee who will be their opponents in the semi-final. Liscannor need to beat St.Breckans to secure …

RETIREMENTS and travel are the main reasons why Clare will begin their All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship this Saturday without half of the team that played in last year’s campaign. Colm Honan’s charges could hardly have asked for a stiffer test in Round 1, which sees them travelling to the St Lachtan’s grounds in Freshford, Kilkenny to face last year’s All-Ireland runners-up in a game that throws in at 2.30pm. Experienced forwards Deirdre Murphy, Laura Linnane and Claire McMahon have called time on their inter-county careers, while Fiona Lafferty is pursuing her ladies football interests with Monaghan. Niamh O’Dea, Laura McMahon, Ailish Considine and Ellen Horgan have travelled outside the country for the summer, while Niki Kaiser is not playing at present. Adding to the problems for the management team is an injury to Máire McGrath, which makes her a doubtful starter, while Naomi Carroll is unavailable for this weekend’s game. Having to face Kilkenny is a difficult task at any …