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Senior Hurling Final - Eire Og v Ballyea

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Kilmaley secure u-21 A final place

Kilmaley 0-19 Clarecastle 0-13 They provided patrons with a very exciting minor A championship final in 2012 and they produced another exciting contest when they clashed in the under 21 A semi-final at Clonlara on Friday evening. At the end of a very tight contest in 2012, Kilmaley led by the minimum margin. On this occasion they led by six when Ger Hoey called a halt to proceedings and few will dispute the merit of their latest success. Over the hour they were the better balanced side and finished strongly to seal a place in next Saturday’s final. They took a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes and by the end of the first quarter they had extended this to 0-7 to 0-2. Their advantage could have been greater but Clarecastle goalie Jonathan Griffey made a fine save from Aidan Kennedy when a goal looked likely. Three points separated the sides at half time when the score was 0-9 …

SOMETHING odd is happening in Clare. There is splintering opinion as to whether the Clare hurling glass is full, half full or half empty. Sunday’s display in Nowlan Park clearly suggests that the glass is, if not teeming over, definitely not half empty. The panel of players deserve immense credit for producing that standard of hugely committed hurling in Nowlan Park. While some individuals, notably Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell, excelled, as a team Clare resembled themselves again. Based on Sunday, it’s not over the top to suggest that they will be formidable Munster championship opponents for Limerick come May 24. Based on Saturday, Limerick will be doing well to turn up at all. They were obliterated by Dublin and looked remarkably off the pace of league, let alone championship, hurling. Clare showed what they can do if they produce the level they are capable of. That’s looking at it from a glass-half-full standpoint. However, there is no avoiding the …

Clare’s outstanding All-Star midfielder, Colm Galvin, is to spend the summer in the US and will not be available for the county’s Munster championship campaign, which begins on Sunday, May 24 when the Banner men take on Limerick at Semple Stadium in Thurles. Clare fans will be glad to hear, however, that the Clonlara man has not ruled out playing some part in the championship. Rumours of Galvin’s desire to travel to the US have been circulating for the past few seasons but have been quite strong since last autumn, after he played a key role in helping Clare to a third successive All-Ireland U-21 title. The 22-year-old will leave Ireland on April 28 and will play his hurling this summer with Tipperary in the popular North American venue of Boston, where he has work lined up. His absence is a huge blow to Clare hopes of championship success and also a massive loss to his club, Clonlara, who were …

Kilkenny 1-18 Clare 1-17 Hot favourites Kilkenny had to rely on an injury time point to secure their dixision 1 status for next season when they overcame Clare in a cracking contest at Nowlan Park this afternoon. On a day when the sides were level on ten occasions, the Noresiders were fortunate to be ahead at the final whistle. Kilkenny went in to the tie as raging hot favourites but Clare produced, arguably their best display of the campaign and were most unlucky to lose out. They had outstanding performers in Tony Kelly and Shane O’Donnell and while there will be disappointment at the end result, the Banner men can certainly look forward to the championship with great hope after this performance Clare’s hopes of avoiding relegation received a great boost when Pat O’Connor, Colm Galvin and Conor McGrath were all declared fit for action although McGrath only lasted twenty minutes at which time he was replaced by Cathal O’Connell. …

Limerick 2-10 Clare 1-5 CLARE produced their worst display of their 2015 NFL division 3 campaign when falling to Limerick by double scores in Newcastlewest on Sunday afternoon. It was Clare’s third successive league defeat. Limerick won simply because they were significantly more committed than Clare and completely dominated the last 25 minutes. Although Clare played with a very strong breeze in that second half they failed to score in the last 26 minutes. They were 1-4 to 0-2 behind at half time but just nine minutes into the second half the teams were tied at 1-5 each. It looked inevitable that Clare would go on and record a badly needed win. The Clare goal was scored by Pat Burke from the penalty spot afte pSeanie Buckley, under pressure from Podge Collins, picked the ball off the ground in the small square. Points from play, put over by Gary Brennan and Dean Ryan, tied the game and put Clare into …

HAVING represented his club on the football fields of Clare for 22 years, Odran O’Dwyer is acclimatising to life on the sidelines. The self-employed Mullagh man made his debut as a Kilmurry Ibrickane senior selector in the side’s one-point Cusack Cup win over Lissycasey last week. A Kilmurry senior footballer since 1993, O’Dwyer retires from playing with seven senior championship medals in his pocket, accompanied by two Munster club and six Cusack Cup medals. He represented Clare at every level, while he also played for Ireland in 2003, when they travelled to take on Australia in the compromise rules series. O’Dwyer had six pins inserted in his shoulder, when he underwent shoulder reconstruction surgery recently, which will take several months to heal fully. “Time catches up with you and the legs get slower. There’s nothing you can do. I had said to the family that 2014 was my last year,” he told The Clare Champion this week. O’Dwyer cites 2004 …

Cratloe 2-6 Crusheen-Tubber 0-9 Cratloe caused a surprise when they overcame a fancied Crusheen-Tubber at Clarecastle on Saturday afternoon to qualify for the final of the under 21 B hurling championship where they will play either Clonlara or Tulla whose semi-final was postponed due to a bereavement in Clonlara. In windy and cold conditions, two goals inside four minutes at the start of the second half proved decisive on a day when All-Ireland under 21 medallist, Shane Gleeson played a key role in his side’s victory, hitting all but a goal of their tally. Playing against what was mainly a cross field wind, Cratloe took a two point lead in as many minutes thanks to Shane Gleeson. Crusheen-Tubber slowly got a grip on the tie and pointed frees by Lorcan O’Grady and Colin Vaughan tied up the game after seven minutes before Robbie Malone fired the combination side into the lead. At half time Crusheen-Tubber were 0-6 to 0-3 in …

TRADITIONALISTS will not accept this view but there is a cogent argument that Sunday’s league game is a more important fixture than Clare and Limerick’s Munster Championship date on May 23 in Ennis. If Limerick lose in Newcastle West this weekend, they are very likely to be relegated. They would have to hope that Louth and Wexford don’t win either of their last two games to have any chance of surviving on score difference. Furthermore, Limerick would have to beat Louth in Drogheda in their final league game. If they head to Drogheda on the back of a win over Clare, they might have some chance of beating Louth but if Limerick can’t win at home on Sunday, their two-year stint in Division 3 will come to an abrupt end. With all that in mind, Clare can expect a formidable last stand from Limerick. With key forward, Ian Ryan back from injury and veteran wing-back, Pa Ranahan recently returned to …

Scariff Community College 7-12 Ennistymon CBS 5-16 (after extra time) A cracking Munster colleges under 15 D hurling final at Clarecastle on Friday morning ended in victory for Scariff over their fellow Clare outfit, Ennistymon CBS. A high scoring affair, this tie produced some great hurling and there were a number of superb individual performances, notably from Aidan McCarthy, Marc and Tom Barry, Mark Rodgers and Michael Hynes to mention some The lead changed hands throughout the tie and the result was in doubt right to the final whistle. Scariff’s greater fitness proved decisive in the end but few would have complained if the tie had gone to a replay. The game was just twenty seconds gold when Mark Rodgers goaled for Scariff but Ennistymon were in front by the fifth minute thanks to a Tom Barry goal. Within seconds Rodgers struck for his side’s second major but this was quickly cancelled out by an Aidan McCarthy effort. Further Scariff …

IF experience is a key ingredient to success in the Oscar Traynor Cup, then Clare have a strong hand, as team captain Pat Purcell is one of the most experienced players taking part in this year’s competition. He leads the side in their quarter final tie away to Sligo/Leitrim this Saturday. Having played League of Ireland football with Limerick for a number of seasons, he returned to junior football this season when he joined Newmarket Celtic. Purcell previously played in this competition with Limerick, as he was playing his junior football with Fairview Rangers at the time. Acknowledging that “there is a commitment involved”, he said it isn’t as great as that required for League of Ireland football. He has a similar view to that of team manager Mick Shiel in relation to the running of the competition. “There are too many gaps. Lads in the Oscar Traynor squad might not see each other for weeks because of the gaps …

Injury concerns for Clare hurlers

IT’S an indication of the standing enjoyed by the teams involved that Sunday’s National Hurling League relegation play-off between Clare and Kilkenny is to be televised live by TG4 ahead of a number of quarter-final games and ahead of a number of attractive football league ties. Prior to the commencement of the league, few would have thought that the All-Ireland champions of the past two years, Clare and Kilkenny would now be preparing to do battle to decide who will remain in Division 1A for next season. Kilkenny will carry the favourites’ tag. They will welcome back a number of their leading lights, who missed last week’s game due to injuries and the fact that management decided to rest some players ahead of the crucial play-off. They were boosted on Monday when they won the toss for venue, which means that Clare must make the journey to the Marble City for the second time in seven days. While the Noresiders …

Clare hurler Brendan Bugler has lost his appeal against a two-match ban imposed by the Central Hearings Committee, following his sending-off against Dublin in the league. The Whitegate hurler was shown a straight red card by Cork’s Cathal McAllister following an off-the-ball incident in the first-half. He was subsequently given a two-match ban, as he had been previously shown a red card inside the last 12 months. The appeal was heard by the Central Appeals Committee last evening. “Having heard and considered all submissions and evidence of witnesses on behalf of the appellant and the decision-maker, the CAC upheld the decision of the CHC and rejected the appeal”, according to a statement issued by Croke Park. The decision is a further blow to Clare’s hopes of retaining Division 1 status for next season, as he will now miss Sunday’s relegation play-off with Kilkenny. By Seamus Hayes

The Gaelic Players Association is to take no further action in relation to the issues raised about the disciplining of Clare hurlers, Davy O’Halloran and Nicky O’Connell. The GPA, in a statement released on its website, said, “Having looked into the situation in Clare and having consulted with parties involved, the Gaelic Players Association’s dealings in this matter are and will remain of a confidential nature. “We have outlined to the players involved that GPA support is available to them through our progammes and services. In respect to all parties, the GPA will be making no further comment.” Nicky O’Connell and Davy O’Halloran had been disciplined for socialising and both left the panel, with O’Halloran, saying he felt “humiliated” by their treatment and claimed that there had been double standards applied to similar cases involving other players. In a brief statement last week, the Clare panel refuted O’Halloran’s claim and said that matters had been “dealt with fairly”. Clare manager, Davy Fitzgerald …

By Seamus Hayes Kilkenny 2-20 Clare 2-19 Clare and Kilkenny will do battle again next Sunday to determine who will drop to division 1 B for next season. Clare needed to win in Nowlan Park and hope that Galway beat Dublin in Parnell Park to avoid being involved in the relegation play off but neither result was achieved leaving Clare and Kilkenny in the relegation play off. A strong secondhalf showing form Kilkenny proved too much for Clare before an attendance of 6,298 . Throughout the seventy minutes the kilkenny full forward trio caused huge problems for Clare as is evidenced by the fact thqat the home side’s inside trio contributed 2-14 of their side’s final tally At the end of a lively first half, visitors Clare held a one goal lead, 2-9 to 1-9. Full forward Shane O’ Donnell accounted for both goals, the first coming in the ninth minute after he had taken a pass from Conor McGrath …

By Seamus Hayes The Clare team named to start against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park on Sunday shows four changes in personnel from that which lined out against Dublin on Saturday last. Into the team comes Patrick Kelly, Jack Browne, Seadna Morey and Colin Ryan and they replace Donal Tuohy, Brendan Bugler (suspended), Pat O’Connor (injured) and Shane Golden. Colin Ryan was unavailable for the Dublin game while Seadna Morey will be making his first start of this campaign. Joint team captain Pat Donnellan will line out at wing back where he impressed in the second half of the game against Dublin. Morey is named as midfield partner to Colm Galvin but may be asked to fill a sweeper’s role with Tony Kelly moving out to partner Galvin. The team is Patrick Kelly; Paul Flanagan, David McInerney, Jack Browne; Pat Donnellan, Conor Ryan, Cian Dillon; Colm Galvin, Seadna Morey; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Colin Ryan: Aaron Cunningham, Shane O’Donnell, Conor McGrath …

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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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