Tag Archives: Clare Champion Cup

Newmarket’s dominance of Clare hurling in the late 1960s was recalled this week, when the members of the club’s three in-a-row championship-winning teams of 1967, 1968 and 1969 were feted at a function at The Inn in Dromoland. It was a particularly successful period for the club as, in addition to the three championship titles, they won four Clare Champion Cups from 1966 to 1969, while they became the first in Clare to win the Munster club title, when they defeated Carrick Davins from Tipperary on October 6, 1968 on a scoreline of 3-9 to 2-7. Many of the players in those teams were household names, including Jim Cullinan, Michael Considine, Gus Lohan, Liam Danagher, Paddy McNamara, Pat Cronin, Hubbie McCabe, two time All-Star Johnnie McMahon and Wexford man, Liam Griffin, who managed his native county to the All-Ireland title in 1996. In those three finals, Newmarket defeated neighbours and arch rivals Clarecastle. The 1967 final was played on November …

TO many GAA followers in the county, the championship semi-final meeting of arch rivals Sixmilebridge and Newmarket was the game of the year, so it’s not surprising that there is a lot of interest in Saturday’s Clare Champion Cup final between the two sides. Even though it is too late in the season to be playing such games, the attractiveness of the pairing should ensure a big crowd in Clonlara for 1pm. After almost two months without a competitive fixture, Newmarket accounted for Kilmaley in the semi-final of the league two weeks ago. Their opponents in the final haven’t had a competitive outing since they bowed out of the Munster club championship last month at the semi-final stage, going down by a point to Ballygunner from Waterford. When the teams clashed in the championship, Sixmilebridge won 3-17 to 2-18, and went on to claim the county title. For much of that game, a draw looked the likely result. The ’Bridge …

HEADING into Round 5 of the domestic hurling leagues this bank holiday weekend, there are five unbeaten teams in the Clare Champion Cup (Divisions 1A and 1B). Crusheen, Sixmilebridge, Kilmaley, Whitegate and Wolfe Tones have won all their matches to date, with the Shannon club having a game in hand as they and St Joseph’s did not play last week, having agreed to double up with their championship first round at the end of the month. Kilmaley and Whitegate have made a similar arrangement with regard to their league tie, which was scheduled for this weekend. When they meet in the championship first round in a few weeks time, the league points will also be up for grabs. In Division 2, there are three unbeaten teams. Ruan and Parteen have full points from their four outings, while Smith O’Brien’s are just one point behind with three wins and a draw to their credit. Killanena top Division 3 with three wins …

From an early stage in the 2014 county hurling season, it was predicted that Cratloe and Clonlara would contest the Clare championship final, provided they remained on opposite sides of the draw. While the draw ensured that was the case, Crusheen instead managed to dump Clonlara out of the race at the semi-final stage. After the championship, the Clare Champion Cup (senior league) is the next most important competition. Winners of the Canon Hamilton trophy, Cratloe have never won the league title. Clonlara’s last success was in 2009, when they won the title for only the second time, having won their first a year earlier, when they also won the championship. It is certainly not the best time of the year to be playing the final of such a prestigious competition but both Cratloe and Clonlara will want to win the title and the prize-money that goes with it, courtesy of sponsors, The Clare Champion. The final will take place …

IT is most likely that the five teams to lose senior status will come from the eight that will compete for the Senior B Championship. To hold onto senior status, victory in the opening round is essential. Last year’s intermediate champions, Whitegate, have a difficult first round on Sunday against Éire Óg. The town side may not have won a game in the league to date but, potentially, they have a squad that should see them as strong contenders for the B championship title. A final decision if All-Ireland hero Shane O’Donnell will play is unlikely to be made by manager, Seamus Durack and his backroom team, until near match time. The full-forward suffered a hamstring injury when training with the county squad a few weeks back. He hasn’t played since but the word from the Clare camp is he will resume competitive action this weekend. Should this be the case, it will be a massive boost to the town …