Tag Archives: Clare GAA

SECRETARY of Clare GAA Pat Fitzgerald has announced his intention to step down from the role next month. Mr Fitzgerald will resign on July 18, the day after the All-Ireland hurling final, after 32 years in the position. In a statement he said it had been a busy and demanding role and he had enjoyed it immensely. “I wish the county and all our teams the very best with all future endeavours and plans both on and off the field of play. I am very proud of what we have achieved together over many long years and I wish you every success into the future. “I look forward to supporting our county as a fan and assisting in any way I can in the years to come.” He had served in the role in a voluntary capacity for 17 years until 2007 when he was successful in an interview process among a number of candidates to take the job full …

Pop quiz hotshot, name the current Clare minor mentor that helped a county garner back-to-back All-Ireland minor titles in the past five seasons? In a vastly experienced team headed by former Clare senior captain Brian O’Connell, it’s not six-time Munster and three time All-Ireland winning joint-manager Donal Moloney nor 1995 All-Ireland winner Cyril Lyons who guided his native county to the 2002 All-Ireland decider as manager. In fact it’s coach Damian O’Halloran who while teaching in Balinasloe, was part of Jeff Lynskey’s backroom team that made the breakthrough for Galway with All-Ireland minor crowns in 2017 and ’18 before also having a stint with the Tribesmen at Under 21 level alongside Lynskey, Franny Forde and Tony Ward. “It was a great experience.” Recalls O’Halloran. “Going in cold, it certainly opened my eyes as to the standard required, the levels at which even minor set-ups are operating at along with the workload of management teams that are actually comparable to a …

Having soared to Munster Final managerial success over Clare in 2017, Sunday’s defeat cut deep for Kieran Kingston as it was Cork’s third successive big-match reverse. The criticism of August’s All-Ireland Final pummelling at the hands of Limerick had been sated somewhat by a hugely positive National league campaign. However, the wheels came off in the final against Waterford and that malaise has extended into the championship as Limerick and Clare have realistically put paid to the Rebels’ hopes of advancing to this years All-Ireland series. “We came into the game in control of our own destiny and after today we lose that control so it goes without saying that it was massively disappointing.” Began the Cork manager in the adjoining dressing room in Thurles immediately afterwards. “We had a very bad start, we were playing into the breeze in the first half and I think we were really nervous for the first 20 or 25 minutes and made some …

ÉÍRE Óg’s Tony Brohan has resigned as assistant treasurer of Clare GAA. When contacted by the Clare Champion on Tuesday Brohan confirmed he had resigned, but said he didn’t not wish to go into his reasons, beyond acknowledging he was dissatisfied. “I left quietly, I didn’t say too much leaving but I think people around me would know I wasn’t too happy with the way things are going at executive level. “I don’t want it to be about me, Clare GAA is busy at the moment on the playing fields and I want the emphasis to be on that and not on myself.” In December Brohan was re-elected as assistant treasurer, seeing off the challenge of Niomh Madigan of Kilrush. While the last few weeks have seen some good displays by Clare teams, particularly last Sunday’s defeat of Tipperary, the county has also been beleaguered by numerous off-field controversies in recent times. A five-year strategic plan for the county was …

National Football League Division 2 Round 6 Clare v Meath at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2pm (Derek O’Mahoney, Tipperary With Clare’s best start to Division 2 rapidly fading into the distance following back-to-back defeats to promotion favourites Derry and Galway over the past fortnight, the last team Colm Collins would have wanted to see coming next would be Meath. After all, Clare’s poorest record in Division 2 is against Andy McEntee’s side who have inflicted four successive defeats on the Banner since 2017. More than that though, while Clare unquestionably produced their best display against Meath in the All-Ireland Qualifiers in 2019 to only miss out on the Super 8’s by a solitary point, the Banner’s league record against them is best read between your fingers as Meath have averaged double figure wins in three successive seasons. That said, that agonising minimum championship defeat to the Royal’s by 2-16 to 1-18 in Portlaoise in July 2019 was the county’s last …

The times and venues for the Munster Senior, Minor and U20 Hurling and Football Championships have been confirmed this afternoon, writes Ivan Smyth. The Munster Hurling Championship reverts to the round robin format this year. Clare start their campaign against Tipperary on April 24 as they travel to FBD Semple Stadium, with that game throwing in at 2pm. One week later, on May 1, Brian Lohan’s charges return to Thurles as they face Cork with that game also starting at 2pm. The game was initially due to be held on Páirc Uí Chaoimh but has been moved to Thurles with Ed Sheeran set to play in the Cork venue on April 28 and 29. Two weeks later, Clare host All Ireland champions Limerick in Cusack Park with that game scheduled to throw in at 4pm. In the final round of fixtures, which takes place on May 22, Waterford travel down to Ennis with no time confirmed for that game. The …

CLARE GAA has announced the recruitment of three strength and conditioning interns – Criostóir McCaw, Brion Moriarty and Hugh O’Neill. Speaking following their introduction, Micheál Duffy, Clare GAA Games manager said, “As Clare GAA games manager I would like to welcome Criostóir, Bríon and Hugh to Clare GAA. “They will be working with us under the guiding expertise of Rob Mulcahy. Clare GAA have been extremely fortunate to engage with three ambitious individuals who are eager to make a mark is exactly what Clare GAA need and one is sure that their energy will be of a huge benefit to the players that they will coach in both the Development Squads and Post-Primary Schools. “I would also like to thank the County Board for supporting this new project as it is one that I think is extremely progressive and the fruits of which we hope to see in the years to come.” Rob Mulcahy, lead strength and conditioning coach with …

Munster Hurling Cup Semi-Final Clare v Waterford at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 1.30pm (Michael Kennedy, Tipperary) Liam Cahill’s Waterford have been a constant in Brian Lohan’s tenure as Clare manager so far, with this Saturday’s tie being the third knock-out tie between the rivals in as many seasons. Considering that Clare have played all five Munster Senior rivals so far in the last two seasons, the regular battles with Waterford have been memorable affairs that have seen the spoils shared evenly so far as Waterford knocked out the Banner in the last six of the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Championship, only for Clare to exact full revenge last summer in a devastating Munster opener performance. So what to expect of Saturday’s tie? Well, as a precursor for Waterford’s final round trip to Cusack Park (May 22) for the rejuvenated Munster Senior Championship round-robin series, it’s a good means of blowing off the cobwebs for the Deise who fundamentally will want to …