Home » Tag Archives: Clare GAA (page 5)

Tag Archives: Clare GAA

Banner fall agonisingly short against visiting Rebels, but secure league semi-final spot

National Football League Division 2 South Round 3 Cork 0-22 Clare 1-18 CLARE enjoyed the rarified air of being victorious in defeat this afternoon after securing a National Football League Division 2 Semi-Final spot on score difference over opponents Cork in Cusack Park, reports Eoin Brennan. Level entering the final minute of additional time, Cork dug deep to obtain a last gasp winning point through John O’Rourke but ultimately it needed to be a goal if the Rebels were to leapfrog their hosts in the table after Clare, Cork and Kildare all finished on four points in the group standings. Essentially, Cork required a three point victory to prevent Clare from setting up a penultimate stage clash with Mayo for a place in Division 1 for 2022. It also meant that Clare’s Division 2 status was secured for a fifth consecutive season whereas last year’s Division 3 champions Cork will have to beat Westmeath to avoid dropping immediately back down …

Read More »

Clare look to nail down semi-final spot

Clare v Cork at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1.45pm (Derek O’Mahoney, Tipperary) An unprecedented start of back-to-back opening victories have placed Clare on the verge of the Division 2 Semi-Finals. With a foot and a half in the knock-out stages, it would have to take an extraordinary series of results to deny Colm Collins’ men from facing either Meath or Mayo in the last four. However, if Division 2 has taught us anything over the past five seasons, it’s to expect the unexpected and therefore Clare will need to maintain their current impetus against Munster rivals Cork who crave victory equally as much. With all four teams involved in either promotion or relegation play-offs after this weekend’s final round, the Rebels are most in danger of becoming embroiled in the nervy demotion series that would halt their rebuilding process. After all, following recent All-Ireland Minor and Under 20 titles, last year’s Munster Senior Final appearance after dethroning kingpins Kerry along …

Read More »

Victory the only option for Clare

National Camogie League Division 3 Round 3 Carlow v Clare at Netwatch Training Centre Fenagh, Saturday 2pm Clare’s aim is simple when embarking on the five hour round trip to Fenagh on Saturday. There’s no need for calculators as it’s do-or-die for the visitors that will only be sated by a victory in order to advance to the Division 3 Semi-Finals. Having consistently reached that lofty stage since taking over four years ago, joint-managers Ann-Marie McGann and Tim McGrath are arguably facing their toughest test to maintain that record against intermediate side Carlow. Of course, Carlow last overcame Clare in the 2014 All-Ireland Junior Championship Semi-Final on their way to national glory. It would provide the catalyst to subsequently soar to an All-Ireland Premier Junior Championship and National League Division 3 double twelve months later, but any further momentum hasn’t materialised as the Leinster side were relegated back to the third league tier for 2020. Perennial top-scorer Ciara Quirke and …

Read More »

Third time’s a charm as Clare prove too strong for Laois in National League Round 3

National League Division 1 Group B Round 3 Clare 2-27 Laois 1-17 CLARE completed a perfect National League afternoon after the hurlers’ commanding victory over Laois complemented earlier rousing wins for the mens and ladies footballers also against Leinster opposition, reports Eoin Brennan. Following disappointing reverses against Antrim and Wexford, Brian Lohan’s side craved a victory to finally kickstart their season in Portlaoise. As it turned out, there was never really any doubt about the execution of that result as Clare led from start to finish and were clear winners long before the final whistle. An outstanding Shane O’Donnell solo goal in the ninth minute was the main separator in the opening period as Clare, despite impressive braces for Cathal Malone and Diarmuid Ryan, struggled to put clear daylight between the sides. 13 wides in the first half ensured that Clare only held a 1-12 to 0-11 advantage by the break but the visitors stepped heavily on the gas on …

Read More »

Strong second-half sees Clare ladies start league campaign with a win

National Ladies Football League Division 2B Round 1 Clare 0-12 Wexford 1-8 CLARE got their League campaign off to a winning start in Cusack Park, rallying against a formidable Wexford side to come from behind in the second half to snatch the win by a single point, reports Muireann Duffy. Clare had a commanding start to the opening half, taking the challenge to Wexford who took longer to find their feet. A direct attacking style suited the homeside, who made easy work of cutting straight through Wexford’s defence, but the roles would be reversed in the second half. Fidelma Marrinan caused an early headache for Paul Carty’s side, proving a strong attacking threat and pointing two frees in the opening 10 minutes, but unforced Clare errors at the other end of the pitch quickly gave Wexford their way into the match. Claiming four points from frees, Wexford put themselves ahead in the 13th minute despite Clare playing the better football. …

Read More »

Clare storm past Kildare to maintain winning start to National League Division 2

Allianz Football League Division 2 South Round 2 Clare 1-13 Kildare 0-13 at Newbridge ONCE again Newbridge brings drama as Clare with a superb effort over 70 minutes using their substitutes brilliantly and with Eoin Cleary coming up with pressure cooker points Clare maintained a winning record in this year’s Allianz league, reports Michael O’Connor. Had Clare managed just a share of the spoils they would have made the journey home very disappointed as they were without the better side and face into Cork in Cusack Park with everything to play for. At the end of the first quarter Clare were (0-6) to (0-3) in arrears after a early positive start by Clare was matched by Kildare capitalising on frees conceded by the Clare rearguard. The Banner men at times in the first 15 minutes met a strong disciplined Kildare rearguard who forced Clare into errors. There was a flurry of scores in the first ten minutes with successful efforts …

Read More »

Clare fall foul of neighbours Limerick in National Camogie League Division 1

National Camogie League Division 1 Round 2 Limerick 2-14 Clare 1-11 A NERVY relegation series is Clare’s lot after disappointingly falling to neighbours Limerick in their concluding group stage outing in Fr.McNamara Park on Saturday afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Sorely second best for the opening three-quarters of the tie, the Banner never reached the encouraging heights of their opening performance against Galway seven days previously. 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of the visitors by the first water break, a blistering second quarter ensured that Limerick put themselves firmly in the driving seat as they outscored their hosts by 2-6 to 0-4, with Caoimhe Costelloe firing both goals including a 28th minute penalty to carve out a 2-10 to 0-07 interval cushion. With the conditions to come, Clare’s expected fightback never really materialised as five goal chances of varying degrees of difficulty went abegging. Instead, a superior Limerick, who were making their competitive bow for 2021, maintained their nine point advantage …

Read More »

Three-goal Clare get back to winning ways with league victory over Waterford

National Camogie League Division 3 Round 2 Clare 3-11 Waterford 1-09 CLARE deservedly bounced back to winning ways when timely goals ensured the hosts kickstarted their season in Fr McNamara Park in Ennis this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. A first home tie in seven months, nothing but a victory would suffice for the Banner to remain in contention for a Division 3 Semi-Final spot. That extra pressure did surface momentarily but thanks to an early brace of Sarah Loughnane goals and a crucial clinching strike through Sinead O’Keeffe by the two-thirds marks to catapult Clare to their opening points of 2021. Loughnane displayed the full array of skills as her rebound goal after only six minutes was bettered by a worthy two point converted sideline cut from 40 metres in the next passage of play. The Sixmilebridge player did receive a large dollop of luck for her second goal by the ninth minute that appeared to sneak into the right …

Read More »