Tag Archives: Clare Senior Hurlers

No tickets are currently available for the Munster Hurling Final after the 11,000 put on general sale this morning were all bought in a mere 11 minutes. All stand tickets and some for the terraces were allocated to clubs earlier in the week, meaning that only a portion of the terrace tickets were put on sale this morning. Yesterday, some of the county’s clubs had announced that the allocations they received were not sufficient to cover the demand from their members, such is the level of interest in what will be the first Clare-Limerick Munster final since 1995. While Clare GAA has been beset by infighting for the last couple of years, the performances of the hurlers this year have been outstanding, and supporters have backed the team in large numbers, with an attendance of over 16,000 at Cusack Park last Sunday, the vast majority backing Clare, even though the Banner had already qualified for the Munster final. With Limerick …

SEMPLE Stadium is set to be sold out on Sunday week for the Munster Senior Hurling Championship final, according to the Munster Council. On Wednesday Munster GAA Communications Manager Ed Donnelly stated that 90% of the stand tickets had already been allocated to clubs in Clare and Limerick, and to season ticket holders. He said that the remainder of the stand tickets had gone to other Munster counties, the Camogie Association (the curtain raiser is a senior camogie game between Waterford and Tipperary), and Munster GAA. Mr Donnelly said that terrace tickets have also gone to the clubs of Clare and Limerick and the remaining tickets for the two terraces will be going on sale at 10am this Thursday morning, May 26, online at Ticketmaster and at participating Centra and Supervalu outlets. The launch of the new trophy for the Munster Senior Hurling Champions took place at the Castle Oaks Hotel, Castleconnell on Wednesday night. The Mick Mackey Cup will …

Having soared to a place in the Munster Final with a game to spare, Clare are faced with the same conundrum as Limerick were in the lead-up to last Sunday’s Shannonside derby in Ennis. Essentially that they don’t want to lose the unquestionable momentum built up so far by fielding a weakened team and possibly suffering defeat but at the same time their main focus must be on taking down the three-in-a-row champions and garnering a first Munster title since Brian Lohan himself was at his peak in 1998. What should transpire is a combination of both as any player that has any complaint or ailment will sit out this final round showpiece. Those that require some valuable game-time such as the returning Ian Galvin, Shane Meehan, David Reidy, Aron Shanagher and possibly even Mark Rodgers will get the opportunity to stake their claim for a stating berth in that provincial final showdown It must also be noted that this …

BEFORE a ball was pucked the line ‘Are they Gods or real folk’ was belted out again and again on Cusack Park’s new surround sound system. It was part of an eclectic playlist that’s now part of the pre-match entertainment on big match days at Clare headquarters, in a welcome move away from ‘My Lovely Rose of Clare’ and more. It’s from the old Horslips number ‘Trouble’ — the answer to ‘are they Gods or real folk?’ coming in a game from the Gods played by out two teams that don’t know what it’s like to take a step back, just as their managers don’t know either. Always going forward, always driving and giving us everything we expected it to be — a ferocious, breathless and sustained battle from first to the last whistle. No wonder the Rolling Stones’ ‘Give Me Shelter’ was aired pitchside after it was all over — just because there was no shelter, or no hiding …

It didn’t end in victory but Sunday’s box-office encounter was every bit as satisfying as the previous triumphs over Tipperary and Cork as Clare met fire with fire against runaway All-Ireland favourites Limerick. Having come into the championship firmly under most people’s radar, the Banner’s spectacular rising star over the past month also inevitably heightened the expectation levels that Brian Lohan’s men certainly matched if not surpassed in a sensational Shannonside derby in Cusack Park. “We are happy enough,” began Lohan afterwards. “With a big crowd in Ennis, there was a little bit of expectation from our own supporters who came in their droves to support the team and we were probably under a little bit of pressure to make sure that we didn’t disappoint them. I am happy enough that we performed to a reasonable level. “This place hasn’t been packed for a while and there hasn’t been as big a demand for tickets in a while. And when …

THERE HAS been much talk around the county over the past few weeks about Clare not getting the true credit they deserve for their perfect start to the Munster Championship. It’s no different to last year’s championship opening demolition of Waterford or back-to-back victories over Wexford as there was more concern about what happened to the vanquished sides such as Tipperary and Cork rather the rampant Banner that inflicted the damage. That’s certainly not a concern that the management hold as being written off makes their job much easier in terms of motivation and ambushing potential. Realistically though, Clare will only truly get merited credit if they could take down perennial champions Limerick. The big question for both teams however is their mindset in the approach to this group clash on Sunday. With Limerick almost certainly safely through to a fourth consecutive Munster decider, it difficult to see how or why they would bring a full strength side to Ennis …

Clare selector Ken Ralph wants to build upon the current feel good factor surrounding hurling within the county. The Clare minors, heartbreakingly denied in the Munster final on Wednesday night, has the county’s supporters excited by the talent emerging. The U-20s will also feel they could have progressed further after losing winning hands against both Limerick and Cork. Ralph is keen to give supporters more to shout about against the all conquering Limerick side. “It’s brilliant that our minors reached the Munster final. It was unfortunate for the U-20s because they could just as easily have beaten both teams. There’s green shoots there and a buzz about the place so we hope that continues. You can see it in the supporters, there’s a buzz there.” Despite dipping well below their usual standards, John Kiely’s outfit managed to secure a 3-21 to 0-23 triumph against Tipperary as late goals from substitute Conor Boylan and Aaron Gillane put an end to any …

SIXTY-SEVEN years ago Dermot Kelly broke Banner hearts, when he delivered an incredible Munster final performance, scoring 1-12 to propel Limerick to a hugely unexpected victory. These days Dermot is based in north Clare and ironically with his home county about to face the Banner on Sunday, he was the winner of a Club Clare draw for a signed Clare jersey. Dermot will be turning 90 on Christmas Day and his son Sean said that while still a Limerick man first and foremost, he does have an affection for Clare. “Yeah, he does, he lived in Ennis for 20 years and he’s spent an awful lot of time in Lahinch and Liscannor,” his son told The Champion. While he has revelled in Limerick taking three of the last four All Ireland’s he also enjoyed Clare’s triumphs. “He’s very happy with all Limerick have won, very much so. But the last time that Clare won the All-Ireland in 2013 he wrote …