Tag Archives: clare

Clare senior camogie manager John Carmody is targeting an All-Ireland quarter-final spot for his young team, but before that they’ll have an historic first ever outing in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh. The All-Ireland is where it’s at but there’s no better preparation for the gruelling group stages to begin in late May than by having a Munster Championship tie to look forward to on Sunday. As Clare supporters make their way in numbers to the banks to support the men in their crucial clash against the Rebels, the fact that the curtain raiser involves the camógs is something that Banner boss John Carmody and his team are eager to embrace. “That’s huge preparation for us ahead of the All-Ireland series,” he told The Clare Champion this week. “Are we improving? How close can we put it up to Cork next Sunday? That’s what we’re looking for. “It’s great for the girls to get the exposure …

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 1 Limerick 3-15 Clare 1-18 Early sunstroke for Clare after being blitzed by three final quarter Limerick goals in an unprecedented 12 point turnaround in Ennis, writes Eoin Brennan. In what seemed the real start of the summer amidst soaring temperatures in a capacity 20,055 Cusack Park, Clare seemed to be on track for a rousing opening derby victory when soaring nine clear by the turn of the final quarter. With talisman Tony Kelly also subsequently introduced, the script was written for an early statement of intent from the recently crowned National League champions. However, much like their flooring opening round reverse to a five goal Tipperary this time last year, Clare would be largely the architects of their own downfall as not only were they outscored by 3-6 to 0-3 in a war-weary finish but all three goals were emininently preventable. It makes their trip to Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Sunday all the …

Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-09 A completely different team but admirably the same result as Clare eased into back-to-back Munster Senior Football Finals for the first time in 87 years in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, writes Eoin Brennan. Despite the home side’s current buoyancy following their first Munster Championship triumph in 14 years against Tipperary last time out, Mark Fitzgerald’s side quickly quelled any potential revolt with a clincially professional performance. Indeed, they answered Jason Curry’s opening minute point with the next seven through five different scorers (Emmet McMahon (2), Aaron Griffin (2), Dermot Coughlan, Darragh Bohannon, Mark McInerney) and never looked back over their shoulders thereafter as goals through Emmet McMahon and Mark McInerney either side of the break cemented a provincial final showdown with Kerry long before the turn of the final quarter at 2-13 to 0-5. Even a Tom O’Connell home goal couldn’t rally a downtrodden Deise as Aaron Griffin (2) and Ciaran Downes …

When Clare bring war to Cusack Park it creates a championship atmosphere to rival any other venue in the country, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh ahead of Sunday’s game when the Banner County hope to put a marker down and take the All-Ireland champions’ scalp. “Clare, wearing the old saffron jerseys with blue hoops for the first time in years, crashed into the exchanges from the word go in a manner reminiscent of their ancestors’ assault on the English ranks in Fontenoy.” Gerry McCarthy, The Irish Press, 1972 It’s a war to the power of hurling. Same as it ever was. Febrile, hostile, primal and all topped and tailed by all-consuming bursts of noise to the ebb, and flow and giving it that concertina effect – all somehow self-contained within the airspace of the ground. It’s home to what Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin calls organised ‘chaos’ and ‘markers down’, while Podge Collins cuts to that almost spiritual and awe-inspiring feeling of having …

On the panel for a number of years now Darragh, nephew of manager Brian, made his Championship debut last year when introduced as a substitute in the Waterford game and went on to start in the All Ireland quarter final victory over Dublin. This season the Wolfe Tones clubman has had plenty of game time to try and impress and he has certainly grabbed his opportunity with aplomb. Starting the League final at midfield, Lohan put in a powerful shift and is of course delighted with his National league medal. “It was an absolute fierce battle against Kilkenny as it always tends to be. We didn’t play as well as we have or as we can do but it’s all about the result and we’re delighted with the win. To be honest it’s great to get a reward for the hard work that we’ve put in over the last few years. To win a medal with your county is what …

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Round 3 Clare v Limerick at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge, Thursday, April 18, 7pm (Shane Scanlon, Cork) Having already achieved it with the confident manner of their All-Ireland winning performance, the latest Clare minor hurling squad are also looking to inspire their senior counterparts in the first Shannonside derby of the weekend in Sixmilebridge this evening (Thursday). Despite twelve minor debuts in their championship opener against Waterford a fortnight ago, Brian O’Connell’s side seamlessly pick up where their predecessors left off in 2023 with a commanding 0-22 to 0-13 victory in Cusack Park. With an unchanged team set to complete their home quota this evening, the Banner need to make the most of this chance to effectively reduce the Munster Final chasing field to three teams, with Clare set to face fellow fancied sides Cork and Tipperary away over the coming weeks. Ringrustiness perhaps was a factor in Limerick’s slow start against Cork but they certainly warmed …

Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 2 Tipperary 1-10 Clare 0-07 Clare finally exited the Munster Under 20 Football Championship but not without a fight as they went toe-to-toe with hosts Tipperary in Ardfinnan. In what was a winner-takes-all showdown to keep their slender final hopes alive, the neighbours produced a tense encounter that saw only a kick of the ball between the sides for the majority. Indeed, despite Tipperary continually shooting themselves in the foot in front of the posts in a wind-assisted second period, only a goal separated the sides by the hour mark before a 14 man Clare finally had to succumb to three injury-time points from Tipprary substitutes Daithi Hogan (2) and Paddy O’Keeffe. While the result was fully merited, Clare can be much more satisfied with their performance than seven days earlier when merely attempting to contain holders Kerry in Quilty. Michael Neylon’s side were far more combative as they effectively disrupted Tipperary’s …

Clare captain Caoimhe Harvey knows more than most the pain of final defeats. After last year’s league and Championship deciders ending in agonising losses to Kildare, Harvey was delighted to come out the right side in a national final. The Player of the Match certainly led from the front as her driving run played a vital role in Ailish Considine’s 15th minute goal. It was Clare’s first score of the day and gave them a lead they would never relinquish. Harvey was quick to spread the praise elsewhere though as she praised a rock solid defence that did not concede a score from play until the 59th minute. “It is just about giving the girls light and hope and show that we are actually good enough and that we can actually put it up to the opposition. Even a girl that turns the ball inside in the backs. Siofra and Grainne, Laurie, Teresa Collins blocked a ball. That is as …