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Tag Archives: @ClooneyQuinGAA

Banner versus ‘Bricks in battle of champions

A battle of the senior and intermediate champions tops the billing for Round 2 of the Senior Ladies Football Championship when Banner Ladies host Kilmurry Ibrickane in Banner GAA on Sunday at 2pm. In a repeat of last year’s senior decider, the Ennis side repeated the dose against West Clare Gaels last weekend while Kilmurry Ibrickane were edged out by 2019 winners Kilmihil in contrasting opening bouts, with anything the ‘Bricks could get out of Sunday’s fixture being a major bonus. Also determined to get off the mark will be Cooraclare and West Clare Gaels who meet in Cooraclare on Saturday evening at 6pm. The sides famously last met in last September’s semi-final that saw the 2010 winners finally end Cooraclare’s superb return to senior level despite a rousing second half fightback by 3-9 to 1-10. The tie of Round 2 however is the intriguing wrestle for supremacy between Kilmihil and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in Kilmihil on Sunday evening (6pm) …

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Healy’s hat-trick helps Kilmaley break final hoodoo

Kilmaley made it third time lucky when powering to the Under 15B Hurling honours in Cusack Park on Tuesday evening. Following back-to-back final defeats to Newmarket-on-Fergus (13B) and Clarecastle (14B), their persistence was finally rewarded thanks to a determined, command display. That said, it was a result that certainly didn’t seem likely when losing captain Evan Casey to a red card after only 14 minutes. At the time, they led by Jamie Healy’s ninth minute goal but saw their advantage swallowed up by a Jerry O’Connor-led resurgence from Clooney-Quin that twice regained parity. However, with the wind at their backs for the second period, Kilmaley flexed their muscles by not only negating Clooney-Quin’s numerical advantage but outscoring their opponents by 3-9 to 1-2 in a dominant half that ensured that the game was over long before the final whistle. Jamie Healy’s hat-trick of goals was a particular highlight while the threat and direct running of Joseph Clancy 0-4) and Daire …

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Super Sunday ahead in next round of senior championship

Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 Group 1 Inagh-Kilnamona v Clonlara at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.45pm A ‘Group of Death’ Super Sunday commences with the tie of the entire round as one perfect record has to fall between Inagh-Kilnamona and Clonlara. Originally pencilled in for a fortnight ago, the switch of Round 2 and 3 at Clonlara’s request gave Inagh-Kilnamona the opportunity to build further momentum by adding the scalp of O’Callaghan’s Mills to neighbours Kilmaley. Of course, Clonlara also overcame the Mills in their opening bout but considering the performances of both sides so far, it’s not overstating it to suggest that neither Inagh-Kilnamona or Clonlara are the finished article quite yet. Considering their strength-in-depth, attacking flair and inter-county experience, unfulfilled potential has been a nouse around their necks over the past decade. Inagh-Kilnamona have certainly benefitted from their two outings, with incremental improvements displayed against the Mills, even if they still have a tendency to leave their opponents …

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Ogonnelloe and Banner lead Junior A contenders

With no immediate pressure for the main protagonists, the Junior A Hurling Championship probably won’t kick into gear until the knock-out stages. After all, with only four sides exiting the competition following the group stages, it will be difficult to truly assess the main contenders for O’Callaghan’s Mills title. However, after a number of barren seasons, there is renewed hope that a first team can finally claim the Junior honours, with Ogonnelloe’s recent Division 3 League success putting the East Clare side in pole position to achieve that goal. Only three flagship sides have won this championship in the past two decades – Ennistymon (2004), Meelick (2007) and Bodyke (2017), with Ogonnelloe’s last title coming 33 years ago. They are expected to be vying for the crown with the Banner who after gaining promotion to the intermediate ranks in football, will be determined to do likewise in the hurling equivalent. Ennistymon still remain an unknown quantity while the best of …

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Feakle in control

Clare Cup Division 1A Round 4 Feakle v Inagh-Kilnamona at Feakle, Saturday, 4.30pm (Jim Hickey) Depending on results, Feakle could be Clare Cup champions for the first time since 1988 on Saturday evening. For all the arguments surrounding the condensed format, it would be a major boost for the squad, their new management team under PJ Kelleher and of course the club as this would be their first senior silverware since that historic double winning season 33 years earlier. What has made their run all the more impressive is that they have been without key players which for a squad not renowned for its strength-in-depth will give Feakle great momentum for the championship, regardless of the outcome of the next two matches. Inevitably however, the pressure ramps up for their remaining ties against the last finalists Inagh-Kilnamona and Kilmaley. Inagh-Kilnamona, who have been affected much more by the absence of inter-county senior and Under 20 contingents, haven’t anything to play …

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Championship warm-ups get hotter in Round 3

Broadford v Clonlara at Broadford, Friday, 7.30pm A first derby meeting since the intermediate champions unceremoniously knocked Clonlara out of last year’s championship and soared into a senior quarter-final against another neighbour Sixmilebridge. Both, whether by necessity or choice, have delved deep into their panels for new hands to potentially be put up ahead of the championship so this local duel should tell the respective managements a lot more about their strength-in-depth. Of course, Clonlara’s Jimmy Browne is manager of Broadford but it may not be enough to work the oracle once more as Clon’s new-look side appear hungry and determined to maintain their perfect start. Inagh-Kilnamona v Ballyea at Inagh, Friday, 7.30pm If asked to name two sides that would be pointless after two rounds, one would hardly have chosen this pair. That said, aside from Ballyea’s 2019 league burst, such is their dual inter-county commitments that they have been content to ply their trade in Division 1B of …

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Perfects starts for Feakle and Clonlara

FEAKLE and Clonlara have set the early pace in the Clare Cup following the completion of back-to-back victories over the weekend, reports Eoin Brennan. 2016 champions Clonlara, a week on from overcoming last finalists Inagh-Kilnamona, managed to add the scalp of their nearest neighbours and reigning champions Kilmaley on home soil on Sunday afternoon. Leading from start to finish, a fortunate Dylan McMahon goal from distance provided the clear daylight that Clonlara needed to build up a nine point half-time advantage. And with Cian Moriarty excelling around the centre, that six point cushion would be maintained into the final quarter. Kilmaley inevitably rallied predominantly through Daire Keane and Mikey O’Malley. However, three points was as close as the visitors would come to Clonlara who deservedly held on for a 1-16 to 0-15 win. The previous evening, a strong finish to both halves saw Feakle lower home side Crusheen by 1-18 to 1-14 in another first round winners clash. Having been …

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Seconds out for Clare Cup

While it’s a rare weekend of inter-county calm before the storm, the competitive action has contrastingly rapidly mushroomed at club level, with a first bumper weekend of football and hurling leagues to come over a hectic three day span. That zero to a hundred fixture hike is in one way a welcome world away from the bleak lockdown longing that greeted the first five months of the year. However, with a large chunk of players still seeking match sharpness, it’s perhaps not ideal to be a dual player that in the absence of county contingents could be called upon to fulfill up to four fixtures over the coming days. Clare Cup Division 1A Round 2 Crusheen v Feakle at Crusheen, Saturday, 7.30pm (C Maguire) After opening round victories, this should present a welcome barometer for both this Saturday. Feakle’s opening round triumph over county champions Sixmilebridge will have given them a significant shot in the arm whereas the most encouraging …

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