Tag Archives: Cusack Park Ennis

Munster Senior Football Championship Final Kerry 0-23 Clare 1-13 SUCH a historic occasion wasn’t matched by a home upset but Clare did test Kerry’s resolve on their way to a record 85th Munster Senior Football crown in front of 12,059 in Cusack Park, Ennis, writes Eoin Brennan. In what was the first time in 87 years that Clare contested back-to-back provincial finals, the hosts admirably managed to halve last year’s deficit with only half of the same personnel in what was a hugely encouraging battling display from Mark Fitzgerald’s side. Clare’s plunkiness was ultimately superceded by Kerry’s vast experience as in contrast the Kingdom possessed 17 of the 20 players from the 2023 decider. However, not content with moral victories, Clare commendably went out to win this final, not contain the perennial superpowers as evidenced by carving out two glorious goal opportunites either side of half-time. Trailing by 0-10 to 0-07, Clare’s best player Dermot Coughlan broke through Kerry’s last …

Senior Hurling Championship Final Ballyea v Inagh-Kilnamona at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.30pm (Johnny Healy, Smith O’Brien’s) IT’S that age old conundrum of experience versus momentum that in truth has no scientific formula to back either case up. Over the years, both sides of the divide have prevailed but in more recent local case studies, it’s the freshness and unstoppable propulsion of the newcomer that have edged matters. Take Éire Óg’s football equivalent victory over a vastly experienced Kilmurry Ibrickane last Sunday or Smith O’Brien’s upset over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in the intermediate hurling decider a week previously. That trend is of course good reading for Inagh-Kilnamona who instead of being caught up in the occasion, have been busy trying to patch up the likes of Aidan McCarthy and David Fitzgerald ahead of Sunday’s historic first senior final. Ballyea obviously have had their injury woes too. One would have to have been cocooning for the last two months not to …

National Hurling League Division 1 Group B Round 5 Clare 4-20 Kilkenny 1-25 CLARE completed their National League campaign on a high in Cusack Park this afternoon after holding off a defiant Kilkenny to secure a third successive victory, reports Eoin Brennan. Having faded in a similar test of endurance a month previously against Wexford, this time the home side proved the stronger coming down the final straight. Having hit Kilkenny for four goals, the sides were still level by the 68th minute. However, following a monster Tony Kelly free, substitutes Gary Cooney (2) and Ryan Taylor ensured the Clare finished with the last four points to deservedly prevail over the previously unbeaten Cats. It was an intense yet very open and compelling end-to-end wrestle for supremacy that was live on nine occasions and saw the lead change hands three times alone in the final quarter. Injuries to defensive duo Aaron Fitzgerald and the returning David McInerney were the only …

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 …

WEXFORD manager Liam Dunne went home from Ennis  content that his gear bag contained a particular jersey. A combative half-back in his own day, Dunne headed for Ennis last Saturday intent on winning and heading home with Brendan Bugler’s jersey. He half succeeded on the first count and followed that up by getting his hands on the Whitegate man’s number five jersey. “I asked him for his jersey. I got to him last year but he was after swapping his jersey. He’s a man that I have admired for a long, long time. I think he’s a great bit of stuff and a great hurler. He gave me his jersey and I’m delighted going home with that,” Dunne revealed. He feels Wexford will benefit from the game. “To score 2-25 apiece, would any team deserve to lose a game? Clare are not All-Ireland champions for nothing and they proved it today. We put them under pressure in the first half …