Tag Archives: football

BALLYEA (hurling) and Éire Óg’s (football) quest for a historic three in a row of senior titles were put into sharper focus on Wednesday evening when the draws for all eleven adult hurling and football championships were made at the June Meeting of Clare GAA in Hotel Woodstock, writes Eoin Brennan. With only two teams to emerge from each group in the senior hurling championship, the back-to-back champions face a difficult title defence when pitted against 2021 finalists Inagh-Kilnamona, Clare Cup holders Kilmaley, Intermediate winners St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and 2020 equivalents Scariff. One of the most intriguing pools was Group 3 which comprises of four neighbours Cratloe, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Wolfe Tones and Clooney-Quin. In the race for Jack Daly, three teams will emerge from Group 1 that involves last year’s semi-finalists Corofin and Kilmurry Ibrickane, Cusack Cup champions St Breckan’s and 2020 intermediate winners St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. It was also announced that TUS have come on board as sponsors of the …

Cusack Cup Division 1 Football League Round 1 Kilmurry Ibrickane v Ennistymon at Páirc Naomh Mhuire Quilty, Friday 11.30am Based on the standard of last weekend’s hurling equivalents, it would be some feat to come even remotely close to their epic 140 minute senior championship semi-final showdown last October that went all the way through extra-time and penalty before sudden death finally inched Ennistymon through to a first county final in four years. Instead, it will probably be all about blowing off the cobwebs of the new season and trying to unearth more options for their flagship sides. Kilmurry Ibrickane Management: James Murrihy (Manager); James Mannion, Enda O’Halloran (Coaches); Gary Sexton (S&C): Diarmuid Whelan Ennistymon Management: Mark Shanahan (Manager); Ger Quinlan (Coach); John McInerney, Brendan Rouine (Selectors) Clondegad v Doonbeg at Ballynacally, Friday 4pm While Doonbeg gained confidence from last year’s Cusack Cup run to a semi-final, only these minimum separated the sides in the subsequent championship group stages, with …

Munster Senior E Post-Primary Schools Football Final St Michael’s Kilmihil 1-8 Coláiste Mhuire Thurles 1-7 St Michael’s Kilmihil certainly provided value for money as they eventually edged a nervy finale by the bare minimum to finally garner a Munster Senior E title for the very first time in Cappamore on Tuesday afternoon. Having literally weathered the storm against the conditions and a black card by the break, the West Clare side turned the screw on the restart when raiding for 1-3 without reply culminating in a goal for substitute Julian Linnane by the turn of the final quarter at 1-7 to 0-5. They had further opportunities to close out the contest including a smothered goal chance for another replacement Dylan Downes. However, with the door still slightly ajar, to their credit Coláiste Mhuire Thurles somehow turned the tide as points from midfielders Audi Lohan and Sean McGrath slashed the deficit to just a goal before Seamus Kennedy’s effort for an …

Heartbreak for UL as they were made to suffer a second successive Sigerson Cup Final defeat, this time after extra-time to UCC by 1-16 to 0-16 in an inclement Carrignore, Waterford on Wednesday evening. The goal which opened the scoring in spectacular fashion through a Dylan Geaney flick in only the fourth minute, predominantly separated the sides as UL chased the Corm college in vain until midway through the third quarter. Powered by a seven-strong Clare contingent led by inspirational captain Emmet McMahon, the Limerick college produced a remarkable seven point turnaround in as many minutes by the turn of the final quarter to hit the front for the first time. Kilmihil’s Ciaran Downes began the seven point unanswered blitz in the 38th minute while Emmet McMahon kicked a superb brace of points from the left wing to nudge his side into the ascendency at 0-13 to 1-8. UCC refused to yield however, with points through chief marksmen Geaney and …

Following St Joseph’s Spanish Point’s historic Munster Under 19D success last Friday, St Michael’s Kilmihil are left flying the flag at senior level. With the batteries recharged after the mid-term break, the West Clare side will finally contest their provincial Under 19E semi-final against Cork’s Schull Community College, with Coláiste Mhuire Durlas eagerly awaiting the winner in the decider. Also patiently waiting for the fixture backlog to clear are St Flannan’s College who despite being qualified for the Munster Under 15A Hurling Final over a week, will have to bide their time as Nenagh CBS and Midleton CBS are yet to play their quarter-final, not to mind the semi-final stage against Thurles CBS. They are one of eight different schools still involved in the Munster Under 15 Hurling Championships while there are also eight in contention for the Munster Under16.5 Football equivalents. TUS Munster Post-Primary Schools GAA Championships Results/Fixtures Update Football Munster Under 19B Football Championship Quarter-Final Patrician College Mallow …

U-21A Football Championship Semi-Final Ennistymon 2-4 St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-6 Delayed shock is a medical term to describe if the victim does not process what they have experienced straight away. In Cooraclare this was witnessed under floodlights when Eanna Rouine’s 63rd minute goal did not register immediately with either side and even when it did the Ennistymon management were somehow still wondering how it came about. The end result was a county final place snatched from a stunned St Joseph’s side who had welcomed the Ennistymon side onto them in the final minutes and ultimately costing them a tussle with favourites Corofin next week. Sleet, cold wind and rain coming from the Atlantic on the Tuesday before Christmas may not sound an appetising vision for a county Under 21A semi final and still for such a low scoring event this game did have its moments especially in an action packed final ten minutes. In such a low scoring outing the …

All-Ireland Football Qualifier Round 3 Clare 2-15 Roscommon 1-16 HISTORY repeats itself. Roscommon once more the vanquished. Those who bemoaned travelling to Croke Park were not those who were present to see history being witnessed as one of the greatest successes in Clare football was secured and a place in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals in two weeks’ time, writes Michael O’Connor. Memories of a glorious Saturday in Pearse Stadium and an emphatic six-point win all of six years ago were rekindled as Clare once more took on Roscommon in a qualifier with a place in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals at stake. Six starters from the Salthill encounter started this latest instalment at GAA headquarters. The opening score went to Cathal O’Connor after a five man move ended with the Coolmeen man pointing. Roscommon rallied with Eddie Nolan going close with a goal chance before Cathal O’Connor with Clare’s second effort was off target after being set up by Podge Collins as Clare …

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1 Clare 1-7 Meath 0-6 THE famine is finally over as Clare exorcised their Meath ghosts to advance to the last 12 of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in Cusack Park this evening. Having suffered five consecutive defeats to the Royal County in as many seasons, Clare certainly made hard work out of their revenge mission as despite holding a four point interval lead with the strong conditions to come, the Banner eventually had to come from behind to cement victory with the last three points. Add in eight second half wides, three missed goal opportunities including a 63rd minute David Tubridy penalty that was excellently tipped away by goalkeeper Harry Hogan and it understandably had to take immense character for a persistent Clare to get back on track as Eoin Cleary, Keelan Sexton and Manus Doherty provided the finishing touches to a rousing yet relieving opening championship win. It was all so different in …