Tag Archives: football

By Seamus Hayes The Clare team to face Kildare in this Saturday’s qualifier championship round 2 game at Cusack Park is unchanged from the team which started against Carlow last week. Shane Hickey, injured early last week, is fit again and has been named at corner back with Dean Ryan, impressive when introduced in Carlow, dropping down to the substitutes bench. Team captain Gary Brennan will again lead the team from midfield where he will be partnered by Shane McGrath.  The Collins brothers, Sean and Podge, will play in the half forward line flanking Enda Coughlan while the experienced Rory Donnelly and David Tubridy will flank Shane Brennan in the full forward line. The team is; Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick) Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Jamie Malone (Corofin) Gordon Kelly (Miltown St. Josephs), Ciaran Russell (Eire Og); Gary Brennan (Clondegad), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis); Sean Collins (Cratloe) Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) Podge Collins (Cratloe); David Tubridy (Doonbeg) Shane …

By Seamus Hayes There are two changes on the Clare senior football team for Sunday’s qualifier clash with Carlow at Dr. Cullen Park (throw in 2p.m.) from that which put up such an impressive performance against Munster champions Kerry in the Provincial semi-final. Jamie Malone following an impressive performance when introduced  for Shane Hickey who was blackcarded after five minutes against Kerry retains his place and is named at wing back. Hickey is also named in the starting line up and he will now be at corner back with Dean Ryan losing out. The other change is in attack where the experienced Rory Donnelly comes in at corner forward in place of Martin O’Leary. Dual players, Sean and Podge Collins are both named in the attack. the team is; Joe Hayes (Lissycasey) Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) Kevin Hartnett (Meelick) Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Jamie Malone (Corofin) Gordon Kelly (Miltown) Ciaran Russell (Eire Og); Gary Brennan (Clondegad) Captain, Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis); Sean Collins …

  Clare 3-11 Waterford 0-12 CLARE secured a place in next Sunday’s Munster semi-final following a comprehensive win over Waterford in the teams quarter-final replay. Second half goals from Shane Brennan and Rory Donnelly sealed the win. They were very much on top during the second period where they were inspired by Gary Brennan who played superbly at midfield. They will now play Kerry next Sunday in Cusack Park at 3.30pm. Clare started very slowly and in fact they trailed 0-4 to 0-0 after eleven minutes. However Waterford were dealt a savage blow in the second minute when midfielder Shane Aherne was black carded following a tackle on Martin McMahon. To make matters worse for Waterford his midfield colleague Tommy Prendergast was black carded three minutes before half time. Paul Whyte kicked three of Waterford’s first half points, two from play, while JJ Hutchinson kicked the remaining three from open play. Shane McGrath was in excellent first half form for …

There are two changes in personnel on the Clare senior football team for Saturday’s first round championship replay with Waterford at Dungarvan from that which started in the drawn game in Ennis last week. As expected, Shane Brennan is retained and he takes over from the unavailable Podge Collins who will be with the hurlers this week for their Munster championship semi-final against Cork on Sunday. Brennan is named at full forward with David Tubridy moving to the corner where Collins started last week. The other change is also in attack where Meelick’s Barry Hartnett, brother of full back Kevin, takes over from Jamie Malone. Sean Collins who, like his brother Paodge is also a member of the senior hurling panel, is available to the footballers for Saturday’s game. The team is: Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Dean Ryan (Éire Óg), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (Miltown), Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg); Gary Brennan (Clondegad) captain, Shane …

THE Clare senior footballers starting team and subs were named after training in Cusack Park on Thursday evening ahead of Saturday’s provincial quarter-final meeting with Waterford in Cusack Park. Four players will make their Munster championship debuts while Joe Hayes returns in goals at the expense of Pierce Deloughrey, who was in goals for the league campaign. Jamie Malone, Ciaran Russell and Martin O’Leary are pencilled in to make their championship debuts at midfield, wing back and in the full forward line respectively. Podge Collins will also make his Munster senior football championship debut. His brother Seán, who played championship in 2009, has been named at wing forward while his younger brother will wear number 15. Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Dean Ryan (Éire Óg), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry Ibrickane); Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (Miltown), Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg); Gary Brennan (Clondegad – captain), Jamie Malone (Corofin); Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Seán Collins (Cratloe); …

By Seamus Hayes The Clare team for Saturday’s Division 4 football league final against Tipperary at Croke Park (throw in 5p.m.) shows one change in personnell from that which beat Antrim last time out to secure promotion to Division 3. Shane Brennan is named in the starting line up in place of the unavailable Sean Collins who is in Portugal with the Clare hurlers on their training camp. Collins’ brother Podge, a very influential player after being introduced in that game in Creggan, will also miss Saturday’s fixture because he is also with the hurlers. In a positional switch, Enda Coughlan returns to defence and Ciaran Russell is now selected at wing forward. Shane Brennan is named at full forward with Martin O’Leary and David Tubridy in the corners. The team is: Pierce DeLoughrey (Cratloe); Dean Ryan (Éire Óg), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (Miltown St. Joseph’s), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Gary Brennan (Clondegad) captain, …

By Seamus Hayes THE Clare minor football team to play Kerry in the opening round of the Munster championship at Cusack Park on this Wednesday evening has been announced. County minor champions , Lissycasey have four players in the side, while Kilrush forward,Liam Madigan is ruled out due to injury. Clare take on a Kerry side that will be backboned by up to eight members of the Chorca Dhuibhne team from Dingle, which won the All-Ireland Colleges (Hogan Cup) title for the first time on Saturday last. The team is; Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey); Brian Cahill (Lissycasey) Pierce Lillis (Cooraclare), James Woods (Éire Óg); Conal O’ h-Ainifein (Éire Óg) Colm Pyne (Killimer), Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora); Niall McCarthy (Lissycasey), Eoin Hanrahan (Doora-Barefield); Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg), Aaron Rudd (Wolfe Tones); Conor Finnucane (Lissycasey), Micheál Duffy (Kilfenora), Aidan Davidson (St Breckan’s).

By Seamus Hayes CLARE football deserves to be playing in a higher grade than division 4. They have shown this through county champions Cratloe, and their predecessors, Kilmurry-Ibrickane and Doonbeg. Just a few months ago we saw what Cratloe can do when they played Dr Crokes. The standard of football in Clare is knocked at times but if everyone gave 100%, Clare football is well capable of competing in a higher division. That’s the view of former Clare and Munster player, Martin Daly who was speaking this week ahead of Sunday’s clash with Carlow in the second last round of the 2014 league race. The Lissycasey man came into the Clare senior panel as an 18-year-old in 1992 and was part of the team that famously beat Kerry to win the Munster senior title that summer. He went on to play for the county for over a decade, eventually succumbing to a back injury. Recalling his inter county playing days …