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Tag Archives: football

Heartbreak for Clare in Armagh

Armagh 2-16 Clare 1-15 When David Tubridy goaled for Clare with just under two minutes of normal time remaining, Clare were four points clear in this round 3 football qualifier tie and they looked set to be in Monday morning’s draw for round 4. It was clear that there would be considerable ‘injury time’ as there had been a number of stoppages in the half but patrons in the official attendance of 5,429 must have fancied the Banner outfit at this stage. It wasn’t to be and in the remaining time—-there were seven minutes of ‘additional time—Armagh dominated and scored 1-5 without reply to secure a somewhat flattering four point victory. It was heartbreak for Clare who had held the upperhand for much of a tie played in extreme heat at Armagh’s Athletic grounds. When Clare sit down to review this one they are likely to point to missed chances when they were in control as reasons for this loss. …

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Malone and Cleary excel in Tullamore

Clare 1-19 Offaly 2-14 In Colm Collins’ near five year reign as Clare senior football manager, the team has provided many exciting games but few have been as entertaining or as nervewrecking as this afternoon’s clashwith Offaly in round 2 of he qualifiers. Before an attendance of 3 493 in blistering heat, this was end to end stuff and he result was in doubt right to the final whistle. Clare deserved their narrow victory and while Offaly can point to some missed chances, Clare can equally do he same and, arguably, to a greater number of missed opportunities. The Banner outfit had some outstanding performances and foremost for the visitors on the day were Jamie Malone and Eoin Cleary who, between them, accounted for 1-10 of heir side’s total. While Offaly had made the better start, they were fortunate to go to the interval on level terms with Clare. The midlanders had the better of matters in the opening quarter …

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Minor and U-20 football teams named

The Clare under 20 and minor football teams for this weekend’s Munster championship games have been named. The under 20’s take on Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn on this Friday evening at 7.30p.m in the Provincial semi-final. Cork had a comfortable win over Tipperary last week while Clare will be making their first appearance in the competition this year. The under 20 team is; Stephen Ryan (Kilrush) Jack Sheedy (St. Breckans) Jayme O’Sullivan (Wolfe Tones), Peter Collins (Doora-Barefield); Ikem Ubwueru(Eire Og), Mark Meaney (Coomeen) captain, Tom Hannan (Doora-Barefield; Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels), Jack Hannan (Doora-Barefield); Jonah Culligan (Ballyvaughan) Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Sean Crowley (Kilmihil); Cian Shannon (ennistymon) Jack McGann(St. Breckans) Ross Phelan (Kilrush) Meanwhile the minor football team to face Kerry in Saturday’s Provincial final at Pairc Ui Caoimh (throw in at 4.30p.m) has also been named and it is.Michael Garrihy (St.. Breckans); Jack Reidy (Shannon Gaels) Dara Conneely (Ennistymon), John Murphy (Ennistymon); Gavin D’Auria (Eire Og) Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon) …

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Collins wants to double league games

CLARE football manager, Colm Collins, has said he cannot understand why clubs took the decision not to play club football or hurling championship games in April, which was designated as a club month by the GAA. Clare was the only Munster county not to play championship in either code, instead opting to play five rounds of league games in football and three in hurling. Speaking at Monday’s Munster championship launch in Bunratty, Collins said he could not comprehend why six of the seven rounds in the Clare football leagues are already played. “Our football leagues are almost over and it’s not May 1 yet. I fail to see where the merit is in that,” he stated. “We have one game of seven in the league left, which is ridiculous. Playing no championship in April was a decision of the clubs. I felt they should have played a round of football and hurling championship in Clare. Clubs decided that. I just …

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Clare footballers need a new strategy to beat Cork

CLARE’S Division 2 future is entirely in their own hands. If they can somehow pull out a Newry-like performance in Pairc Uí Rínn on Saturday from 7pm, they have every chance of getting a result, beating Louth at home in their final league game on March 25 and assuring themselves of a place in the same division next year. While Jamie Malone will be available again, following his two-game suspension, Clare will have to plan without Ciaran Russell, who was red-carded against Roscommon. Gordon Kelly is still suspended, leaving Clare scarce, particularly defensively. If Clare lose, which is likely given that Cork will be buoyant following Sunday’s win over Meath, their Division 2 status will rest on beating Louth and hoping that they don’t end up in a three-way tie. Clare have a score difference of -19, which is significantly worse than Meath and Down. If Clare finish level on points with Down, they will stay up, given that they …

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Clare to appeal proposed football bans

Suspensions have been proposed for two Clare footballers and team manager Colm Collins arising from the referee Jerome Henry’s report on Sunday’s national league game between Clare and Tipperary at Cusack Park. Clare will appeal the red card shown to Jamie Malone following his clash with Tipperary official Shane Stapleton, 11 minutes into the second half. While Stapleton was quickly back on his feet, he collapsed moments later and having received medical attention on the sideline, he was stretchered from the pitch and later removed to hospital, where he remained overnight. After the game, Tipperary manager Liam Kearns said Stapleton had hit his head off concrete when he fell. He stated he felt unwell and subsequently collapsed. Malone, who was attempting to retrieve the ball, which had gone over the sideline adjacant to where the Tipperary officials were positioned, was shown a straight red card. It is believed he was subsequently reported for a category four offence, which deals with …

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Clare footballers need a morale boost

A 14-point defeat leaves little room for putting much of a spin on things. Clare were beaten in almost every sector on Sunday. From a management point of view, Colm Collins’ task is to try to pick up the players’ morale before Sunday’s game against Tipperary in Cusack Park at 2pm. As poor as Clare were in Navan, if they manage to somehow beat Tipperary, they will move ahead of them on the Division 2 table. For that to happen though, a mammoth improvement and lifting of effort levels is required. “We win together and we lose together. No player goes out to play poorly. This week we’ll have a look at it and go after the areas we feel we didn’t do well in. These things happen. Sometimes you turn in a really magical display and sometimes it’s poor. You’re never really as bad or as good as either. You just have to park it. There’s nothing we can …

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Footballers head to the Royal County

AS they head for Meath on Sunday, the Clare footballers and management will feel confident they have the capacity to kick a match-winning total. However, they will also dwell on the issues that were highlighted against Cavan and Cork in the McGrath Cup final. In those games, Clare have conceded 5-15 from play, while they kicked enough themselves to win either game. Management are introducing younger players to pivotal positions and those players must be given time to learn what football at this level is about. Based on what they have conceded in the games referred to, Clare will have to look at slightly readjusting their defensive plan for Meath, who beat them by nine points in Ennis last season and who drew with Roscommon on Sunday. They could opt to play a sweeper, if not for the entire 70 minutes, perhaps in the opening 15 minutes, to help them to settle and get a foothold in the game. Employing …

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