Tag Archives: gaa

Munster Minor Hurling Championship Final Tipperary 1-22 Clare 0-25 Heartbreak for Clare in their brave Munster Minor Final bid as Tipperary were the more clinical side in a historic penalty shoot-out to dramatically garner their first provincial crown in four years in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. Following a thrilling end-to-end 80 minute showdown that was level on no fewer than eleven occasions, Clare were the ones to force extra-time with virtually the last puck while it was Tipperary that ensured that a first ever penalty contest would decide the Munster honours. Tipperary scored all three while Clare failed to hit the target in what was another devastating penalty showing to add to the senior footballers’ provincial woes less than a fortnight ago against Limerick. In contrast to the opening tie between the sides, it was Tipperary, despite facing into the conditions, that had the better of the opening stages as Damien Corbett’s guiding frees …

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 Clare 0-28 Cork 2-20 Clare’s 2021 revenge tour soared to new heights in FBD Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon when producing another stirring championship display to hold off Cork on their way to protecting their perfect start, writes Eoin Brennan. Having been edged out by Tipperary and Cork to exit both the Munster and All-Ireland Championships respectively last year, the Banner lowered both decisively in the space of seven days to effectively secure a place in the All-Ireland series at a minimum. What was most impressive was Clare’s ability to demonstrate every facet of their character when first blitzing the Rebels to soar eleven points clear by the 28th minute before having to show their teeth when reduced to 14 men for the final 20 minutes to keep a resurgent Cork at arm’s length. There were so many heroes that it was difficult to single any out but the mastery of captain Tony Kelly, …

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 Clare 3-21 Tipperary 2-16 CLARE thundered into the Munster Senior Hurling Championship to blitz hosts Tipperary and open up the door of possibility in Semple Stadium, Thurles this afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan. With both sides craving a victory for differing reasons, three first half Banner goals with the aid of the conditions through Ian Galvin, Peter Duggan and Tony Kelly carved out a 13 point interval cushion that would effectively end Tipperary’s championship hopes, only a full week into the new campaign. The return of Peter Duggan and Shane O’Donnell were pivotal ingredients to detonating the first championship upset as the Clooney-Quin talisman had a direct hand in all three goals while the latter was a huge source of inspiration throughout. Those star performances took some of the attention on top scorer Tony Kelly who finished with 1-7 while John Conlon, Rory Hayes, Diarmuid Ryan and debutant Robin Mounsey were others to excel in …

THERE was huge frustration among Clare hurling fans this week, as people seeking to purchase tickets for Munster championship games faced significant difficulties. With Covid restrictions now relaxed pre-championship anticipation is at its highest in a few years and with thousands of people all going online simultaneously, Ticketmaster was hit with technical issues meaning fans couldn’t make their purchases for a period of time. Tickets were also available from Centra and SuperValu stores and some of these outlets also saw huge demand and long queues for tickets. Clare’s first two games are against Tipperary and Cork, both in Thurles, and with Semple Stadium being as large as it is, there was little concern about any potential sell out there. Clare’s final game is against Waterford and it had been notified in advance that these tickets would only be available from county boards at a later date. The really problematic fixture, however, is Clare versus Limerick, which is due to be …

Kildysart’s Emmet McMahon has been named at centre-forward on the Electric Ireland GAA Rising Stars Football Team of the Year. McMahon made his first start for Clare in this year’s Allianz National Football League. His strong Sigerson Cup campaign for the University of Limerick has been rewarded with his inclusion in the Higher Education team of the year. The talented forward was key to UL reaching the Sigerson decider with his point scoring from distance aiding them on their run. He kicked two points in their semi final triumph over DCU, including a booming effort which gave his side a 0-13 to 0-11 lead. He started at centre forward in his side’s three point final defeat to NUIG last month. The third year Physical Education and Maths student was joined by fellow Clare men Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil) and Oisin Looney (St Joseph’s Miltown) on the UL panel which reached a first Sigerson Cup final in 25 …

National Hurling League Division 1 Round 5 Galway v Clare at Pearse Stadium Salthill, Sunday 1.45pm (James Owens, Wexford) It’s not only Brian Lohan’s first competitive clash with Galway but also Clare’s first meeting since that epic 2018 All-Ireland Semi-Final Championship series. That thrilling two match wrestle for supremacy still inevitably holds plenty of regret for Clare who had opportunities to win on both days but ultimately failed to do so in Croke Park or Semple Stadium. Four years on and Galway probably stand their best chance in the country of finally toppling back-to-back All-Ireland champions Limerick who made their breakthrough in that subsequent 2018 decider to dethrone the Tribesmen. The same goes for Clare who despite a veritable ward full of injuries, have finally warmed up to their task in the last two outings against Offaly and Limerick and will look to finish the National League on a high. Ironically, while there’s nothing technically to play for as Cork …

National Football League Division 2 Round 6 Clare v Meath at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2pm (Derek O’Mahoney, Tipperary With Clare’s best start to Division 2 rapidly fading into the distance following back-to-back defeats to promotion favourites Derry and Galway over the past fortnight, the last team Colm Collins would have wanted to see coming next would be Meath. After all, Clare’s poorest record in Division 2 is against Andy McEntee’s side who have inflicted four successive defeats on the Banner since 2017. More than that though, while Clare unquestionably produced their best display against Meath in the All-Ireland Qualifiers in 2019 to only miss out on the Super 8’s by a solitary point, the Banner’s league record against them is best read between your fingers as Meath have averaged double figure wins in three successive seasons. That said, that agonising minimum championship defeat to the Royal’s by 2-16 to 1-18 in Portlaoise in July 2019 was the county’s last …

TWO OF the county’s biggest GAA rivals have come together to collaborate with Eoin Gavin Transport to assist the people of Ukraine. Both Newmarket-on-Fergus and Sixmilebridge are known as fierce rivals on the hurling and camogie fields but the clubs have put their differences to one side as they encourage their members to partake in a joint venture whereby they will help Bunratty based Eoin Gavin Transport fill a truck full of twenty six pallets containing vital items to be transported to Ukraine. As part of the Irish hauliers network, Eoin Gavin Transport have given a commitment to make their trucks available to get supplies into Ukraine as its country continues to come blistering attacks from Russia. This Tuesday, an Eoin Gavin Transport truck will be on the ferry and move towards Hrubieszowski Ośrodek Sportu i Rekreacji in Hrubieszow, beside the Ukrainian border in Poland. “The trucks will be coming, they will be pulling open the curtains and distributing the …