Tag Archives: hurling

Terence Fahy knows better than most how to develop hurlers and cultivate success at underage. Although a proud Clare man, he possesses experience of the underage set up in Kilkenny. Fahy spent nine years working in Castlecomer Community School in the North of the county. The Whitegate man came across his fair share of quality hurlers on Noreside including four time All Ireland champion Conor Fogarty. Fahy feels that the tradition of success has helped Kilkenny players coming through the ranks believe they can win on the big stage. “There is obviously a massive tradition in the place. Life revolves around hurling down there. It’s a small county really but the thing that ignites it is hurling. Hurling is very strong in all areas down there. The tradition is handed down and despite the success they are humble enough.” Where does the culture of success in Kilkenny come from? Fahy’s answer is simple yet well constructed. “The culture comes from …

The deadline for Club Clare membership for 2023 approaches this week, safe in the knowledge that no stone has been left unturned in the pursuit of making Clare a hurling and camogie force once more. With the players guided by their management teams and the county board backing the teams, Club Clare’s direct financial support from its members essentially provide those crucial extra elements that have helped transform the hurling landscape over the past few years. The fundamentals of the game haven’t altered but the unprecedented levels of preparation and meticulous attention to detail on and off the field require a whole suite of supplementary resources that are now considered almost a prerequisite. The additional essential ingredients of nutrition, sports psychology, advancements in Strength and Conditioning, video analysis and recovery ensure that playing at inter-county level is now a lifestyle and not just a hobby. As Clare Senior Manager Brian Lohan admitted himself when launching the current Club Clare set-up …

When Brian Lohan’s men take to the hallowed turf at the GAA headquarters on Sunday, this will be only the third time in six years for the majority of this squad of players. Standing in their way of a first All-Ireland final appearance in a decade, a familiar foe in Kilkenny. This weekend’s opponents dismantled Clare’s dreams of reaching the 2022 decider after a humbling 2-26 to 0-20 loss at the hands of a then Brian Cody led Kilkenny side. However, time has now passed, old wounds have healed and it’s been little over a year and redemption is on the cards for the banner side. Clare fans who are expected to travel in their thousands to the capital will be hoping for an improvement this time round if they’re to see their team reach the 2023 All-Ireland final. David Fitzgerald, who lined out at wing forward for the banner in that defeat, is optimistic that Clare can come out …

Clare and Kilkenny have clashed at the All-Ireland semi-final stage on four occasions, with the Banner County’s only victory coming at the first time of asking writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh. 10 August 1997 Clare 1-17 Kilkenny 1-13 At Croke Park This was the first championship clash between Clare and Kilkenny in 65 years since they’d crossed sticks in the 1932 All-Ireland final. That final in ’32 was a case of what might have been for Clare as they were left to rue a late missed goal chance by Tull Considine. There were no regrets here though as Clare ruthlessly showed how hurling was singing to their tune as they eased to a four-point victory that was much more comfortable than the margin suggests. And it showed what a difference two years can make — when these two played in the 1995 National League final it was Clare that cut forlorn figures on the field afterwards on the back of a …

U-15B Hurling final Tulla 1-12 Crusheen/Tubber 1-5 A spirited showing by Crusheen/Tubber troubled but ultimately did not upset Tulla as they held on with a dominant second half showing to ensure a Feile and county championship double to bookend their hurling season, writes Michael O’Connor. Late October weather and a bad version of same greeted both teams onto the hallowed surface of Cusack Park on Thursday evening for this renewal of the Under 15B championship, Tulla who were the unbackable favourites for this title since the turn of the year took on the side they dispatched with ease in the Feile B final in Caherlohan in mid Spring. Due to the conditions and the A final at 745 this game started five minutes earlier in a wise move by referee Robert Harte. The game was on 10 seconds and Cathal McNamara who is tremendous dual player having led St Breckans to 15B football glory blasted past Patrick Murphy after a …

Under 15A Hurling Championship Final Sixmilebridge 2-11 Ballyea 1-8 A powerful finish ensured that Sixmilebridge maintained their current superiority to garner the Under 15A Hurling honours in Cusack Park on Thursday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. The defending Under 14A champions were full value for their latest victory too, having led for the final three-quarters of the tie before finally seeing off a resilient Ballyea with a clinching last gasp goal through substitute Conor Gleeson. Amidst incessant rain, a low-scoring final duel sparked into life entering the final minutes when a Sixmilebridge counter-attack yielded the opening goal as Dylan McInerney centred to Stephen Gavin to shake off the defensive cover and fire to the net at 1-10 to 0-8. True to form, Ballyea refused to panic but a potential lifeline would be dashed four minutes later when a Dara Kennedy penalty, earned by his midfield partner Evan Cleary, was superbly tipped away by goalkeeper Conor Keogh at his right hand post. …

Eoghan Gunning has been named Electric Ireland Minor Hurler of the Year with six Clare hurlers named in the Minor Hurling Team of the Year. Clare produced a memorable run to lift the Irish Press Cup as they became the first side from the county to win both the provincial and All Ireland titles in the same season. Gunning and James Hegarty have been named on the Team of the Year once more after receiving the same honour in 2022 when Clare progressed through to the All Ireland semi final stage. A cornerstone of Clare’s run to glory has been their defensive solidity. Four of the Banner rearguard have been named in the team. Eoghan Gunning, Ronan Keane, Matthew O’Halloran and James Hegarty all received the nod. Michael Collins and Marc O’Brien have been included in the team off the back of their consistent displays this season. Gunning was named Hurler of the Year after a string of top quality …

All-Ireland Quarter-Final Clare 5-26 Dublin 2-17 at The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick Clare’s failure to put real daylight between themselves and Limerick before half-time ultimately cost them the Munster title, but it was Dublin that really felt the backlash of those shortcomings in this All-Ireland quarter-final as a devastating burst put the Banner on the road to Croke Park on Sunday week, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh. The match was delicately poised at 2-5 to 1-7 in Clare’s favour as the clock ticked over 30 minutes, but from there Brian Lohan’s side just took flight and in the process hit 2-3 in the space of five minutes to break Dublin’s resolve and give them a nine-point interval lead. That this advantage was doubled in the second half told the story of a one-sided encounter that was only briefly competitive as Clare won this as they pleased to book a second semi-final joust in a row with Kilkenny. The floodgates opened once the …