Tag Archives: hurling

  There are two changes in personnell on the Clare team to face Dublin in Sunday’s relegation play off from that which started against  Waterford last week. Brendan Bugler returns to the starting line up at wing back in place of Jason McCarthy while David Reidy returns to the team and he is named at corner forward in place of Ian Galvin. Otherwise the team is unchanged from last week and it is Andrew Fahy (Whitegate); David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon (Crusheen), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Conor Cleary ( Miltown St. Josephs), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona); Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), Tony Kelly (Ballyea); Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge), Podge Collins (Cratloe), John Conlon (Clonlara); David Reidy (Éire Óg), Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones na Sionna), Cathal McInerney (Cratloe); The game throws in at 4p.m. By Seamus Hayes

The quality of games in Division 1A of the National Hurling League has put Clare under pressure in each of their games and, according to selector Jimmy Browne, “ultimately you learn most about yourself when you are under pressure”. Ahead of Sunday’s relegation play-off with Dublin at Cusack Park (throw-in 4pm), he continued, “We have learned a lot this year. We had very good displays against Kilkenny and Tipperary but we did not get the result we wanted and against Waterford for a big chunk of the game. We have a chance to put that back into the mix for Sunday. That is the strength of playing in this league. “The great beauty of playing in this division is that you are testing yourself to the upper limit every day you go out and Sunday is another very important test for us,” added Browne. “We have to perform. There is a lot of importance from a Clare point of view, …

Ballyea’s Tony Kelly is named at midfield on the Clare side to face Waterford in a crucial national hurling league game at Cusack Park tomorrow, Sunday throw in at 3p.m.) from where he will captain the team. His return is one of four changes in personnell from the side which beat Dublin two weeks ago. Kelly’s Ballyea team mates Jack Browne, Paul Flanagan and Gearoid O’Connell are named amongst the substitutes but, surprisingly, Niall Deasy is not included in the match day squad. Colm Galvin is also named amongst the substitutes. In addition to Kelly, Whitegate’s Andrew Fahy, Inagh-Kilnamona’s Jason McCarthy and Cratloe’s Cathal McInerney are all named in the starting line up. They replace Patrick Kelly,  David Reidy who is ruled out with an ankle injury, Peter Duggan and Brendan Bugler. Three of the starting line up, Inagh-Kilnamona due Jason McCArthy and David Fitzgerald along with Clonlara’s Ian Galvin, were in action in the under 21 A championship semi-finals last …

To secure victory over Waterford in the National Hurling League at Cusack Park on Sunday, Clare must hit the ground running, according to defender Seadna Morey. “We know each other well. We have played at underage, as well as at senior in recent years. We all know the way Waterford play and we must focus on that this week,” he said. The Sixmilebridge man went on, “It’s nice to be injury free and getting a chance. There is a great buzz with the team and it’s a great scene.” Acknowledging that it’s a huge game, he said, “Look at the league. We are second at the moment but we can still get stuck in relegation. That shows the competition. Going into the last game, it’s important to get that final win. The competition is very keen, as evidenced by the fact that a team can perform one week and then get turned over the next. “In the Kilkenny game, the …

TWO club hurlers remain in hospital this week following injuries sustained in matches on Sunday. Kilmaley’s Diarmuid McMahon is in hospital in Galway, having suffered a serious head injury while playing for his club in a challenge game against Ardrahan. The principal teacher at Stonehall National School in Newmarket-on-Fergus, Diarmuid has been a key figure in Kilmaley’s senior team for more than a decade. Speaking on behalf of the club, secretary Patrick O’Malley wished Diarmuid “a speedy and full recovery”. Teenager James McMahon, meanwhile, was also removed to hospital in Limerick, after helping Newmarket to victory over Sixmilebridge in the U-21 A championship quarter-final at Gurteen. A student at St Caimin’s in Shannon, James is understood to have picked up an injury midway through the first half but played on until near the end of normal time. “It’s unfortunate that James picked up this injury and, on behalf of the club, I wish him well and we hope to see …

Tulla’s David McInerney has been named in the Clare team for the first time since last summer’s championship for tomorrow’s league clash with Dublin at Cusack Park. The 2013 All-Ireland medal winner comes in at corner back for the injured Oisin O’Brien in what is one of three changes in personnell from the side which went down to Tipperary last week. The other changes are in attack where Ian Galvin, following an impressive showing when introduced at Semple stadium and Peter Duggan are named in the corner forward positions in place of Aaron Cunningham and Cathal McInerney, both of whom are included in the substitutes. The game throws in at 2p.m. And will be broadcast live on TG4. The team is Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon (Crusheen) Captain, Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Conor Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona); Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), David Reidy (Éire Óg); Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge), Podge Collins (Cratloe), John Conlon (Clonlara);nIan …

ALL-Ireland winning senior hurling centre-back Conor Ryan is taking a year out of the game on medical advice. Speaking to The Clare Champion, he said, “Unfortunately, this is not something that I want to do. It’s a decision forced upon me. Hurling and football is a huge part of my life and I have put playing above all else. To step away is extremely difficult.” Joint Clare senior hurling team manager Gerry O’Connor confirmed, “We have asked him to join the analysis team and he probably will take up that offer. He is an integral part of our group. He has addressed the group and explained his position. He is a top-class guy. He is a loss to the team but, thankfully, he won’t be a loss to the group. “The return of Davy Mac [McInerney] softens the blow a little but it will take at least two or three weeks to re-integrate himself into training and we will take …

Clare 2-19 Kilkenny 0-12 What a difference a week makes. Those of us, and there were quite a few, who feared the worst on Sunday after witnessing the disappointing seven point loss to Cork in the opening round a week earlier were treated to a thrilling performance which resulted in a thirteen point win over Kilkenny at Cusack park this afternoon. Its a result that few could have forseen but it was fully merited. Unlike the opening round eight days earlier, Clare’s hunger for victory was a key ingredient in this win. They dictated matters from the throw in and they had hit Kilkenny for 1-3 without reply after just four minutes. The gap was seven points inClare’s favour at the end of the first quarter and its fair to say that Kilkenny never looked like they might get back into contention. The half backs who had been in great difficulty against Cork, excelled this afternoon. Indeed, the entire defence …