Tag Archives: hurling

THE selection of eight members of Clare’s All-Ireland winning hurling side on the 2013 All-Stars team has rounded off a memorable year for the Banner County David McInerney, Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan, Colm Galvin, Conor Ryan, Tony Kelly, Podge Collins and Conor McGrath have been named on the team, which is completed by three players each from Cork and Dublin and one from the Munster champions, Limerick. The awards will be presented at a function in Croke Park this Friday night, when the identity of both the senior and young hurler of the year will also be revealed. The young player award is certainly in the bag for Clare, as the only nominees are Tony Kelly, Podge Collins and David McInerney.  Kelly and Collins are also in the running for the senior award, along with Cork goalie Anthony Nash. The players make the choice of player of the year. The number of Clare men named in this year’s team equals …

Whitegate 0-18 Youghal 0-18 (AET) NO-ONE really thinks November hurling is a great idea. It evokes images of water-logged pitches and scrappy, uninspiring matches but sometimes things don’t work out that way at all, like on Sunday, when Youghal and Whitegate produced a really entertaining clash in Sixmilebridge. Credit is due to the East Clare side for showing great character and fitness the day after achieving their goal for 2013, toppling Feakle in the county final. On Sunday, their year looked as good as over when they trailed by 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time, Youghal having scored the last seven points of the half. It seemed that even if the Whitegate spirit was willing, surely fatigue would make a comeback impossible. However, come back they did and with Brendan Bugler and George Waterstone shining, they were within seconds of producing an unlikely victory, before Youghal’s Damien Ring hit an immense free from his own half, which forced extra time. Again …

WHILE currently concentrating on Cratloe’s county senior football semi-final meeting with Éire Óg in Clarecastle on Sunday, Seán and Podge Collins would ideally like to play both codes for Clare in 2014, if feasible. Along with clubmates Cathal McInerney, Liam Markham and Conor Ryan, they have played football for Clare at every underage level from U-14. Community centres in Lissycasey, Kilmihil and Cooraclare were packed on Monday night for the visit of Liam MacCarthy, who was escorted by the Collins brothers, Brendan Bugler and Louis Mulqueen. Speaking before he left Cooraclare, Seán said he would love to give inter-county football a crack, if possible, particularly as his father, Colm, has been confirmed as manager on a three-year term. “I have always had a huge interest in football, as much as I have in hurling. I go to as many club matches as I would hurling. If it was possible, it is something I’d love to do. But whether it’s physically …

By Seamus Hayes Feakle will play Whitegate in the final of the Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship following their five-point victory over Sixmilebridge at Dr Daly Park in Tulla on Saturday afternoon. Two goals from Gary Guilfoyle played a key part in this success and clears the way for next Saturday’s final. There will be no rest for the winners of that game as, 24 hours later, they will be in Munster club action against either the Cork or Waterford champions. Tulla have secured their senior status for 2014, thanks to a five point win over St Joseph’s at Cratloe on Saturday. The Doora-Barefield club has one more chance to stay at the top level. They play Clarecastle on Saturday next and the losers will drop to Senior B for 2014. The minor A hurling final will be a repeat of last year’s decider with holders Kilmaley taking on Clarecastle. The Magpies sealed their final spot when they overcame Inagh-Kilnamona, 0-16 …

By Seamus Hayes Ballyea caused a major shock in the Clare senior hurling championship on Saturday when they defeated one of the favourites for the title, Crusheen at Cusack Park. There is no disputing the result as Ballyea were the sharper and hungrier side throughout. They led by a point at half time, 1-12 to 2-8  before outscoring their opponents 0-6 to 0-3 in the final ten minutes A ten point haul by the outstanding Tony Kelly was a key factor in Ballyea’s victory on a day when team captain Paul Flanagan was magnificent at centre back. Jack Browne, Martin O’Leary and Clare football captain Gary Brennan were  others to stand out for the winners who finished the game with fourteen players after midfielder Gearoid O’Connell picked up a second yellow card in the closing minutes. Meanwhile, county minor A hurling champions Kilmaley moved to within a game of retaining the title when they scored a two point win over …

A bizarre fixtures wrangle, involving Kilmaley and Tulla GAA Clubs, was resolved on Wednesday afternoon following an emergency meeting of the Clare GAA Fixtures Committee. After their 5-12 to 0-20 defeat to Tulla in Sunday’s Group 1 Senior Hurling Championship fixture, Kilmaley left Clarecastle believing they had finished third in the group, while Tulla were convinced they had finished bottom, on scoring difference. Tubber, Kilmaley and Tulla all finished on two points in the group, which was topped by Newmarket. Tubber qualified for Sunday’s quarter-final against Sixmilebridge on the basis that they had the best scoring difference of the three tied clubs. Based on scoring difference, Kilmaley were third and Tulla fourth. This system has applied for the last number of seasons in both the county hurling and football championships. The Clare Champion learned that the basis for a decision made on Monday was that by virtue of making the last eight on scoring difference, Tubber were removed from the …

By Seamus Hayes A huge weekend is in the offing for hurling fans in Clare with all four quarter finals in the senior championship listed for decision. The pairings were decided at a meeting at GAA headquarters in Clareabbey on Monday evening. Champions Newmarket will face Inagh-Kilnamona. The 2011 winners Crusheen will come up against Ballyea, Sixmilebridge will face Tubber and Clonlara will take on O’Callaghans Mills. All four games are expected to take place on Sunday and venues and times will be finalised at a meeting of the Clare CCC on Tuesday evening. The football championship resumes on Sunday also with Cratloe taking on Cooraclare for the right to face Kilrush in a quarter final game on Sunday week. The losers of Sunday’s game will play Clondegad on Sunday week for the right to go forward to play Doonbeg in the remaining quarter final.  

Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-18Tulla 1-8 WHILE Tulla squandered a few chances and the Newmarket goal was down to the blinding sun, rather than any forward instinct, there was no doubt the Blues were deserved winners at Clarecastle on Saturday. They moved the ball very well, while Colin Ryan was in great form, hitting 11 points, three from play. He was well assisted by Eoin Hayes, who got through a lot of work. Tulla had the backing of the breeze but after a quarter of an hour they trailed by 0-7 to 0-1 and it was always going to be tough for them to recover after such a poor start. They improved in the second quarter, started to dominate territory and cut the gap to three points, 0-8 to 0-5, while they had also had a penalty saved. Again in the second half, after Cathal Dinan scored their goal, they brought the gap down to just two points going into the last quarter …