Tag Archives: hurling

  DESPITE the fact that Clare were raging hot favourites to retain the under-21 All-Ireland hurling title, Clare joint manager Donal Moloney said there was never any question of them taking things for granted. “This had to be done for the team of 2010. We were so disappointed we didn’t win the All-Ireland minor title in 2010. There were the guys that started all the change; that started the revolution for us,” he said as he watched team captain, Paul Flanagan accept the All-Ireland trophy from GAA president, Liam O’Neill. “We should cherish these times. We have a lot of very, very good players and we have some outstanding players.  No matter how hard people work at underage hurling and no matter how hard the clubs work, you won’t always have as crop like that. A new generation has come and  some of them are exceptional. Hopefully, the hard work will continue. These could be a very special few years …

CLARE and Ballyea corner back Jack Browne, like his team-mates, was still on the Thurles sod well over an hour after the final whistle. It’s not unkind to Antrim to suggest that the Clare players were under more pressure signing autographs and posing for photographs, than they had been in the game itself. “I didn’t think there was this many people in Clare,” Jack Browne laughed, surrounded by young autograph hunters, who were trading secrets on what player was where across the fabled Tipperary sward. “It means everything. When you’re growing up as a young lad, all you want to do is win an All-Ireland medal. It’s great,” he said of Clare’s third All-Ireland U/21 win. Jack Browne couldn’t believe the size of the crowd roaring on Clare, given that the seniors will be back in Croke Park on September 28. “There was a massive Clare crowd. The roaring that was going on for Clare scores was great. When we …

SO did Clare leave it behind them? Emphatically, no. The sight of Domhnall O’Donovan on his back, while all around him Clare men, women and children were leaping into the Dublin skyline illustrates the depth of courage and mettle that has been drilled into this panel of Clare men. Had there been a chink of self-doubt or self-pity, Cork would have Liam McCarthy with them this week in the southern capital. In a game largely ruled by Clare, Cork led just the once. That they did so, a minute and a half into a mere two minutes of injury time, underlines the perilous precipice on which Clare stood. Eighteen months of work was imploding before their disbelieving eyes, while decades of regret loomed. Had Cork clung on to their one-point lead, they would have snaffled a 31st All-Ireland title that they did not earn. If they win the replay, at least they will probably have to hurl for longer and …

A JOINT joint homecoming celebration is planned for the Clare under-21 and senior hurling teams, who are facing All-Ireland final deciders. The joint homecoming will take place on Sunday, September 29 at Active Ennis Tim Smythe Park (Fairgreen) with a time to be confirmed, Clare Local Authorities have announced. Planned activities include music and other entertainment. “The replay of the senior final on Saturday, September 28, coupled with the commonality between the U-21 and senior panels, has resulted in a unique situation. Following consultation with the Clare GAA County Board it has been agreed that a joint homecoming event is appropriate having regard to the overall circumstances,” said Gerard Dollard, Ennis town manager and Director of Services. Meanwhile, the council has confirmed that there are no plans to repeat the big screen event hosted in Abbey Street car park on Sunday last. Mr Dollard said while the event proved very successful with over 3,000 people enjoying the occasion, the timing …

By Seamus Hayes LAST Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling draw has left the county’s domestic fixtures schedule in turmoil. Paying tribute to the county senior squad and the management under Davy Fitzgerald, county board chairman Michael McDonagh told a special meeting of Clare GAA on Tuesday night, “We have a plan but it will mean sacrifices and if these aren’t made then there is a different dilemna. We can get there”. Padraic Boland, a member of the committee that drew up the masters fixture plan back in February, told delegates that completing the domestic competitions in time for the provincial championship depends on which clubs progress and on co-operation. “It has to be taken round by round and clubs will have to accept short notice,” he added. County secretary Pat Fitzgerald noted, “Every game will have to be played to a conclusion. It will take a lot of sacrifices if we are to meet the deadline. With the senior hurling, our …

It is possible to complete the Clare senior hurling championship in time for the winners to participate in the Munster club championship, a special meeting of Clare GAA was told on Tuesday night. For this to happen, however, it will depend on which clubs progress to the concluding stages and it may require some dual clubs playing every five days, the meeting, which was held at the County GAA headquarters in Clareabbey, was told. According to County GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald, having the hurling championship completed in time to compete in the Munster competition “will be very tight’ . “It is our right to take part in the Munster championship and we have five or six teams who will give it a good rattle” board treasurer Bernard Keane said before asking clubs “to think outside the box one more time”. The meeting decided by a large majority to revert to last year’s format with regard to relegation. Five teams were due …

The drama and excitement of the All-Ireland hurling final.

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald told the post match press conference that he was extremely proud of his team. Clare drew the All-Ireland final, thanks to a dramatic injury time point from corner back Domhnall O’Donovan. When Pat Horgan gave Cork the lead in injury time it was the first time that the Jimmy Barry Murphy managed team had lead during what were 70 pulsating minutes. “It just showed what character and what steel is about. I am so proud of my guys. Whether they win, lose or draw the next day, I don’t give a damn. That’s being honest. There was a lot of tough things went against them out there today. I won’t say unfair. I could. But they still came back for more,” Fitzgerald said. “You think about it, three goals in the second half and we scored none. No matter what happens, I’m so, so proud of them. Will they get up to that height the next …