Tag Archives: McGrath Cup

THE Clare footballers will play their first competitive match of the new season when they meet Waterford in Meelick at 2pm on Sunday in the McGrath Cup. Next Wednesday, Clare will play Limerick at 7.30pm in the Gaelic Grounds in their final game in the three-team group. The group winners will play Kerry, Cork or Tipperary in the final on January 22. On Sunday, Clare will be without their Ballyea players, who are preparing for their All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship semi-final, against St Thomas’ from Galway, on Saturday, February 4. The county footballers will play Derry away the following day in their opening Division 2 league fixture. Clare manager Colm Collins said they will use the McGrath Cup to give a game to as many players as possible. He also noted that the two upcoming games are more useful than challenge matches. “There is no question, they are way better than challenge games. Anything that’s organised properly and officiated at …

Clare 0-12 Kerry 0-9 CLARE qualified for the McGrath Cup final, which will be played on Friday January 22, following a three point win over Kerry in Killarney on Sunday afternoon. They last played in the final of this tournament in 2011 when they were beaten 0-13 to 1-7 by Kerry. Playing in front of a crowd of 805 people, Clare faced a weak Kerry team. The All-Ireland finalists returned from holiday on Saturday and none featured on Sunday while Kerry clubs were involved in All-Ireland club competition on Sunday. League and regional championship club games were also played in Kerry over the weekend, which further restricted their options. Clare had more first choice players on the field but again featured a number of younger players including Pearse Lillis, Kieran Malone, Cian O’Dea, Keelan Sexton and Damien Burke. The final will be played ten days before Clare’s opening division 3 fixture at home to Sligo and will provide them with …

THE Clare senior footballers have a number of challenge games lined up in the coming weeks, as they prepare for their first Division 3 National League outing at home to Wexford on February 1. They were due to play Tralee IT on Tuesday night but that game was postponed. Clare are due to play Galway and Connacht club champions, Corofin, as well as Kerry and Munster club champions, Austin Stacks over the next few weeks. Other games in the pipeline include UL, Dublin and Leinster champions St Vincent’s. All three club teams are preparing for All-Ireland club semi-finals in mid-February. For the second successive year, Clare have opted not to play in the McGrath Cup. On the injury front, Enda Coughlan is still recuperating following a cruciate knee injury, while Shane McGrath’s knee is also receiving treatment. Clare’s opening league game against Wexford is due to be played in Cusack Park, although the pitch is currently undergoing drainage work. Clare …