Tag Archives: McGrath

Clonlara 1-18 Cratloe 1-16 An all round better balanced Clonlara booked a place in the Clare senior hurling final for the second year in a row when they accounted for their South Clare neighbours Cratloe at Cusack Park this Sunday afternoon. Whether or not the end round would have been different had Cratloe star Conor McGrath not suffered a shoulder injury which ended his involvement in the match with over ten minutes remaining is a matter of speculation. With 1-7 to his credit at the time, he was a big threat to Clonlara but with just over ten minutes remaining he was forced out of the tie and was clearly in pain as he received attention on the sideline. The sides were level three times in the opening eleven minutes before the winners opened a three point gap by the end of the first quarter and they held this lead to the break when the score was o-12 to 0-9. …

Cork 1-15 Clare 1-9 A strong second quarter by Cork in which they outscored Clare by 0-8 to 0-2, proved decisive in this McGrath cup senior football league final at Mallow this evening. [doptg id=”94″] Clare can take a lot of positives from a game in which they created a number of goal chances which they failed to convert but they will be disappointed at the manner in which they gave away possession on occasions. Management will be pleased at the fact that Kevin Harnett, Shane McGrath and Pat Burke got some game time under their belts ahead of the commencement of the league next week but there will be some concern that both Martin O’Leary and Joe Hayes picked up injuries which led to both of them been replaced The first quarter was evenly contested and at the mid point of the half the sides were level at 1-3 each. Clare had taken the lead three times before Cork …

It was a good start to 2016 for Clare GAA senior teams as both the hurlers and footballers were victorious in their opening games on Sunday, the hurlers beating Cork by a goal while the footballers overcame Tipperary by the minimum margin in the McGrath cup. The goals proved vital in each game. Shane O’Donnell, introduced midway through the second half, struck for the hurler’s goal seven minutes from time and this was the difference at the final whistle as Clare scored their first win over Cork since they defeated the Leesiders in the All-Ireland final replay in 2013. On that occasion O’Donnell caused huge problems for the Leesiders, scoring a hat trick of goals The footballer’s goal came two minutes from the final whistle and was scored by debutant, Kieran Malone on his home pitch in Miltown. He was put through by substitute David Tubridy whose introduction, together with that of Gary Brennan, helped Clare recover from a half …

By Seamus Hayes The Clare senior hurling management team has named the same fifteen as started last week against Galway for this Saturday evening’s round 2 Allianz league date with Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn. There is one personnel change, however, with Colm Galvin moved to midfield in a switch with Colin Ryan. Despite his impressive showing when introduced early in the second half in Galway, Cratloe’s Conor McGrath is again named amongst the substitutes David McInerney and Tony Kelly will again be absent due to hamstring injuries which also caused them to miss out on U.L.’s midweek Fitzgibbon cup quarter final win over UCD. Davy Fitzgerald and his selectors continue with the experiment of playing 2013 All-Ireland winning captain Pat Donnellan at wing forward and All star Brendan Bugler at midfield. Both were key members of the defence when Clare beat Cork in that thrilling All-Ireland final which went to a replay. Both Clare and Cork lost their opening ties …

By Seamus Hayes Maire McGrath became Clare’s third ever camogie All star on Saturday night when she was named at full back on the 2014 team which is dominated by All-Ireland champions Cork who have nine on the team. The Cratloe woman, who plays her club camogie with Sixmilebridge, was named at full back on this year’s team. She follows in the footsteps of Catherine O’Loughlin (Kilnamona), who was the first Clare player to be honoured when she was named at corner forward in the 2005 team. Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge) was named in the half back line in last year’s team. Maire’s selection means that it’s a second all star for the McGrath household as her brother Conor was one of eight Clare players honoured after Clare had won the All-Ireland senior hurling title. Maire’s selection comes at the end of a season in which Clare reached the National senior camogie final for the first time. they lost to Kilkenny …

By Seamus Hayes Cratloe 4-15 Clarecastle 1-19 A contribution of 3-4 from All star Conor McGrath helped Cratloe to seal a place in the final of the Clare senior hurling championship when they overcame the challenge presented by Clarecastle at sun splashed Cusack Park on Sunday evening. McGrath struck for the first of his goals in the fifth minute and he repeated the feat two minutes from the break to help his team to a six point half time advantage, 2-11 to 1-8. Clarecastle had the better of the third quarter exchanges and closed the gap to two points entering the final quarter. Cratloe struck for their third goal twelve minutes from the end and McGrath was the provided on this occasion picking out Podge Collins with a tremendous pass and the centre forward made no mistake. Two minutes later Clarecastle’s Jamie Coughlan was picking the ball out of the net again after McGrath punished some slack defending to fire …

By Seamus Hayes Clare 4-15 Tipperary 0-20 Clare’s ability to get through for goals helped them to a comfortable win over Tipperary in this round three Allianz hurling league tie played before an attendance of 8,133. Full forward Conor McGrath hit three, the first after ten minutes putting his side five clear. Tipperary had the margin down to a three points when McGrath hit for a second and this was quickly followed by a John Conlon goal which left Clare 3-7 to 0-8 ahead at half time. Ten minutes before the break, Clare lost Darach Honan to injury and this led to the introduction of Podge Collins who went onto play a key part in the win. Tipperary put on the pressure after the break and they outscored Clare 0-6 to 0-1 in the first fifteen minutes of the new half. At the mid point of the half, McGrath struck for his third and Clare’s fourth goal and while Tipperary …

THE GAA has confirmed the referee and match officials for the All-Ireland senior hurling final replay between Clare and Cork on Saturday week. James McGrath from Westmeath will be in charge and this will be h is second senior assignment, having taken charge of last year’s replay between Kilkenny and Galway. The Turin clubman refereed the All-Ireland minor final in 2009 and the All-Ireland U21 final in 2010. James was in charge of the Munster senior final when Limerick beat Cork on a day when Pat Horgan was controversially sent off. That decision was subsequently overturned on an appeal. He also refereed Clare’s first round game with Waterford as well as the meeting of Offaly and Waterford in the qualifiers. Offaly’s Brian Gavin, who was in charge of the drawn game, will be the standby referee with Johnny Ryan (Tipperary) as the other linesman. The sideline official will be Alan Kelly (Galway).