Tag Archives: Oscar Traynor

IF experience is a key ingredient to success in the Oscar Traynor Cup, then Clare have a strong hand, as team captain Pat Purcell is one of the most experienced players taking part in this year’s competition. He leads the side in their quarter final tie away to Sligo/Leitrim this Saturday. Having played League of Ireland football with Limerick for a number of seasons, he returned to junior football this season when he joined Newmarket Celtic. Purcell previously played in this competition with Limerick, as he was playing his junior football with Fairview Rangers at the time. Acknowledging that “there is a commitment involved”, he said it isn’t as great as that required for League of Ireland football. He has a similar view to that of team manager Mick Shiel in relation to the running of the competition. “There are too many gaps. Lads in the Oscar Traynor squad might not see each other for weeks because of the gaps …

Sports Editor Seamus Hayes CLARE have a number of injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s Oscar Traynor Cup semi-final, in which they take on the Kerry League at Tralee (kick-off at 2pm). Stephen Hickey and Dave McCarthy, two key members of the squad, are battling to be fit. Both did play a part in their respective clubs (Ennis Town and Avenue United) games at the weekend but a final decision on their fitness will not be made until later this week. Both scored for their clubs on Sunday and both Ennis sides continued their challenge for the Premier League title. Centre-back Rhys Phillips is almost certain to miss Sunday’s tie after he was injured when playing with Avenue United on Sunday week last. Shane Daniels from Ennis Town is understood to be in contention to replace Phillips for the trip to Tralee but young Paddy O’Malley is also in contention for a starting spot. According to Clare manager Liam Murphy, “We …

Clare have been drawn away in the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor inte-league competition. They will play the winners of the quarter final involving the Kerry and District League and the United Churches League, a game that is scheduled for Sunday, February 23.   In the other semi-final Inisowen from Donegal, last year’s beaten finalists, await the winners of the game between Kilkenny and holders AUL.   No date has been set for the semi-finals but it’s expected that Clare will be in action in early March.   According to Clare manager Liam Murphy, “Any of the teams that are left in the race will be difficult to beat. We wanted to avoid a trip to Inisowen and that materialised”.   While he agreed, “On paper the other side of the draw looks particularly tough but we are going to be facing either a strong Dublin side (United Churches) or a well organised and strong Kerry side. We will have an …

Clare League              2 Desmond League     0 IT was mission accomplished as Clare’s junior soccer squad secured a quarter-final place in the Oscar Traynor inter-league competition, accounting for Desmond League at the County Grounds on Saturday evening. The win sealed the team’s place at the top of the group, which puts them into the last eight of the competition. The victory could have been much greater margin had they converted all the chances created, a fact team manager Liam Murphy attributed to Clare being uncomfortable in the role of favourites. Desmond League, already out of contention, travelled to Doora with just 12 players and were forced to make a change shortly before half-time when John Kelleher was introduced in place of the injured Kieran Trander. The visitors almost took the lead in the very first attack of the game. After just 30 seconds, Clare goalkeeper John Mulready was rather casual in clearing his line and almost paid the price. Seconds later, …

Clare 5   Limerick 3 THURSDAY evening was an historic occasion for Clare soccer as the first competitive match was played under the league’s new floodlights at the County Grounds in Doora. Adding to the sense of enjoyment was the fact that the game was the opening round in this season’s Oscar Traynor, inter-league junior football competition and Clare marked the occasion with a merited victory over neighbours Limerick, one of the fancied teams for the title. A superb first half saw Clare dominate and deservedly take a 3-0 lead to the break. It could have been a bigger lead for the home team, had they availed of all of the chances they created. Eoin Hayes capped an excellent performance with a hat-trick. His first came in the eighth minute, his second four minutes into the second half, a score that put the winners  four clear, and his third  in the third minute of injury time, when he converted a penalty …