Tag Archives: football

Munster Under 20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 1 Kerry 1-13 Clare 0-05 A new year but the status quo remains in situ as holders Kerry rolled in and out of West Clare with little fuss to complete a successful first defence of their Munster Under 20 crown in Páirc Naomh Muire, Quilty. The evening seemed ripe for an upset or at least a revolt as the stormy conditions allied to Clare’s three match Phase 1 experience appeared set to provide a hostile competitive bow for the holders. Appearances were deceiving though as despite a gale at their backs for the opening period, Clare not only failed to ruffle Kerry’s feathers but never even took the lead at any stage as an early Charlie Keating goal left the home side playing catch-up for the remainder of the half. Lateral passing and no direct target at the edge of the square, clear anomalies against Tipperary in similar circumstances at the same …

Division 3 football round up Goal hungry Cusacks stroll past Killimer Michael Cusacks 4-13 – Killimer 0-10 A 160km round trip for the Junior A champions as Killimer four days following an opening round defeat at the hands of senior champions Cratloe was not recommended for the Junior A champions as Michael Cusack’s, fresh from a good win over Banner in round 1 were lying in wait for the estuary side. It was a trip that they will attempt to consign to the never to be mentioned again department as Michael Cusack’s were simply too good for their opponents from the first to last kick of the ball. Sean McNamara who along with younger sibling Oisin were a thorn in the Killimer side all afternoon and Sean had the ball in the Killimer net after 15 seconds. Aidan Forde, Joey Droney added points before Oisin McNamara set up the stylish Domhnall McMahon for the winners second goal after 6 minutes. …

Just moments after the full-time whistle the Clare Senior football manager was extremely disappointed with the performance of his side more so than the actual result. “We didn’t play well at all, whether that’s because Down are a really decent team I don’t know. Look it, Down were good but we were very flat. Even when we got the goal it gave us no real momentum. There was no pace to our play and I’m just disappointed with ourselves. There’s no denying that they are the best team in the division and deserve their promotion. It’s just a pity we couldn’t test them a bit more.” Once Down got their kick out away short it seemed that we were in trouble and couldn’t cope with their running game. “We weren’t getting across the pitch quick enough. I mean they got several points direct from their restarts especially in the first half and we tried to address that at half-time but …

A stalwart of Ennis and Clare football in the 1950s Michael Garry from Chapel Lane in Ennis passed away in Australia before Christmas in his 88th year. Joe Ó Muircheartaigh recalls a remarkable football story for club and county. Michael Garry left his native Ennis for Australia in the mid-1950s, but when it came to the GAA it’s safe to say that he never really left at all, because his heart was always in the games and the Banner. He showed this to be true in different ways down the years — it was through the letters he wrote to The Clare Champion about club and county games and it was in the pride he had having represented his club Ennis Faughs in county finals and his county in Munster and All-Ireland finals. Michael Garry’s time was in the early to mid-1950s when he was a key member of two great teams in the county — the Ennis Faughs team …

Allianz Football League Division 3 Round 3 Offaly v Clare at Glenisk O’Connor Park Tullamore, Sunday 2pm (James Molloy, Galway) There’s no need for Mark Fitzgerald or Seanie Buckley to script any motivational speech for this Sunday’s return to National League action in Tullamore. Nothing to do with their hosts Offaly, more an inevitable need to itch a scratch caused by the injustice of their last outing on away soil against Mullingar a fortnight ago. What initially seemed and has been since proven to have been a legitimate Cormac Murray match-winning goal was agonisingly ruled out for a perceived square ball by referee David Murnane, a bitter pill for Fitzgerald and his new-look Banner to have to stomach. Every cloud has a silver lining though and unquestionably Clare will be fired up to redress the balance and get themselves back into the promotion mix albeit still without three of their most experienced leaders as captain Cillian Brennan, midfielder Darragh Bohannon …

Weatherwise it was an opening night that lended itself to grit and determination more than anything else as Mark Fitzgerald’s competitive bow as Clare Senior Football Manager got off to a difficult start in Clarecastle on Wednesday evening. Holding a minimum advantage by the three-quarters mark, the home side would be blitzed by defending McGrath Cup champions Cork in a dominant final quarter that produced an unexpected 14 point turnaround to prevail by 2-14 to 0-8, with the Tralee native looking to take the positives from the bulk of the performance. “Look, it’s January football in tough weather but we’re relatively happy. It went away from us a little bit there in the second half but when you’re seeing what Cork are pulling off the bench, some very experienced lads really, it was always going to be tough to hold out,” he said. “We just picked up one or two injuries this week and obviously picked up another in the …

It was celebration time for Banner Ladies following their Senior A Ladies Football final victory at Miltown Malbay. The final score Banner Ladies 3-8 West Clare Gaels 0-6

BALLYEA (hurling) and Éire Óg’s (football) quest for a historic three in a row of senior titles were put into sharper focus on Wednesday evening when the draws for all eleven adult hurling and football championships were made at the June Meeting of Clare GAA in Hotel Woodstock, writes Eoin Brennan. With only two teams to emerge from each group in the senior hurling championship, the back-to-back champions face a difficult title defence when pitted against 2021 finalists Inagh-Kilnamona, Clare Cup holders Kilmaley, Intermediate winners St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and 2020 equivalents Scariff. One of the most intriguing pools was Group 3 which comprises of four neighbours Cratloe, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Wolfe Tones and Clooney-Quin. In the race for Jack Daly, three teams will emerge from Group 1 that involves last year’s semi-finalists Corofin and Kilmurry Ibrickane, Cusack Cup champions St Breckan’s and 2020 intermediate winners St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. It was also announced that TUS have come on board as sponsors of the …