CLARE’s masters football team are up and running for 2026.
Having reached the All-Ireland semi-final last year to Limerick, Clare got their campaign up and running for 2026 when travelling to Moyvane. They came up against a strong Kerry outfit and lost out 1-17 0-7, conceding 1-8 in the final ten minutes.
Lissycasey will be the setting for Clare’s first home game on Saturday week (May 23rd) at 14:00 when they face Galway.
Kilkee’s Patrick Geary is back in the hotseat as manager of the Clare Masters. He is joined on the management team by Kevin O’Malley of the Banner and Clondegad’s Flan Enright. He told The Clare Echo, “At this level having a panel of 25 per game is a must because the old legs tire quickly so it’s massively important that we have plenty of subs on the day to roll on and off as needed. At the start of the year I reached out to all GAA clubs in the county and extended an invite to all players that are over 40 to make contact if they were interested in getting involved, thankfully we had a great response and added some new blood to the group, this year with the new players we have brought in and add that to the experienced players we have, we are hoping to go one further this year and bring some silverware back to Clare”.
Kilmihil’s Philip Ryan has been appointed as team captain with Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly of Kildysart the team’s vice captain.
Members of the panel include former Clare senior football captain Alan Clohessy along with ex Clare senior footballers Gordon Kelly, Enda Coughlan and Barry Duggan. Kelly and his St Joseph’s Miltown clubmate Brian Curtin are still lining out at senior level for their club along with goalkeeper Ian McInerney from Kilmurry Ibrickane with Kilrush Shamrock’s Jim Young part of their intermediate outfit.
Geary praised Clare GAA Head of Operations, Ann Marie Moran for her support of the Masters since taking on the post in January. “We ran a very successful raffle at the end of last year and again I want to thank all local business owners that sponsored a prize and to everyone that bought tickets, the Clare GAA has been especially generous in their commitment to the Masters, since AnnMarie has come in she has been a pleasure to deal with”.
Clare GAA Masters Panel: Alan Clohessy (Liscannor), Ger Moore (Banner), Barry Duggan (Cratloe), Brian Curtin (St Joseph’s Miltown), Gearoid Lynch (St Senan’s Kilkee), Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly (Kildysart), Colm Davoren (Parteen/Meelick), Conor Crowley (Cooraclare), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Enda Keenan (Banner), Flan Enright (Clondegad), Gerry Moran (Lissycasey), Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown), Ian McInerney (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Jim Young (Kilrush Shamrocks), Joe Greene (Doonbeg), John Roche (O’Currys), Johnny Bridges (Wolfe Tones), Johnny O’Brien (Clooney/Quin), Justin Ryan (Cooraclare), Keith King (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Keith Ryan (Kildysart), Kevin Hennelly (Banner), Kevin O’Malley (Banner), Kieran Carkill (Corofin), Mark Fitzgerald (O’Callaghans Mills), Mark Kelly (Éire Óg), Michael Haugh (Kilmihil), Mike McCarthy (Banner), Micheál Hawes (Cratloe), Noel Finnucane (Lissycasey), Noel Nash (O’Callaghans Mills), Padraigh Chaplin (Cratloe), Pádraig Hickey (Broadford), Padjo McGrath (Kilrush Shamrocks), Patrick Geary (St Senan’s Kilkee), Paul Nagle (Lissycasey), Philip Ryan (Kilmihil), Philip Ryan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Robert Harte (St Senan’s Kilkee), Robert Kilkenny (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Ronan Doyle (Éire Óg), Seán Chaplin (Cratloe), Shane McNeilis (Kildysart), Tom McGrath (St Senan’s Kilkee)
