*Éire Óg captain, Liam Corry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A SINGLE POINT separated ÉIRE Óg from Ballyea in last year’s county final and the Townies are one of the hotly tipped sides to claim the Canon Hamilton this season.
With just two wins from nine outings in the recently concluded senior hurling league (Division 1B) Éire Óg were relegated and will play in Division 2 next season
A quick glance at that stat might suggest that their chances of success in the championship are slim but, in fairness to the Ennis club it must be stressed that of all the clubs in the county they were most severely hampered for the league because of the absence of so many key players due to their involvement with a number of Clare teams.
Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy, Aaron Fitzgerald and Oran Cahill were part of the Clare senior hurling squad while Ciaran Russell and Gavin Cooney were with the senior football panel along with Kilfenora native Cian O’Dea who, earlier last year, received clearance to assist Éire Óg’s hurlers. Having recently moved to New York to take up an appointment as a GAA coach with New York GAA, he will not be part of the town club’s hurling panel this season.
The availability of those inter county players will strengthen the Éire Óg squad in a huge way and will give their supporters every reason to be confident that their favourites can progress a step further than the final where their season ended last year, going down to Ballyea.
In addition players such as Danny Russell, Darren O’Brien and David McNamara will be expected to cause problems for any opposition.
Éire Óg also reached the semi-final in the previous season going down to Inagh/Kilnamona.
It’s now thirty three years since Éire Óg last captured the Canon Hamilton trophy and all involved with the club are keen to end that wait.
Matt Shannon, a native of nearby Corofin, is in charge for a fifth season and his selection committee of Gerry O’Connor, Ronan Cooney and Barry Nugent is unchanged from recent seasons with the addition of former Clare coach, Liam Cronin a teacher in Ard Scoil Rís.
In 2021 Shane O’Donnell was dogged with injury concerns but during the recent inter county season he was at his brilliant best and on that form he will pose serious problems for all opponents.
Liam Corry has been the team captain in recent seasons but he missed quite a number of games last year due to injury. Now fully fit, it’s expected that he will be a key figure as the town side chases success this season.
“The focus is on our opening game against Feakle. There are no guarantees so it has to be game by game”, he said this week.
Managing the dual player situation hasn’t been a major problem for the club. “There is great communication between the managers Mattie Shannon and Paul Madden. None of the dual players are overworked while the players look after themselves”, according to Corry who has been part of both senior panels in recent seasons.
Acknowledging that the hurlers have been close to success Corry says they are “hopeful that we will be in that situation again this year. We must respect all opponents so we have to go game by game”.
He believes that being short so many players for their league games due to their inter county involvement, “provided others with the opportunity to step up and gain valuable experience which will benefit the club”
Éire Óg will go into the football championship in two weeks time as defending champions chasing a third title in sucession so another busy and long campaign is likely.
Éire Óg
Management: Matt Shannon (Manager), Gerry O’Connor, Barry Nugent, Ronan Cooney (Selectors); Liam Cronin (coach), Neil McCarthy (Physio) Bob Loftus, Tadhg McNamara Anthony O’Halloran (Stats).
Captain: Liam Corry
Key Player: Shane O’Donnell
One to Watch: Luca Cleary
Fresh Blood: Luca Cleary, Bruce Piggott, Liam Kavanagh, Luke Pyne
Departure Gate: Cian O’Dea (emigrated)
Titles won: 6
Last season’s run: Beaten in county final by Ballyea
Schedule:
Round 1 v Feakle
Round 2 v Broadford
Round 3 v Clarecastle
