FOLLOWING CLARE’S exit from the All-Ireland intermediate championship, the focus is shifting to the efforts of the county minors and the club championships.
Chairman of Clare LGFA, Seán Lenihan voiced his pride with the performances and commitment shown by the intermediate panel and management throughout the year, it comes following their two point All-Ireland semi-final extra time loss on Sunday.
Clare’s minors managed by his predecessor David O’Brien from Cooraclare face Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final in Pearse Park, Longford on Wednesday July 20th at 7:30pm. Leitrim and Wicklow meet in the other semi-final.
Action has commenced in the minor club campaign with the senior and intermediate championships set to begin on August 7th. Lenihan explained, “With the split season and limited weekends now until the Munster club competitions, it will be extremely busy, especially for dual Clubs right up to County Final Day. Our Fixtures Committee have liaised extensively with their camogie counterparts and while the round robin games will be on the same weekends, week in, week out, it has been agreed to alternate the Football and Camogie semi-final and final weekends with a fortnight between the semi and the final also. I know not everyone will be happy with the fixtures programme but it is the optimum solution in the circumstances”.
Expressions of interest will be sought by the development committee in the coming weeks for management teams at county level, he confirmed. The St Josephs Doora/Barefield clubman was also hopeful to hear from interested sponsors by emailing chairperson.clare@lgfa.ie.
He stated, “There are considerable costs involved in building for the future. We would be particularly interested in hearing from any individual or organisation who sees the obvious benefits of being involved with females in sport in general and Ladies Football in particular. We would be particularly glad to hear from somebody that may be interested in becoming our S&C funding partner or our Physio funding partner as the costs can be quite extensive in these areas. All sponsorship or contribution would be greatly appreciated, officially receipted, and suitably acknowledged”.
