*Penalties could determine if Conor McGrath & Cratloe get past Clonlara this weekend. Photograph: Mark Hayes Teams competing in the quarter-finals of the Clare SHC and IHC this weekend may be dumped out of the respective competitions on penalties.
*Mícheál O’Loughlin’s effort sails over the bar during Clonlara’s 2016 county semi-final win over Cratloe. Photograph: Martin Connolly Pairings are now known for the Clare SHC quarter-finals following Monday’s draw in Clareabbey.
*Sixmilebridge’s Seadna Morey. Photograph: Veronica McMahon Four of the eight quarter-finalists in the Clare SHC are known following this weekend’s action.
*Cathal Malone netted a hat-trick for Sixmilebridge. Photograph: John Meyler Seven games took place in the Clare senior hurling championship on Saturday marking the beginning of the 2019 campaign.
*Clare’s Eimear Kelly. Photograph: Caroline O’Keeffe Picking up Clare’s first win of the 2019 Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie championship was a case of “getting the monkey off our back”, Eimear Kelly declared.
*Michael Begley. Photograph: Martin Connolly In Clare politics, being the Mayor in an election year is a risky position, for Michael Begley this gamble paid off.
*Seamus Callanan reacts quickest and buries the ball in the Clare goal despite Patrick O’Connor’s attempts. Photograph: Martin Connolly The Clare Echo’s Darach Honan reflects on Clare’s thirteen point defeat to Tipperary and looks at possible changes for Sunday’s must-win tie against Limerick.
*Cllr Pat McMahon. Photograph: Gary Collins Politics was the never in the plan for Pat McMahon but following the sudden death of his father Andy, he was co-opted to the County Council 45 years ago and hasn’t looked back since.
*Eugene Long (centre) with Joe Carey and John McInerney Upon retiring from An Garda Síochána in February after 34 years of service, Eugene Long did not envisage an entry into local politics.
The Clare Echo is delighted to announce that 2013 All-Ireland medal winner Darach Honan will provide hurling analysis for the upcoming Championship season, as we increase our GAA coverage for 2019.