*(Front) Darragh Hickey, Rian Russell & Tadhg Wall McMahon. (Seated) Shane Daniels & Alan Malone. (Middle) Pamela Buckley, Rory & Caroline Hickey & Edel Malone. (Back) Sean Buckley, Elaine Daniels, Tom Russell, Assumpta Hehir, Siobhán Hickey & David Russell. Photograph: Joe Buckley A NIGHT of celebrations took place last weekend for Éire Óg. Éire Óg …
Jonathan Keane celebrates winning the South of Ireland Men’s Amateur Open Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady AS the 2025 sporting seasons draws to a close, the keenly contested and eagerly awaited Clare Echo sporting awards return.
*John Fawl presents the Special Merit Award to Kevin Walsh. LONG-serving referee Kevin Walsh, Tuamgraney handballer Leah Minogue and Éire Óg’s Niall Malone were among the recipients at the Munster GAA Awards.
*Ciaran Downes. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill SEVEN members of the 2025 Clare senior football panel have opted out of representing the county next season.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ÉIRE ÓG are Clare U21B Football Champions after overcoming the challenge of Cratloe, who failed to score in extra-time.
*Clare Camogie chairperson Fergal O’Brien addressing Convention. Photograph: Joe Buckley SERVING as secretary of Clare Camogie was “one eye opening experience”, the annual Convention heard with views still mixed on the split season with a vote to change the age of players eligible to play adult competitions defeated.
*Inagh/Kilnamona joint captains Shane Woods and Seán Rynne. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. INAGH/KILNAMONA went ahead for the first time on fifty seven minutes to go on to become U21A hurling champions for the fourth time beating Éire Óg.
*Inagh/Kilnamona’s Fred Hegarty. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ÉIRE ÓG will look to win a first U21A hurling title since 2010 and Inagh/Kilnamona are striving to bridge a seven year gap when the clubs meet in Sunday’s county final.
*Ronan Keane, Gerry O’Connor and Liam Cronin. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. ÉIRE Óg’s first Munster club campaign in thirty five years and provincial final appearance has been “a huge learning curve”.
*Jack O’Halloran and Darren Moroney battle for possession. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ÉIRE ÓG’s brilliant season on the domestic front continued as they qualified for the final of the Berwick Callinan Murphy U21A hurling final.