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.
*A disappointed Shane O’Donnell watches on as Ballygunner are crowned Munster champions. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. ÉIRE ÓG’s historic hurling season has come to an end at the hands of Ballygunner who have now won more Munster senior hurling titles than any other club in the province.