*Alan Sweeney moves the ball from defence as Niall McMahon closes in. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill THEY MAY have been defeated in their opening encounter of the Clare SFC but St Breckan’s remain resolute in their quest to make a county final appearance.
*Captain Gavin Cooney was to the fore for Éire Óg. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill COUNTY CHAMPIONS Éire Óg have started the defence of the Jack Daly with a merited but hard-fought one point win over St Breckan’s.
Kilmihil native Declan Downes knows Clare adult football inside out. A member of Colm Collins’ Clare management team for the past number of years, he is well versed on what patrons can expect for the 2022 county senior championship which gets underway on Saturday.
*Éire Óg’s Ciaran Russell adds experience and talent to their defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill As Clare senior football champions Éire Óg go into this season’s campaign with a slightly different mindset according to their manager Paul Madden.
*Kilmaley’s Tommy Barry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill There was no shortage of talking points when neighbours Kilmaley and Éire Óg did battle in the opening round of the senior hurling championship at a wet Cusack Park this Saturday evening.
HAVING come close in recent seasons to a breakthrough at senior ranks, Éire Óg will feel a certain degree of pressure to ensure this materialises on the hurling field this year.
*Action begins this weekend in the Clare SHC with four games down for decision on Saturday. It may be argued that the GAA is more political than political organisations themselves, off-the-field antics can certainly strengthen this theory across multiple aspects of the Association.
*Pat McNamara on commentary duty for Scariff Bay. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography Current analyst with Scariff Bay Community Radio, Pat McNamara who served as a selector with the Clare Development Squads at U14 to U17 levels from 2007 to 2012 gives his prediction on what way the Clare SHC will pan out this year.
*Keelan Sexton in action in Croke Park. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION of Clare’s run in the All-Ireland SFC, a number of Colm Collins’ side have headed to the United States.
*Brian Carey holds off Eoin Guilfoyle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Pairings are now known for the knockout stages of the Clare Cup following the final round of group games played on Sunday.
