*Ballyea celebrate at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA HAVE won the Clare SHC for the fourth time, all in the space of six years as they produced a final flurry to break Éire Óg hearts on Sunday afternoon.
*Tomás Kelly celebrating St Joseph’s Tulla’s Harty Cup win over Ard Scoil Rís. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill COUNTY FINALS ARE OFTEN won by “the supporting cast” and that is likely to be the case in Sunday’s eagerly awaited clash between Ballyea and Éire Óg, Harty Cup winning coach Tomás Kelly maintained.
*Clare goalkeeper, Eibhear Quilligan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE GOALKEEPER, Eibhear Quilligan has said match-ups in Sunday’s senior hurling final are “going to be really intriguing” while pinpointing the middle third as the area where the game will be won and lost.
*Fergal Lynch. FORMER CLARE hurler, Fergal Lynch believes a win for Éire Óg’s senior hurlers would be invaluable in boosting the promotion of hurling in the county town.
*Éire Óg’s marquee man, Shane O’Donnell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill SHANE O’DONNELL has achieved a lot in his hurling career and he hopes to fulfil a dream of claiming a Clare SHC medal as Éire Óg take on Ballyea in Sunday’s decider.
*Niall McMahon is one of the dual-players chasing senior glory on the double. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill TO HAVE QUALIFIED for successive Clare SFC finals is of great delight to all involved with Éire Óg most especially their diligent manager, Paul Madden.
*Éinne O’Connor pushes the ball away from Gearoid Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill REIGNING COUNTY CHAMPIONS, Éire Óg are back in the Clare SFC final, keeping the club’s chances of a senior double well and truly alive.
*Philip Talty gets away from James Murphy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill COUNTY CHAMPIONS ÉIRE ÓG are on course to retain the Jack Daly after producing a sterling display to see off Clondegad and book their place in the last four of the senior championship.
*Shane O’Donnell controls the ball ahead of two Inagh/Kilnamona defenders. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Éire Óg exacted full revenge for last year’s semi-final defeat when brushing aside the crestfallen challenge of Inagh-Kilnamona in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.
*Ikem Ugwueru has impressed at centre forward. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ÉIRE ÓG’s bid to retain the Jack Daly continues apace with the Ennis club securing their place in the quarter-finals of the Clare SFC.
