*Éire Óg’s Jarlath Collins and Danny Lyne swarm Cian O’Mahoney of Doonbeg. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CHAMPIONS Éire Óg survived a stern test from Doonbeg as they came moments from suffering their first championship defeat in the county in normal time in five years.
*Ikem Ugwueru. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. SETTING OUT to go where no Éire Óg team has gone on in over 100 years, the quest to win three Clare senior football titles in a row kicks off for the champions this weekend.
*Paul Madden. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CLARE’s senior footballers “were as good” as Kerry in Saturday’s Munster semi-final according to manager Paul Madden who was left “bitterly disappointed” by “blatant screening” which led to decisive scores.
*Ikem Ugwueru shields the ball from David Clifford. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CLARE’S senior footballers will line out in the Tailteann Cup for the first time after losing the Munster semi-final to Kerry.
*Ikem Ugwueru moves to centre forward for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. TEAMS have been named for the Munster SFC semi-final between Clare and Kerry.
Eoin Cleary and Jamie Stack at the final whistle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. A FIRST Cusack Park win under Paul Madden has given Clare’s footballers fresh impetus for Saturday’s derby encounter with Limerick.
*Brendy Rouine in action for Clare. Photograph: Ruth Griffin./ CLARE’S National Football League campaign is finally off the ground after they picked up a vital two points at the expense of Fermanagh.
*Dermot Coughlan is expected to revert back to the half-forward line this weekend. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CLARE’s senior footballers are back in action this weekend knowing a win is essential to revitalise their Division 3 campaign in the Allianz National Football League.
*Aaron Fitzgerald with the Jack Daly and Canon Hamilton. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. ÉIRE ÓG have won the senior championship double after scoring 1-8 without reply to shake off the challenge of a gutsy St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield to win a fourth Clare SFC in five seasons.
*Éire Óg’s Ikem Ugwueru. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CHASING THAT winning feeling has Ikem Ugwueru primed for battle as Éire Óg look to win a fourth Clare SFC in five seasons.