*David McNamara picks out a pass as Mossy Gavin tries to get a block in. Photograph: Ruth Griffin TO EMERGE from the ‘Group of Death’ unscathed was no mean achievement as Éire Óg completed a flawless group campaign in a far from flawless war of attrition with Ballyea in Cusack Park.
*Ballyea’s Niall Deasy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA ‘always knew it was going to go down to the wire’ in the Group of Death.
Brandon O’Connell clears his lines. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA recorded back to back wins in the Clare senior hurling championship to keep their chances of making the knockout stages alive.
*Ballyea’s talisman, Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill While their second successive Canon Hamilton trophy success last October was a historic breakthrough for Ballyea, one would have to search back half a century to find the last time that a Clare club managed to garner a three-in-a-row of county senior crowns.
*Gearoid ‘Gudgy’ O’Connell captained Ballyea from centre-back. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Inclement weather disrupted first round games in the Future Ticketing Clare Cup hurling league on Saturday when four of the scheduled nine games did not go ahead.
*Tony Kelly was in sparkling form for Ballyea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA’S BID to win a second provincial title came undone against an outstanding Ballygunner side on Saturday 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.
*Cathal O’Connor wins the ball in the air for Ballyea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Holders Ballyea flexed their muscles to progress to a third successive Clare SHC semi-final in on Sunday afternoon.
*Ballyea’s Cathal Doohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA’s bid to become back to back Clare SHC champions for the first time in their history took another step in the right direction when overcoming neighbours Clarecastle.
*Cillian Brennan. Photograph: Natasha Barton Ballyea’s Munster club journey came crashing down at the first hurdle when they came off second best to a much-stronger Ballygunner on Sunday afternoon.
