Éire Óg edge out Clooney/Quin in Group of Death
*Marco Cleary gets away from Evan Maxted. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill IN one of the tightest contests of the Clare SHC opening round, Éire Óg edged out Clooney/Quin for victory.
Peter Duggan
Duggan among the Clooney/Quin injury doubts for ‘hugely important’ first round
*Peter Duggan. Photograph: Ruth Griffin SIX PLAYERS who will be expected to play major roles in this year’s championship are in danger of missing Clooney/Quin’s first round clash on Saturday against Éire Óg because of injury.
‘Maybe it was one of the greatest All-Irelands but all that matters is the Liam MacCarthy is coming to Clare’ – Bugler
*Brendan Bugler with his son Darragh on the field in Croke Park. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill AN ALL-IRELAND winner as a player, Brendan Bugler added the distinction of coaching his county to win the ultimate honours.
John-Joe setting a high Banner with support for Clare
*John Joe Costelloe at his home in Kildysart. Photograph: John Mangan. KILDYSART’s John Joe Costelloe has been following Clare hurling teams since 1974 and is regarded as one of the most genuine GAA supporters in the county.
Everything has changed since 2013 for star man O’Donnell
*Shane O’Donnell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill THE WHEEL turns full circle for Shane O’Donnell this Sunday when eleven years after his indelible All-Ireland Final debut as a carefree teenager, he faces the same opponents at the same stage in an almost eerie decider rematch against the Rebels once more.
Quin’s Amy will cheer on Clare among a sea of Red in Croke Park
*Amy Colleran with her husband Tadhg Nagle during the Munster SHC meeting of Clare and Cork. QUIN’s Amy Colleran has experience of winning All-Ireland titles with Clare in Croke Park but she has had to become accustomed to cheering on her beloved county surrounded by a sea of red.
All-Ireland final appearance will only mean something if we win says Clare captain Tony Kelly
*Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FOR ALMOST twelve months up to late May of this year, the question on all hurling followers lips wasn’t could Clare win the Munster or All-Ireland title but rather will Tony Kelly make a full recovery from the injury which saw him miss Clare’s league campaign.
Cork embracing the expectation surrounding All-Ireland final
*Cork manager, Pat Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CORK MANAGER, PAT Ryan is expecting Clare to pose a more direct threat than Limerick as they go head to head in the All-Ireland SHC final.
‘It was crunch time for us’ – Kelly says Clare had to deliver semi-final win
*Tony Kelly gets away from Walter Walsh. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE CAPTAIN Tony Kelly never felt that Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final game was gone from them.
Taylor could be the trump card for Clare in All-Ireland semi-final
*Ryan Taylor. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLOONEY/QUIN’s Ryan Taylor is expected to feature in Clare’s matchday panel for the first time this season.