*Aaron Griffin and Liam Corry in action. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. GIVING game-time to younger players was the primary aim for Ballyea and Éire Óg in this year’s league but both clubs now find themselves sixty minutes away from winning the Division 2 league title.
*Robbie Hogan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ROBBIE HOGAN has returned as manager of the Ballyea senior hurlers for the third time while former Clare manager Donal Moloney has taken charge of his native Scariff.
*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.
Diarmaid Nash at the Pat Kirby memorial in Tuamgraney. Photograph: Gordon Daly Back with a bang for the third year, The Clare Echo’s sporting awards applaud the great and good from within the county.
*Ballyea’s Robbie Hogan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill THREE-TIME CLARE SHC winning manager, Robbie Hogan has called time on his second tenure in charge of the Ballyea senior hurlers.
*James Murphy goes to ground. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill WRITTEN OFF BY ALMOST EVERYONE ahead of their Munster final showing, Ballyea will be proud with their display against reigning All-Ireland champions, Ballygunner.
*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.
*Ballyea’s Paul Flanagan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill OFTEN THE MAGNITUDE OF SUCCESS can be lost on players until they decide to call it a day but Paul Flanagan who has enjoyed a renaissance is well aware of what Ballyea are achieving.
*Tony Kelly hits a trademark score off his left side. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA’S HURLING FIELD was not just where one of the country’s finest hurlers Tony Kelly honed his craft but also the spot where his greatest friendships and bonds blossomed.
*Ballyea manager, Robbie Hogan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill THERE’S NO SECRET to the unprecedented success of Ballyea’s senior hurlers, the ever humble Robbie Hogan admitted.
