*Fionn Kelleher drives forward for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CLARE’s Tailtean Cup campaign has started off on the worst possible note, losing by three points to an Offaly side who had lost in all their competitive outings so far this year prior to this encounter.
*Cormac Murray misses a goal chance. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. A THIRD defeat for Clare leaves the county consigned to Division 3 football for a fourth year running.
*Brendy Rouine congratulates Ikem Ugwueru. Photograph: Ruth Griffin BIG HITS helped Clare to finally get off the mark in the 2026 National Football League, leaving Enniskillen with their first points of the campaign.
*Clare goalkeeper Stephen Ryan is congratulated following Sunday’s win. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. PICKING up a coveted first league win of 2026 can be a turning point in igniting Clare’s season, football manager Paul Madden is hoping.
*Dermot Coughlan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CLARE showed they were more than capable of beating Down but let the opportunity to do so slip through the fingers to start their Division 3 bid with a five point loss.
*Brian McNamara in possession. CLARE’s bright start to their 2026 National Football League campaign was not enough to overcome Down in Newry with a dip in performance in the second half depriving Paul Madden of a winning start as manager.
*Ronan Lanigan celebrates winning a fourth Clare SFC title with Éire Óg. Photograph: Ruth Griffin A CENTRAL yet understated figure in Éire Óg’s dominance of Clare football has been defender Ronan Lanigan.
*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 Gavin D’Auria. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. SQUAD DEPTH has made Éire Óg’s footballers the envy of every other senior club in the county.
*Éire Óg manager Shane Daniels. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ÉIRE ÓG are not paying attention to their tag as overwhelming favourites to retain the Jack Daly.