Foley basks in the happy coincidence of Smith O’Briens success at Halloween
*Brendan Foley. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Halloween and Smith O’Briens competing in intermediate hurling finals are turning out to be quite the happy coincidence.
Smith O’Briens
Smith O’Briens crowned intermediate champions
*Smith O’Briens celebrate. Photograph: Ruth Griffin Senior hurling is to return to Killaloe next year after Smith O’Briens were crowned as intermediate champions for 2021.
Foley amazed by common ground between Smith O’Briens’ current crop and historic side of 2004
*Brendan Foley will hope to be smiling come the final whistle of Sunday’s intermediate final. Photograph: Ruth Griffin There’s no such thing as a two minute conversation with Brendan Foley. Being a hurling fanatic, his boyish enthusiasm for the sport has brought many a soul down a black hole of hurling talk that could last …
Experts fancy Smith O’Briens as Doora/Barefield retain public backing
*Kevin Walsh keeps his eyes on the sliotar. Photograph: Natasha Barton Four men who have all either played or managed teams that have come up against both Clare intermediate hurling championship finalists in recent times have given their views on how Sunday’s final will go with Smith O’Briens tipped as favourites by the quartet despite …
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Injury doubts for key players ahead of intermediate decider
*Doora/Barefield’s Kevin Meaney misses out on Sunday’s final due to a hamstring injury. Photograph: Natasha Barton Both St Josephs Doora/Barefield and Smith O’Briens are dealing with injury worries ahead of Sunday’s intermediate hurling final.
Nolan leading the lines as Smith O’Briens go in search of intermediate glory
*Cian Nolan holds off Blaine Earley as he wins the race for possession. Photograph: Ruth Griffin True leadership becomes apparent when the need is greatest and in the case of Smith O’Briens’ hurlers, it has been typified by joint captain Cian Nolan.
Meeting Doora/Barefield’s twin threat – the Hannan brothers
*Tom Hannan gets a shot away from Conall Ó hÁiniféin. Photograph: Natasha Barton Having already won intermediate hurling and football titles, twins Jack and Tom Hannan lead St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s bid to become an established dual senior club once more, a three year quest that requires one major push on Sunday in the Intermediate Final …
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Pain of extra-time semi-final defeat last year driving Smith O’Briens in quest for intermediate glory
*Tony Gleeson celebrates the semi-final win with Mikey O’Shea and David Gough. Photograph: Natasha Barton With his own hurling career cut short through injury, Tony Gleeson is hopeful channelling all his efforts into coaching will see Smith O’Briens return to the top tier in Clare.
Smith O’Briens overcome Tulla to keep dream of senior return alive
*Joint captains David Gough and Cian Nolan in action for Smith O’Briens. Photograph: Ruth Griffin Smith O’Briens are one win away from a return to the senior ranks, eight years after suffering relegation from the top tier.
Do-or-die at both sides of senior divide
*Liam Corry and Jason Loughnane will cross paths once again this Saturday. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill The stakes are heightened this weekend at both ends of the senior hurling championship as the race for the Canon Hamilton Cup heats up just as much as the relegation ‘Group of Death’.
