*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.
*Ryan Taylor is kept under pressure by Conor Fogarty. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Speaking after Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final win over Clare, Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng said “we just did enough to get over the line. It was very edgy towards the end”.
*Shane O’Donnell in action for Clare versus Kilkenny. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Clare had no problem overcoming futile resistance from Dublin to give us a crack at Kilkenny in an All-Ireland semi final this weekend. The players and management alike will be on a mission to atone for last year’s loss in a game where we …
*Clare captain, Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill This year Clare have their best chance of winning the All-Ireland senior hurling title since their last success ten years ago.
*Conor Cleary. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill JOHN CONLON, CONOR Cleary and David McInerney have all been named to start in Clare’s team to take on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland senior hurling final.
Diarmuid Ryan gets away from Cian O’Sullivan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE ARE NOW among the last four teams standing in the race to lift the Liam McCarthy after easily dismantling the Dublin challenge which is dissected in our latest episode of The Water Break.
*Clare captain, Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FOR THE FIRST time in the Clare colours, Tony Kelly netted a hat-trick as back to back All-Ireland semi-final appearances were achieved.
*Tony Kelly hit a hat-trick for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE HAVE MADE the semi-finals of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship for the second year in a row and in the process have set up a rematch with Kilkenny in Croke Park.
*Clare captain, Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill AFTER THE FANFARE of the Munster championship, it feels like it’s back to the grind for the Clare hurlers this weekend.
*Ian Galvin impressed when introduced late in the game. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Despite the gut-wrenching result, you would have to marvel at the occasion in the Gaelic Grounds last weekend.