*Banner GAA players celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. BANNER have won the Clare intermediate football championship for the first time creating history as they secured promotion to the top tier.
*Wolfe Tones manager, John Riordan. Photograph: Ruthie Griffin THIRTY YEARS on from winning a championship double with Wolfe Tones, John Riordan is sixty minutes from guiding the Shannon club back to the top tier of Clare football.
*Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Evan Cahill keeps the ball from Danny Lyne of Éire Óg. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ÉIRE ÓG and Kilmurry Ibrickane face off in the biggest football game of the year in Clare this weekend while Banner, Wolfe Tones, O’Currys and Parteen/Meelick are also chasing silverware in adult finals.
*Conor Carrig of Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. WOLFE TONES’ experience of winning intermediate promotion and their brief stint in senior last year has made their squad aware of what it takes to go back and remain in the top tier.
*Wolfe Tones captain Jayme O’Sullivan gets away from Naomh Eoin’s Fergal Keane. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. HARSH LESSONS from the past have left Wolfe Tones eager to bounce back to the top flight of Clare football at the first attempt.
*Daithí Lohan. Well-known GAA player, Daithí Lohan (3) won the open singles at Shannon with 41 points from Jeremiah O’Connor (19) with 35 points.
*Colin Riordan fields the ball for Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill WOLFE TONES are back in the Clare IFC final for the second time in three seasons, producing an extra time flourish to overcome Naomh Eoin.
*Experienced defenders Ciaran Russell & Gordon Kelly will cross paths this weekend. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. FOUR TEAMS remain in contention to lift the Jack Daly but by Sunday evening the final pairing will be known for the 2026 Clare senior football championship.
*Naomh Eoin’s Mark McQuaid and Niall Bonfil celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. BIG SHOCKS were the order of the Clare intermediate football championship with favourites Clondegad and last year’s finalists Cooraclare both eliminated in the quarter-finals.
*Wolfe Tones’ Rory Hayes. Photograph: Ruthie Griffin. WOLFE TONES manager Barry Keane felt their quarter-final defeat to Éire Óg was eerily reminiscent of their group-stage clash with Kilmaley, as another third quarter collapse brought their championship campaign to an end.