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AN Ennis man who is bringing the stars of world soccer to Ireland at the end of the month says he is proud that Clare is hosting the FAI’s Festival of Football.

Damien O’Brien, who is originally from McNamara Park in the Turnpike area of Ennis, will return home later this week to promote the Dublin Super Cup.

O’Brien’s Iconic company, in association with Endemol Sport has signed a 10 year deal partnership with the FAI to bring world class soccer teams to the Aviva Stadium.

The inaugural event takes place in Dublin on July 30-31 when the stars of Inter Milan, Celtic, an Eirtricity League X1 and Manchester City, clash in a pre-season tournament.

A student from Kilmaley National School will lead out one of the teams on the first day of games. O’Brien explains, “My parents are back living in Inch. Kilmaley national school were doing a fundraiser so we gave a prize that one of the kids could be a mascot for one of the teams. The tournament will be screened to something like 150 territories around the world, everywhere under the sun”.

The tournament represents O’Brien’s latest venture in the world of high level sports promotion. Five years ago he devised the format for Football’s Next Star – a reality TV show that offers young footballers the chance to earn a professional contract with clubs such as Inter Milan and Chelsea. In 2009, Tulla United teenager Sunny Jay qualified for the final 40 of the competition.

O’Brien says the competition has helped young Irish footballers secure professional contracts with clubs in England. He adds, “We’ve had three Irish boys finish in the top four. We’re coming to Ireland next year with it. It’s gone global. We have shows in the US, China, Africa. The kid who won the competition in the first year is now captain of the Chelsea reserves…Its for kids that maybe have slipped though the net”.

Through Iconic, the 38 year old is also involved in sponsoring the FAI’s Emerging Talent Programme.

A former pupil of Ennis National School, O’Brien played schoolboys soccer with Turnpike Rovers. He moved to London after studying at St Flannan’s College and became involved in sports promotion through an association with Chelsea FC. He says he is looking forward to coming to Clare for the Festival of Soccer.

EVENTS WILL take place throughout the week as Clare becomes the soccer capital of Ireland. The FAI road show began yesterday with visits to Connolly Celtic, Corofin Harps, Moher Celtic, Burren Utd and Sporting Ennistymon.

Under the FAI’s grant scheme, 26 Clare clubs will recevie funding as follows: St Pats AFC (€ 3000); Corfin Harps (€ 2000); Connolly Celtic (€ 3000); Tulla United (€ 10,000); Hermitage FC (€ 1000); Bridge Celtic (€ 1000 and training equip ment); Mountshannon Celtic(€ 1000 and training equipment); Bunratty (€ 2500); Lifford AFC (€ 2250); Kilrush Rangers (€ 1250); Burren United (€ 3250); Bridge United (€ 3250); Lough Derg (€ 5000); Rhine Rovers (€ 1000 and training equipment); Newmarket Celtic (€ 3250); Sporting Ennistymon (€ 1000 and goal posts) Avenue United (€ 2250); Park United (€ 1000); Kilmaley Fern Celtic (€ 3250); Coole Park (small side goals); Shannon Olympic (€ 2250); Moher Celtic (€ 1250); Moneypoint (€ 3250); Ennis Town FC (€ 2000 and small sided goals); Shannon Hibernian (€ 3250 and small sided goals). The Clare schoolboys soccer league is to receive 10 sets of small sided goals plus coaching education concessions while the Clare DSoccer League has been granted € 10,000.

AGM.

Mayor of Clare Pay Hayes (FF) said, “This injection of funds will provide a huge boost to the continued development of the game in County Clare.

TUAMGRANEY Handball Club this year celebrates 100 years in existence and to mark the occasion, the club are hosting a Centenary Celebration Weekend on July 15 to 17.

The East Clare village has always been synonymous with handball and through the success of so many great players, has become one of the most famous and well-renowned handball clubs in Ireland.

From the days of the Kirby brothers, Haulie Hogan and Pakie Ryan right up to the present day acheivements of the Nash and Malone brothers and so many greats in between, Tuamgraney has always been punching above its weight in the ball alleys all over the country.

The Centenary Celebration Weekend kicks off on Friday night July 15 with music (by Rosanna Egan) in the specially constructed marquee to the rear of Teach Ui Bhriain in the village (admission free).

The Saturday afternoon will see juvenile tournament finals and exhibition games of 40×20, 60×30 and One-Wall handball (featuring some of Ireland’s top players such as Duxie Walsh, Robbie McCarthy, Ger Coonan and Fergal Collins as well as lo- cal stars) as well as the much-anticipated ‘Lucky Square Challenge’.

There will then be a mass for deceased members at 6.30pm in Tuamgraney church. Following an after-mass procession from the church to the handball club grounds led by the Tulla Pipe Band, GAA Handball Ireland President Walter O’Connor will unveil a comemorative monument marking 100 years of handball in Tuamgraney.

The monument depicts Tuamgraney legend and former World Champion Pat Kirby. Pat is currently on a visit from Arizona where he now resides and will be present at the unveiling and will also be a special guest at the Centenary Gala Dinner, place in the marquee after the momument unveilling and the re-opening of the refurbished 60×30 court.

Another all-time hadball great, Duxie Walsh of Kilkenny, will also be a special guest while the special guest speaker on the night will be none other than gaelic games broadcasting legend Micheal O’Muircheartaigh.

At time of writing, tickets for the Gala Dinner (€ 25) are almost completely sold out but some ‘afters’ tickets (€ 10) are still available. Enquiries to Conor Daly (086-8541464). Music is by Gearoid Devanney and band.

On Sunday 17, Duxie Walsh will hold an informal juvenile handball coaching session at 12.00pm. Later in the afternoon, Tuamgraney Develoment Association host a ‘Family Day on the Green’ with a Monster BBQ, face-painting, bouncy castles, slides, DJ and HB Ice Cream (all proceeds from ice-cream sales to Down Syndrome Ireland).

The party starts at 4.00pm in the Memorial Park, Tuamgraney. The weekend winds down with a Ceili Night (9.30pm) in the Teach Ui Bhriain Marquee with music by Seamus Bugler, Pat O’Connor and friends (admission € 5), plus the ‘Centenary Prize Draw’. Over the weekend, East Clare Heritage will be hosting an exhibition of old handball photos and anyone who has photos that they feel might be of interest are asked to contact Conor Daly. All photos will be returned.

July 15-17 promises to be a great weekend to mark a century of ‘the ancient game’ in Tuamgraney and the surrounding areas.

WHILE Clare’s early Munster 60×30 Championship fixtures have seen defeats in most grades, the tide was turned by Declan Frawley who had an emphatic

Intermediate Singles semi-final win over Tipp’s Adrian Supple. There was also Golden Masters A Singles victory for Mike Kelly, while Pat Donellan is also still in the Golden Masters B Singles race after receiving a walkover from his Cork opponent. This week is again choc-full of fixtures involving Clare players including Declan Frawley’s Munster Final in Cashel on Thursday night against either Cork or Waterford opposition (see full fixtures below).

Meanwhile, the TG4 Irish OneWall Handball Nationals were held recently at the Breaffy House resort in Castlebar. One-wall handball is growing in popularity in a big way and a number of Banner County competitors, young and not so young, travelled to Mayo. The Open events were dominated by the visiting American and Puerto Rican players but there were Plate Final victories for Clare payers John Cawley (Golden Masters A Plate), Ciaran Malone (18-&-Under Plate) and Niall Malone (Mens Open Plate), who defeated fellow Clareman Jamie Lynch in the decider. Diarmaid Nash reached the Mens Open quarter-final while Fergal Coughlan and Tiernan Agnew made it to the finals of the Boys 14-&-under and 12-&-under events respectively. Ella Donellan won the Girls 12-&-under competition.

Finally, Tuamgraney Handball Club’s Centenary Celebrations take place this weekend. GAA Handball President Walter O’Connor will be on hand to oficially re-open the club’s refurbished 60×30 court and also unveil a commemorative monument. There wil be a number of exhibition handball games on the Saturday while at Saturday night’s ‘Centenary Gala Dinner’, special guests Pat Kirby, Duxie Walsh and Walter O’Connor will join Guest of Honour Micheal O’Muircheartaigh in celebrating 100 years of Tuamgraney handball in style.

Munster 60×30 Championships
(Clare fixtures) Tuesday July 12, Cullen (Cork) – Junior Doubles: Niall Malone & Darragh Kirby v. Cork. Ruby Masters Singles: Jimmy Walsh v. Cork Wednesday July 13, Broadford (Limerick) – Golden Masters B Doubles: Pat Donellan & Stephen McInerney v. Cork Thursday July 14, Cashel – Intermediate Singles Munster Final: Declan Frawley v. Philip Butler (Waterford) or ColmJordan (Cork) Friday, July 15, Bohermore – Ruby Masters Doubles: John Kirby & JimmyWalsh v. Cork

Kilmihil 6-14 – Cooraclare 3-09 at Labasheeda

THREE POINTS from play inside the opening five minutes for Kilmihil from Eimear Considine (2) and Orla Keane set the tone in this high scoring senior championship Round 3 encounter on Saturday evening. In a match that produced nine goals, Kilmihil were deserving winners over the hour.

Credit to Cooraclare though as once Roisin O’Looney equalised with a fine goal in the seventh minute, they really impressed in the opening half against their more expierenced opponents. At half-time, Cooraclare, who were forced to line out without the injured Monica Lillis and Anne Marie Callinan, trailed by 3-6 to 2-4 while Kilmihil’s third goal from the impressive Ailish Considine came late in the half.

Senior Championship debutant Laura Egan was Kilmihil’s first goal scorer and by the quarter stage, her side led by four points at 1-5 to 1-1. Cooraclare then hit a purple patch with points from Patricia Callinan, Niamh Chambers and Aoife O’Gorman before corner-forward Ciara Golden put the blues ahead when she rattled the net. Their lead was short lived however as Kilmihil through Ellie O’Gorman responded with a goal.

Early second half goals from Becky Mahon who lined out at wing back but was moved to attack and Eimear Considine stretched Kilmihil’s lead to 11 points and while Niamh Chambers added a goal and three points for Cooraclare as well as a points from team captain Noreen McGuane and substitute Lourda Lillis, it wasn’t to be their day. Another Kilmihil goal from Ellie O’Gorman as well as points from Ailish Considine, O’Gorman and Orla Keane sealed a fine win.

In addition to the scorers, Rosie Currane, Una Downes and Dympna Walsh were very impressive for the winners while Bernie Kelly, Roisin O’Looney, Noreen McGuane, Patricia Callinan, Niamh Chambers and Aoife O’Gorman performed well for Cooraclare. A feature of this game was a number of long range points, two from Kilmihil’s Ailish Consid- ine and score of the match from Patricia Callinan from all of 45 metres.

Kilmihil
Sharon O’Gorman, Elaine O’Halloran, Edel McMahon, Niamh Keane, Becky Mahon (1-1), Rosie Currane (capt), Una Downes, Dympna Walsh, Maria Keane (0-1), Laura Egan (1-0), Ellie O’Gorman (2-2), Orla Keane (0-3),Ailish Considine (1-5), Eimear Considine (1-2), Denise O’Halloran

Sub
Moriah Lineen for M. Keane

Cooraclare
Mairead Griffin, Fiona McMahon, Louise Murrihy, Orla Reidy, Danielle Dillon, Bernie Kelly, Sherena Clarke, Dympna O’Dwyer, Roisin O’Looney (1-0), Noreen McGuane (capt) (0-2), Patricia Callinan (0-1), Rachel Garry, Ciara Golden (1-0), Niamh Chambers (1-4),Aoife O’Gorman (0-1)

Sub
Lourda Lillis (0-1) for D. Dillon

Referee
Michael Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

Banner Ladies 4-10 – Liscannor 2-08 at Kilfenora

COMFORTABLE winners in the end, the outcome did not look too good for most of the opening half for the Banner who trailed at one stage by six points and played half the match with 14 players on Friday evening.

When the match finally got underway, full-forward Aine Burke was first of the mark for the north Clare side with a nice point from play. Local girl Niamh O’Dea, whose younger sister Eva also lined out, had two points for Banner Ladies. Further points from Burke (2), Aisling Torpey and the lively Marie Considine had Liscannor three ahead before midfielder Carmel Considine soloed through the Banner defence and rifled home a fine goal to put her side 1-5 to 0-2 in front.

It took the Ennis side a while to get in to their stride but when they did, they weren’t long whittling down the lead. A goal and a point from full forward Niamh O’Dea reduced the gap to two before Marie Considine and Mary Tierney traded points. As half time approached, Banner Ladies were awarded a penalty when Eva O’Dea was fouled in the small square. Inter-county star and AllStar nominee for the past two years, Louise Henchy made no mistake from the placed ball and so at the interval her team retired two points to the good at 2-4 to 1-5.

Banner Ladies resumed the second half with a full contingent. The fifteenth player Katie Cahill made an immediate impact and went on to play an excellent 30 minutes. Marie Considine cut the deficit to a single score when she pointed quickly after the restart but then came a crucial score for the winners when Susan McNamara goaled. There seemed to be a mix up between the Liscannor goalkeeper and some of her defenders, and McNamara had the simple task of kicking the ball to an empty net. When the lively Mary Tierney tacked on a point, last year’s championship runners up went three points clear. The excellent Naomi Carroll pointed and her colleague Niamh O’Dea had her second goal when she finished following a flick on from Sonya Maher.

Laurie Ryan, Clare Walsh and Emma O’Driscoll all played intelligently in the Banners defence. Mary Tierney, Susan McNamara and Niamh O’Dea were very prominent in attack. Naomi Carroll gave a player of the match display at midfield while Louise Henchy also performed well. Best for Liscannor were Aine Burke, Aisling Torpey, Aine Greene and as usual the Considine sisters Carmel and Marie.

Banner Ladies
LouiseWoods, Laurie Ryan (capt.), ClareWalsh, Helen Hehir, Rebecca Culligan, Emma O’Driscoll, Sinead O’Keeffe, Louise Henchy (1-2 1-1f) , Naomi Carroll (0-1), MaryTierney (0-2), Sonya Maher, Eva O’Dea, Niamh O’Dea (2-5 2f), Susan McNamara (1-0), Katie Cahill

Liscannor
Emma Slattery, Roisin Considine, Yvonne Flaherty (capt.), Roisin Rouine, Cliona Falvey, Sinead Considine, Fiona Considine, Carmel Considine (1-0),Aine Greene, Marie Considine (03), Olivia Lucas (0-1), Marian Considine, Clionadh Considine,Aine Burke (0-2 1f),AislingTorpey (1-2 1f, 1-0 pen)

Subs
Emer Hillery for Marion Considine (half time),Theresa Shannon for Flaherty (inj), Catherine Hayes for Falvey

Referee
Michael Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

Senior A Championship Round 4
Banner v West Clare Gaels @VenueTBC, Friday 8pm(RefereeTBC) Kilmihil v Liscannor @VenueTBC, Sunday 1.45pm (RefereeTBC)

Senior B Championship Round 4
Fergus Rovers v Miltown @Venue andTimeTBC, Sunday (RefereeTBC)

Junior A Championship Round 1
Burren Gaels v Doonbeg @VenueTBC, Sunday 4.45pm(RefereeTBC) Banner B v Kilrush @Venue andTimeTBC, Sunday (RefereeTBC)

Under 14 Division 1
Championship Final Banner v Kilmurry Ibrickane @Kilmihil,Thursday 5.45pm(Lisa Harte McMahon)

Under 14 Division 1 Shield Final
Doora-Barefield v West Clare Gaels @Kilmihil, Friday 5.45pm(Linda Russell)

Under 14 Division 3
Championship Semi- Final Cooraclare/Miltown v Coolmeen @VenueTBC, Saturday 1.15pm(RefereeTBC) Doonbeg v Shannon Gaels @VenueTBC, Saturday 2.45pm(RefereeTBC)

Under 12 Division 2
Championship Final Banner v West Clare Gaels @Miltown,Tuesday 6.30pm(Linda Russell)

Crusheen 1-17 – Tulla 0-14 at Crusheen

COUNTY champions Crusheen kept up their end of the bargain against Tulla on Friday evening but with rivals Newmarket ending Sixmilebridge’s hopes and Inagh/Kilnamona throwing a spanner in the works with a victory over the same opposition 24 hours later, the race for the two semifinal places is still undecided.

Inagh/Kilnamona will travel to Whitegate on Thursday, with a win for the Combo placing all three teams on equal points and scoring difference coming into effect.

With that in mind, Crusheen will probably rue not putting this game to bed earlier as they led by ten points at one stage. However, credit Tulla for biting at their heels in the second half with Brian Lynch and Ray Stewart heading the revival.

A blistering start saw the home side blaze a trail early on, starting with Paddy O’Grady’s goal after 24 sec- onds on their way to a 1-6 to 0-1 lead by the 13th minute.

In fact, such was their dominance at that stage that all the Crusheen forwards had got on the scoresheet by the 24th minute and by the break, they held a 1-12 to 0-6 advantage.

With the result seemingly beyond doubt, Crusheen eased their foot off the pedal and a rejuvenated Tulla took advantage when controlling the midfield sector and chipping away at the deficit mainly through the aforementioned Stewart and Lynch.

The gap was reduced to just four by the 56th minute and the damage could have been greater, had it not been for the dogged defending of the back line of the Brigdale brothers John and Alan and the Dillons, Cronan, Cathal and Cian.

However, their fate will not be known until Thursday evening when Inagh/Kilnamona look to throw their hat into the ring by beating home side Whitegate.

Crusheen
Gearoid O’Donnell, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon, Alan Brigdale, Ciaran O’Doherty (0-4 2f 2’65), Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon, Gerry O’Grady (0-3f), Fergus Kennedy (0-1), Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-2), Shaun Dillon (0-1), Darragh O’Doherty (0-1), Paddy Meaney (0-2), Paddy O’Grady (1-0), Conor O’Donnell (0-3)

Subs
Donal Tuohy for G. O’Donnell (13 mins), Gearoid O’Donnell for D. O’Doherty (43 mins), AlanTuohy for P. O’Grady (53 mins)

Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, Mark Quinn, John Fahy, Brian Lynch (0-2), Paul Lynch, Rory Hogan, Cathal Dinan,Tomás McMahon, David McInerney (0-1f), Michael Murphy (0-1), Daragh Corry (0-1), Ray Stewart (0-8 5f), Kieran Brennan (0-1), Shane McNamara

Subs
SeanTorpey for McNamara (HT), Declan Murphy for Hogan (43 mins), Cathal Bolton for McMahon (45 mins)

Referee
Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Clooney/Quin 1-19 – Clarecastle 2-11 at Páirc Uí hAonghusa, Clooney

MEANINGLESS IN terms of advancement or relegation to the home side but it mattered to Clarecastle who may yet be dragged back into the relegation mix if Wolfe Tones win their remaining game on Wednesday. In the end, it was two purple patches that secured victory as they bounced back from an early three point deficit to hit eight points without reply in a nine minute period midway through the half on their way to a 0-11 to 0-04 half-time lead.

And with Tyrone Kearse and Jonathan Clancy leading the comeback rally for the Magpies on the restart, when grabbing five out of the first seven points, a 43rd minute Adrian Fleming opportunistic goal put the skids on the visitors fightback and initiated another scoring spree of four successive points to lead by 11 by the 52nd minute.

Clarecastle did rally with goals from substitute Sean Talty and a Kearse 20 metre free but the damage was already done as Clooney/Quin finished the league on a positive note while the Magpies will have to sweat it out until Wednesday at least.

Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrison, Shane McNamara, Donnacha Murphy, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrison, Mike McNamara, Padraig Ward (0-8 6f), Seamus Conroy (0-1), Sean Conheady (0-2), Martin Duggan (0-1), Mike Daffy (0-3),Adrian Fleming (1-0), Daire Hannon (0-3)

Subs

Ruairi McNamara (0-1) for Hannon, Ger Leamy for M. Duggan,Tony McMahon for E. Harrison

Clarecastle
Donnagh Murphy, Seanie Moloney, Patrick Kelly, Garrett Barry, Danny Scanlon, Eric Flynn, Garry Farmer,Tyrone Kearse (1-4 1-3f), Jonathan Clancy (0-4), Derek Quinn (0-1), Kieran O’Dwyer (0-1), Fearghus Ryan, Jamie O’Connor,Alan O’Loughlin, Niall Dunne

Subs
Aaron Considine for Ryan (Inj), David Green for O’Loughlin, Eamon Callinan (0-1) for O’Connor, SeanTalty (1-0) for Dunne,Andrew Page for Farmer

Referee
Ger Hoey (Killanena)

WITH FOUR games down for decision in Division 2A on Tuesday evening, the final placings are yet to be sorted but what is certain is that Clonlara and Cratloe will bounce back to the top tier at the first time of asking.

Both teams are tied on 12 points at the summit, albeit that Clonlara have a game against Corofin in hand to see who will top the table and compete in the latter stages of the competition.

That outstanding tie is just as important at the rear of the table as Corofin simply need the points to have any chance of avoiding the drop. Their relegation rivals will play Clonlara on Tuesday while Scariff, the third side embroiled in the struggle at the bottom can secure their Division 2A status with a victory over Corofin this Friday.

It was tighter than a submarine door in Division 2B of the Clare Cup as Kilmaley, Éire Óg and Ruan fought it out for two promotion spots.

First up was the meeting of Sixmilebridge and Ruan on Thursday night in atrocious conditions in O’Garney Park, with the visitors running out 39 to 1-10 victors. 24 hours later the focus of attention switched to Kilmaley in a derby against Éire Óg.

The home side were already promoted due to their far superior score difference while the Townies knew only a win would seal their promotion and condemn Ruan to another season in the division.

That hunger drove the visitors to a 1-13 to 1-04 half-time advantage including a Thomas Downes goal but it was still far from over as the home side inevitably slashed away at the deficit and by the hour mark, only the bare minimum separated the sides much to the anxiety of both sets of supporters as well as the Ruan following who were hoping for a draw or Kilmaley win to see them advance to the next tier. However, while Kilmaley threw everything at them in additional time, Éire Óg, backboned by the solid half-back line of Kevin Moynihan, Fergus Flynn and Tadgh MacNamara held out for the narrowest of victories and of course promotion on scoring difference.

The race to avoid relegation from Division 2B however is still up in the air as three sides fight to avoid the drop alongside Ogonnelloe. Ennistymon take on Bodyke on Tuesday with the winner guaranteed safety while the loser will hope that Killanena don’t get anything from their final game against Parteen in order to survive as well.

In the intermediate league, it was reported last week in this column that the top two teams in the division would qualify for the final but the league has been altered this year to include semi-finals, with Inagh/Kilnamona, Crusheen and Newmarket safely through ahead of their final game on Monday evening while anyone of Éire Óg, Meelick, Clooney/ Quin or Clarecastle could snatch the

DESPITE NOT winning a championship game under his watch, history will in time reflect very favourably on Ger O’Loughlin’s two year reign as Clare senior hurling manager. The Sparrow resigned on Wednesday following his side’s comprehensive championship exit at the hands of neighbours Galway, their fourth straight championship defeat, with inexperience highlighted as the main source of defeat.

From the outset of his managerial appointment in December 2009, O’Loughlin’s commitment to blooding youth and building for the future was admirable. However, while he may have originally planned to gradually introduce the All-Ireland Under 21 winning panel to top flight hurling, his hand was forced somewhat by the retirements of Niall Gillian, Tony Carmody and Tony Griffin and subsequently Gerry O’Grady to injury later in the year. Those four players along with Jonathan Clancy, Diarmuid McMahon, Brian O’Connell, Pat Vaughan, Brendan Bugler, Patrick Donnellan and Alan Markham would have provided an experienced core for O’Loughlin to build his new side upon, with a sprinkling of younger talent complimenting that experience.

It was not to be however and instead, the Sparrow was forced to concentrate on building a completely new look side around the Under 21’s that would be capable of competing for top honours in a projected timeline of 3-4 years. In his first championship game in charge against Waterford, O’Loughlin entered unprecedented territory by handing debuts to nine players and it almost paid dividends while three more were given their first championship outings in 2011.

However, while the Sparrow’s foresight and courage was to be commended, the short term results didn’t reflect kindly on Clare who failed to achieve their primary goal of emerging from Division 2 of the National League. Had they managed to beat Wexford or Limerick in either final, O’Loughlin might have been heartened sufficiently to maintain his long term rebuilding plan but having to face a third year in the basement of Division 2 was too much.

Small margins derailed Clare’s cause to an extent as had they won either league final, it may have been the big breakthrough this young squad so badly needed in terms of confidence and development. In turn, they would have also boosted Clare’s championship campaigns that in both years saw very encouraging signs for the future in their Munster openers against perennial superpowers Waterford and Tipperary, only to sour the subsequent summers with sub- standard displays against Dublin and Galway in the All-Ireland series.

There is no denying that inexperience was the main issue but O’Loughlin simply had no option but to stick to his convictions and put all his faith in his young charges. In 2010, Clare lost to Waterford by 0-22 to 1-15, using 19 players with a combined total of 165 championship games behind them, averaging nine games experience for each player (including a late cameo for Alan Markham who alone made up over a quarter of those appearances at 45 games). All the more admirable when you consider that nine of those 19 were playing in their first senior championship game while also fac- ing a Waterford side with 520 games experience, an average of 26 games each. A game later, a young Dublin side had almost twice Clare’s experience at 270 games or 14 games for each player.

This year, with no Markham or Brian O’Connell (emigrated), O’Loughlin handed out two more debuts to Cratloe duo Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney and took on All-Ireland champions Tipperary head on, with only 124 championship games under their belts as compared to the Premier’s 374, with Brendan Cummins and Eoin Kelly having almost as much championship experience as the entire 18 man Clare side that day. Finally Galway went back to their roots and had a combined total of 312 championship games experience that proved too much for Clare.

There is still some naivety and greenness to be knocked off them while the squad seemingly learned very little defensively from their Division 2 campaign. When a team is conceding 2-17 to Westmeath, 1-18 to Kerry and 3-16 to Laois, it is almost impossible to expect them to hold out All-Ireland champions Tipperary who devastatingly put seven goals past Waterford in Sunday’s Munster final, or against Galway who also showed their firepower against Cork on Saturday.

There was a hint of Ger O’Loughlin’s impending resignation immediately after the 17 point defeat to Galway just over a week ago when he reflected on his time as manager but also reckoning that the squad weren’t that far away from making the breakthrough.

“When I went in, after a couple of weeks, I knew that we were starting off from a very low base with regard to experienced players and we have had to start from scratch but I think we have made progress even though the results are poor.

“I think we actually have a nucleus built up to go forward but we need that injection again of five or six, 18, 19 and 20 year olds over the next year or two. But Clare will win something I think in the next three years. It might take three years but I think they’ll win something.”

They may yet prove to be very prophetic words indeed in light of Clare’s second successive Munster minor title victory on Sunday. The ingredients are there, the future is indeed bright and it will be noted that The Sparrow sowed the seeds by blooding the 2009 Under 21 panel. It’s now up to the new manager to nurture those crops further in the hope of reaping a blossoming future harvest.