*Eddy Fogarty, Eamon Bracken, Adrian Talty, Fergus Killeen, Jack Orme and Jim Fogarty. Missing from pic: Colin O’Flynn and Emmet Quinn.
GLORY ON THE hurling fields of Canada was enjoyed by numerous Clare men over the weekend.
A strong Clare contingent played their part as JP Ryans won the Vancouver Hurling Championship. Managed by Clarecastle’s Colin O’Flynn with Ruan’s Adrian Talty serving as a selector, the side included Killmaley’s Eamon Bracken, Fergus Killeen of Corofin, Ogonnelloe’s Jack Orme with the Fogarty brothers of Crusheen, Eddy and Jim also involved while Tubber’s Emmet Quinn was introduced from the bench to wing back.
On Sunday, Vancouver JP Ryans tasted success in senior and intermediate finals. With celebrations easing as the week progresses, attention switches to the first ever Canadian National Championship which will take place on Labour Day weekend.
Ordinarily wing-back for JP Ryans, a chest injury ruled out Eddy Fogarty over the weekend, his brother Jim was last year’s Junior captain, he is currently the manager of the club’s camogie team and is one of the club’s longest serving members.
Bracken who is a loss to both the attack of Killmaley’s senior hurlers and the Kilmurry Ibrickane senior footballers, hit the net just before half-time and was very accurate from placed balls.
Son of the former Minister for Defence, Tony Killeen (FF), Fergus a former Clare minor hurler was at wing forward.
Jack Orme, who was also part of Clare underage panels had been ever-present at full-back for O’Flynn’s charges but had to revert to full-forward due to injuries.
Having been involved with the club since 2010, this is O’Flynn’s first year as senior manager. He explained to The Clare Echo, “Previously Vancouver only had one team and only went to the North Americans, the last couple of years Cu Chulainn joined and we created a two team championship over three games, extra time was needed in the Junior and Intermediate final”.
He was confident all of their Clare hurlers would be lining out on Labour Day weekend. “Our club is going strength to strength, with Eddie Brennan, Brendan Cummins, Ciaran Carey and Michael Verney visiting in two weeks time for a hurling show”.
