*Eoin Cleary shoots on goal. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

CLARE senior football captain Eoin Cleary believes an already impressive Éire Óg have brought their standards to a new level this year.

Three-time Clare SFC winner, Cleary faced off with Éire Óg in the group stages of this year’s campaign which saw his St Joseph’s Miltown overcome Kilmihil in the relegation decider.

Well-worked passages of play have become a regular feature of their displays, the Clare forward noted. “Éire Óg have really shown their experience throughout this championship and this was shown in the way they managed the game against us They put a few lovely move together in the second half to be fairly comprehensive winners in the end. They have some really good young players, a good coach and they have stepped it up notch this year”.

With a high proportion of players on county panels at all levels, Ennistymon will benefit from this exposure, the two-time All Star nominee outlined. “Look at any Clare minor or under 20 team in past two or three years, they have been dominated by Ennistymon players. They got to the final in 2018 and are there again now. There are only three or four from that team starting which will tell you the young talent they have in the club. Kilmurry Ibrickane will be disappointed how semi-final played out but Ennistymon stayed in there and got the rub of the green”.

Youth has impressed for the North Clare side, Cleary said. “Brendy Rouine is a real class act with a great future. They have plenty of really talented young fellas such as Brendy’s brother Cillian, Ciaran McMahon and Diarmuid Fahy to mention a few”.

“All clubs knew going into this campaign that Éire Óg would be the team to beat. Based on the way they are playing and the way they have managed their campaign, they are the favourites. Corofin gave them a good game for a lot of their semi-final but other than that they have been relatively comfortable winners in a lot of their games. Hopefully it will be a good game and that Ennistymon will rise to the challenge”.

VERDICT: Éire Óg

Related News

jane halloran ryan 1
Emigration of Scariff famine orphan girls to be remembered during Harbour Festival
clare greyhound sanctuary 1
Bills were 'hanging over us like a black cloud' say voluntary operators of Tulla based animal sanctuary
madeira 4
There's a magic about Madeira - the hottest new destination from Shannon Airport
ennistymon car park 1
New 48 space car park opens in Ennistymon

Advertisement

Latest News
jane halloran ryan 1
Emigration of Scariff famine orphan girls to be remembered during Harbour Festival
barry cotter notts county 1
Cotter completes season-long loan move to Notts County
pj murrihy 1
Murrihy returns to familiar stage of Armada Hotel for Willie Clancy week
clare greyhound sanctuary 1
Bills were 'hanging over us like a black cloud' say voluntary operators of Tulla based animal sanctuary
madeira 4
There's a magic about Madeira - the hottest new destination from Shannon Airport
Premium
tablet smartphone laptop 1
Man (58) in South-East Clare charged with having 1544 images of child sex abuse
waterford v clare camogie 05-07-25 jennifer daly orla hickey 2
Waterford relievedly Rockett to last four following Clare scare
alan o'callaghan conor ryan tony o'brien pat burke pat hayes 1
'We are the envy of the county' - Hayes says Killaloe MD Cllrs have best working relationship
éire óg vs ballyea 04-07-25 david reidy paddy smyth 1
Éire Óg retain Division 2 League title in derby decider
killaloe canal 1-2
Teenage girl 'scared & angry' after boy (14) 'humped' her from behind in Killaloe

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement