Cooney exits Clare panel

TWO-TIME CLARE

while terrace tickets will be going on sale to the general public on Thursday June 1st at 12 Noon

With a current capacity of 44,023, the Gaelic Grounds is expected to sell-out for the decider. Clare will earn a share of the gate receipts as a result of the game taking place in Limerick.

Clare had one point to spare over Limerick when they clashed in the round-robin series at the end of April, since then the Treaty County drew with Tipperary and edged out Cork to secure their place in the final.

Their latest showdown will be the eighth time they cross paths in the Munster final but the first to be held in Cork. The 1955 meeting took place at the Gaelic Grounds but their clashes in 1918, 1974, 1981, 1994, 1995 and 2022 were all fixed for Semple Stadium in Thurles.

Politicians in Clare were among those calling for Semple Stadium to host the tie. Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) remarked, “Thurles is really the only option for Munster hurling final, convenient to fans from both counties and environmentally friendly, no need to have thousands of cars travelling extra miles emitting unnecessary C02”.

Deputy Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) labelled the potential of hosting the game in Cork as “madness”. She stated, “In my opinion bringing thousands of supporters from Clare and Limerick all the way to Cork is madness. We have perfectly suitable venues in both Semple Stadium and the Gaelic Grounds, considering the current cost of living crisis, fuel prices and the carbon footprint of those travelling I am appealing to the decision makers in the GAA to see sense and have this game at a more suitable location”.

SFC winner, Gavin Cooney has left the county senior football panel, Páraic McMahon reveals

Added to the senior squad in 2018 fresh from the minor ranks, Gavin made the decision to leave the Clare panel last week in the wake of their disappointing five point loss to Donegal in the opening round of the All-Ireland series.

Surprising, Cooney was not used at any stage in defeat to Donegal. The Ennis native has had to contend with a role as a substitute in this year’s championship and was not handed a starting jersey in any of their four outings.

He kicked a point when introduced off the bench in Clare’s dramatic one point win over Cork while on the field for twenty minutes. He was brought on with forty five minutes played in the Munster semi-final win over Limerick and on the forty eighth minute versus Kerry in the Munster final. There was no appearance from the bench for the Éire Óg forward a fortnight ago with Lissycasey’s Aaron Griffin and Mark McInerney chosen as the substitutes to introduce in attack instead.

During this year’s Allianz National Football League, Cooney started four of Clare’s seven outings and was introduced as a substitute in two further games. He notched