Clare Champion News And Sports Chat

0:00-9:22 - Intro; 9:22-44:54 - Clare's progression to a third consecutive Munster Senior Hurling Final against Limerick is analysed with Ger O'Connell and Kevin McNamara who looked back on another heart stopping finale, this time against Tipperary along with peering ahead to the club championship draws that were made last week; 44:54-1.00:31 - Avenue United are the double league and Clare Cup champions for the second time in three years following a tense titanic final showdown with arch-rivals Newmarket Celtic that was only decided on penalties on Saturday. CDSL PRO Dean Russell joined the lads to reflect on that historic achievement, the season as a whole and the crowning of the inaugural Donovan Sports Alternative Clare Cup champion; 1.00:31-1.35:09 - Mark Fitzgerald's senior footballers need to bounce back against Tyrone in Omagh this Sunday in what is a make-or-break tie for both in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Kieran Madigan sizes up that task along with giving his initial thoughts on t

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 20 Please note this was recorded before Monday's Munster Minor Hurling Final 0:00-9:30 - Intro 9:30-35:32 - A major weekend for the senior, Under 20 and minor hurlers in their respective Munster Championships is discussed with Ger O'Connell. 35:32-49:28 - A strong Cork finish denied Clare's flagship footballers of a positive stat to the All-Ireland Senior Championship, with Mark Fitzgerald's side now facing a must win tie against Tyrone according to Kieran Madigan. 49:28-1.05:44 - It's Avenue United versus Newmarket Celtic in a fourth different competition as the Clare soccer season finishes with the ultimate Clare Cup showdown between the county's kingpins. Dean Russell also outlines the runners and riders in the league promotion and relegation races. 1.05:44-1.21:10 - Dual stars Laura Foley and Roisin Begley join Eoin and James to review their hockey season with Catholic Institute along with looking ahead to their All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship campaign wi

0:00-9:15 - Intro; 9:15-26:02: - All four CDSL titles were decided over the past week, with PRO Dean Russell joining Eoin and James to reflect on Avenue United's Premier Division reclamation; a return to First Division glory for Newmarket Celtic B and Shannon Olympic B's dramatic Third Division showdown steal; 26:02-58:56 - A momentous season on the field followed an equally jubilant year off it for Ennis Rugby Club's centenary celebrations in 2023. In recent weeks, the men's side completed their return to Munster Junior League Division 2 after a flawless Division 3 campaign while in their inaugural season in the top flight in Munster, the womens' side captured a league and cup double. Players Emily Anglim, Nell Walsh, Joe Connaughton and Head of Girls and Women's Rugby Lorchan Hoyne came into the studio to reflect on those series of highs; 58:56-1.22:50 - Their provincial campaign may have ended but the Clare footballers first taste of All-Ireland Senior Championship action commences on home soil this Sat

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 18 0:00-9:24 - Intro; 9:24-40:50 - The occasion was historic even if the result didn't follow as a plucky Clare pushed Kerry all the way in their Munster Senior Football Championship Final rematch in Cusack Park on Sunday. Football analyst Kieran Madigan looked back on the Banner's seven point reverse as well as the minors Phase 1 Final victory to tee up a semi-final showdown with Cork; 40:50-1.01:07 - Newmarket Celtic and Avenue United face two title deciders in the Premier League and Clare Cup over the next few weeks after prevailing over Fern Celtic and Bridge United respectively at the weekend. There's also massive conclusions in the First and Third Divisions according to CDSL PRO Dean Russell; 1.01:07 - A comprehensive final stanza included an update on the Women's Premier Division; an early set-back for Clare's Under 16 Camogie side while the hand of opportunity is presented to the minor hurlers and footballers and Under 20 hurlers in another hectic week. Ennis gol

Champion Chatter- Season 03 Episode 17 0:00-7:21 - Intro; 7:21-42:01 - Cusack Park is set to host its first ever Munster Senior Football Final this Sunday when Clare and perennial superpowers Kerry lock horns for the 15th time in a decider. Football analyst Kieran Madigan and former Clare manager and Kerry All-Ireland winning player John Kennedy preview what will be a unique Super Sunday in Ennis; 42:01-1.10:15 - The Clare hurlers are back on track following a gritty opening Munster Championship victory over Cork on away soil last Sunday. Hurling analysts Ger O'Connell and Kevin McNamara reflect on another rollercoaster ride that included six shared second half goals; 1.10:15-1.14:28 - Back-to-back League crowns and promotions for Fear Green Celtic, this weekend's Clare Cup Semi-Finals, the Under 17 Cup Final and the concluding stages of the three other league divisions are all part of this week's soccer round-up; 1.14:28-1.28:10 - Rugby star and pundit Eimear Considine joined Eoin and James on the line to

Champion Chatter- Season 03 Episode 16 0:00-6:47 - Intro;  6:47-35:22 - An anti-climactic feel to the start of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship after Limerick ransacked Cusack Park with a remarkable 12 point final quarter surge. Kevin McNamara and Ger O'Connell pick through the bones of that opening round blip and also peer ahead to a make-or-break clash away to Cork this Sunday; 35:22-59:11 - The weekend certainly started in spectacular fashion when Mark Fitzgerald's senior footballers put hosts Waterford to the sword by 14 points to reach a second successive Munster Senior decider against Kerry. Football Analyst Kieran Madigan assessed the Banner's latest feat along with reflecting on the fortunes or lack of of the U-20's and Minors against Tipperary in the past week; 59:11-1.16:17 - Between them, Premier Division title rivals Avenue United and Newmarket Celtic chalked up 15 goals on Sunday as their race looks to be going right down to the wire. CDSL PRO Dean Russell joins Eoin and James to sift t

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 16 0:00-2:16 - Intro 2:16-29:25 - Clare's Munster Senior Championship bows in both hurling and football take place this weekend, with Mark Fitzgerald's footballers up first against Waterford in Dungarvan on Saturday evening for a place in the Munster Final. Kieran Madigan assesses Clare's chances and also looks forward to minor and Under 20 showdowns against Tipperary. 29:25-52:41 - Like a child at Christmas, Derek Dormer bounced into studio in anticipation of a pivotal weekend of Munster Senior Championship action. The freelance reporter also reflected on Clare's first defeat in the Under 20 hurling championship against Cork last Friday. 52:41-1.24:57 - The biggest hurling rivalry in the country takes centre stage this Sunday when neighbours Clare and Limerick lock horns once more, this time in a spectacular opening to the Munster Senior Championship in Cusack Park. Hurling analysts Kevin McNamara and Ger O'Connell preview the upcoming senior and minor Shannonside derbie

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 15 0:00-3:42 - Intro; 3:42-34:00 - A Superb Saturday garnered a historic National League double for the county’s flagship hurlers and ladies footballers, with freelance reporter Derek Dormer reflecting on both triumphs that tees both up perfectly for the commencement of their respective championship campaigns; 34:00-50:46 - Clare Ladies Football Manager Wayne Freeman joined Eoin and James to look back on his side’s first national silverware in 13 years following a gritty Division 3 Final victory over Roscommon; 50:46-1.01:14 - Clare excelled on the field at the weekend but in a unique perspective, TG4’s Head of Sport Ronan Coisdealbha provided the behind the scenes landscape of live televised sport, with the recent National Hurling League Semi-Final between Clare and Tipperary attracting 30% of the market share; 1.01:14-1.21:50 - A major week for Clare football sees the minor and Under 20 sides facing major showdowns with Limerick and Kerry. Football analyst Kieran Madiga

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 14 0:00-6:25 - Intro; 6:25-31:18 - A much-anticipated Super Saturday culminates with the Clare hurlers taking on Kilkenny in the Division 1 National League decider. Analysts Ger O'Connell and Kevin McNamara return to preview the game and its significance ahead of the upcoming Munster Senior Championship a fortnight later; 31:18-1.00:38 - The flagship ladies footballers bid to finally get their hands on the Division 3 National League crown when taking on Roscommon in Birr on Saturday. Freelance Reporter Derek Dormer was in studio to preview that tie and reflect on their camogie counterparts final Division 1A outing as well as the David v Goliath Clare Cup clash of Newmarket Celtic and Callan United; 1.00:38-1.06:42 - Eoin and James reveal the results of Round 3 of the Donovan Sports Alternative Clare Cup along with conducting the Quarter-Final draw. The real Clare Cup last eight ties and busy weeks for Kilkishen Celtic, Bridge United and Newmarket Celtic are also discusse

Champion Chatter – Season 03 Episode ?? Intro: 00:00:01; Derek Dormer joins to first look at Clare Football v Down (00:09:12); Then we talk about the Clare hurlers continued unbeaten run with their league semi-final win over Tipperary (00:17:35); The Clare LGFA team suffered their first loss of the season in Down but they still have a league final to come (00:34:46); Clare Camogie have had a tough season so far, but there are green shoots visible ahead of the championship (00:36:23); Dean Russell joins to talk through soccer news in the county including some important Clare Cup results (00:45:29); Kieran Madigan breaks down the Clare footballers season so far & talks us through how the Clare U20s have performed in their first few rounds of the championship (01:02:10); We finish the show with a round up of rugby, handball, hockey & fixtures news (01:25:51).

0:00-6:13 - Intro; 6:13-39:49 - A hugely successful weekend of National League action is reviewed by regular pundit Derek Dormer as the flagship hurlers advanced to a Division 1 Semi-Final showdown with neighbours Tipperary in Portlaoise this Sunday while the ladies footballers kicked a whopping ten goals to book their spot in the Division 3 decider. The Womens’ Clare Cup Semi-Final and the start of the adult football leagues are also up for discussion; 39:49-1.00:14 - There was double success for the male footballers as the senior side kept up their National League Division 3 promotion push with a merited victory over Antrim while the Under 20’s got their Munster Championship campaign off to a winning start in Waterford. Football analyst Kieran Madigan assesses both ties along with the weekend’s Cusack and Garry Cup openers; 1.00:14-1.11:50 - More silverware via another gritty penalty shoot-out for Newmarket Celtic who completed a remarkable week with the first domestic trophy of the season against arch-riva

’Champion Chatter – Season 03 Episode 11 0:00-7:30 – Intro; 7:30-25:02 - Newmarket Celtic’s triumphant return to the winners enclosure is at the heart of CDSL PRO Dean Russell’s weekend review as the reigning FAI Champions once more created history for Clare soccer. With quarter-final places up for grabs, the Clare Cup was also to the fore while domestic league action and a mouth-watering Hugh Kelly Cup Final between Newmarket and Avenue is teed up; 25:02-1.02:17 - It was essentially a phone-in show as freelance reporter Derek Dormer and James Lynch were on the line to discuss Clare’s victorious acid test against Kilkenny in the National Hurling League and the county’s prospects as the Munster Championship draws closer. The same goes for the flagship camogie side who are at the other end of the 1A table at present but in contrast Clare’s ladies footballers are on the crest of a wave at present as they look to cement their National League Division 3 Final place against Antrim on Sunday; 1.02:17-1.19:22 - A

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 09 0:00-5:54 - Intro 5:54-14:05 - The eagerly awaited Round 3 draw for the Donovan Sports Alternative Clare Cup is performed live in studio albeit begrudgingly by Derek Dormer having been knocked out in the opening round. 14:05-42:11 - Freelance Reporter Derek Dormer remained in studio to converse about Clare’s National League double trip to Leinster at the weekend as the hurlers preserved their unbeaten start to the top tier whereas the senior camogie side are yet to get off the mark. Ardscoil Ris’ Croke Cup Semi-Final against St Kieran’s and the flagship ladies footballers long trip to Louth are also up for discussion. 42:11-58:55 - the Clare footballers most commanding Division 3 outing to date is central to this week’s chat with football analyst Kieran Madigan who delves beneath the bonnet of Clare’s 13 point victory over Wicklow as well as peering ahead to Saturday’s Shannonside derby. 58:55-1.17:05 - Agonising Munster Junior Semi-Final exits for Avenue Unite

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 08 0:00-5:00 - Intro; 5:00-21:02 - The grandstandiest of grandstand finishes was saved for a dramatic Sunday in Tullamore as the senior footballers snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against hosts Offaly, a great escape witnessed by Kieran Madigan who is still recovering; 21:02-40:14 - CDSL PRO Dean Russell joined Eoin and James to get an update on this week’s Donovan Sports Alternative Clare Cup, the actual Clare Cup drama, domestic league action and two major penultimate stage provincial clashes for Avenue United and Manus Celtic; 40:14-1.09:21 - Clare’s flagship ladies football and camogie sides were in action in Cusack Park over the weekend, matches watched by freelance Reporter Derek Dormer who assessed the contrasting results along with the intermediate camogie’s sides derby with Galway, a return to National League action for the senior hurlers while the Fitzgibbon Cup Final and Croke Cup Quarter-Final are also on the agenda; 1.09:21-1.34:08 - The third fastes

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 07 0:00-5:13 – Intro; 5:13-13:18 - The wait is over as the Donovan Sports Alternative Clare Cup commences in dramatic fashion as 18 club representatives are halved to just nine. Will our podcast regulars Dean Russell and Derek Dormer be amongst the survivors?; 13:18-30:50 - CDSL PRO Dean Russell remained on the line to reflect on the actual results of Round 1 & 2 of the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup, big victories outside of the county for Avenue United and Bridge United along with all the domestic league fare; 30:50-1.01:07 - Freelance Reporter Derek Dormer returns from the green room to look back on the Clare Senior Hurlers second victory of the National League in Waterford. The Clare ladies footballers’ also remain unbeaten after salvaging a draw with Roscommon while it’s the turn of the flagship camogie side to finally get their league underway against Galway this Sunday; 1.01:07-1.13:30 - we keep the Faith-ful as Kieran Madigan joins Eoin and James to preview the Clare Sen

Champion Chatter - Season 03 Episode 06 is now available on Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple and Amazon Podcasts. 0:00-4:28 – Intro; 4:28-19:45 - Eoin and James provide some much-needed therapy for Kieran Madigan after the frustration of Clare's late disallowed goal that denied the senior footballers victory against Westmeath in the National League; 19:45-54:40 - In the absence of his mother, Derek Dormer came into studio to reflect on a see-saw weekend especially in the National Leagues as the footballers suffered heartbreak in Mullingar, the hurlers got off the mark with a gritty victory over Cork while there was also a first defeat for the intermediate camogie side against neighbours Tipperary. Manus Celtic’s Munster success and Clare’s upcoming National Ladies Football League tie at home to Roscommon are also on the agenda; 54:40-1.13:25- Manus Celtic’s historic Munster run, the start of this year’s Ennis Carpets Clare Cup and the Champion Chatter’s alternative version ’The Donovan Cup’ are central to the disc

Champion Chatter – Season 03 Episode 05 is now available on Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple and Amazon Podcasts. 0:00-4:23 - Intro 4:23-21:56 - Mark Fitzgerald’s reign as Clare senior Football Manager got off to a dramatic but ultimately victorious start on Sunday as they pipped Division 4 champions Sligo to the post in Cusack Park. Kieran Madigan assesses that rousing start for the Banner’s new look side along with looking forward to their next test away to Westmeath this Sunday. 21:56-46:26 - Maintaining that encouraging start to the National Leagues, Clare’s flagship ladies footballers made it two from two against Sligo while the Banner’s second string in came made the six hour round trip to Wexford worthwhile to get their Division 2B campaign off the mark. Derek Dormer attended both and came into studio to look over each contest. 46:26-1.17:47- The Clare hurlers complete the quartet of codes in the National Leagues thus Sunday when hosting Cork in Division 1A. Ger O’Connell and Kevin McNamara make a triump

Champion Chatter – Season 03 Episode 04 is now available on Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple and Amazon Podcasts. 0:00-7:16 - Intro; 7:16-24:40 - A new era for the Clare Senior Footballers commences on Sunday when hosting Sligo in the opening round of Division 3 of the National League. New manager Mark Fitzgerald joins Eoin and James to assess their prospects and his plans for 2024; 24:40-39:22 - Having forensically studied Sligo, football analyst Kieran Madigan provides a great overview of the Banner’s new surroundings in the National Football League along with ear-marking who are the teams to watch in the race for promotion to Division 2; 39:22-53:37- Storm Isha put paid to the majority of soccer league action but there were two major survivors as Avenue United unfortunately bowed out of the FAI Junior Cup while closer to home holders Newmarket Celtic continued their catch-up in the Premier Division with a derby victory over Shannon Town. CDSL PRO Dean Russell was on the line to look over those ties and peer ahe

Champion Chatter – Season 03 Episode 03 0:00-5:56 - Intro 5:56-18:56 - The first Clare team into National League action are the flagship ladies footballers, with key player Ciara McCarthy looking forward to another rollercoaster season as they look to emulate their National League and All-Ireland Final appearances in 2024; 18:56-31:54 - Freelance reporter Derek Dormer predicts a glittering year for Wayne Freeman’s ladies footballers who commence their 2024 season with a long trip to fellow Division 3 and All-Ireland Intermediate favourites Wexford this Sunday; 31:54-49:30- Derek stays on to review Clare’s Munster Hurling League which saw Brian Lohan get to see 36 players in action over a four day period against Limerick and Cork; 49:30-1.05:51 - It’s a massive weekend for Avenue United who travel to Tallaght for Saturday’s FAI Junior Cup Last 32 tie while 24 hours later their Premier Division rivals looks to make up ground according to CDSL PRO Dean Russell who was on the line to assess all four divisions;

Champion Chatter – Season 03 Episode 02 0:00-5:33 - Intro 5:33-20:40 - A successful first weekend of 2024 for Clare Darts as the ladies side secured prestigious Munster honours while their male equivalents reached the last four. County Darts PRO Evan Greer joined the lads in the studio to look back on a super Saturday and look ahead optimistically for the remainder of the season. 20:40-33:04 - Newmarket Celtic are back in the hunt for provincial silverware after edging through to the Munster Champions Trophy Final following another nervy penalty shoot-out. Avenue United, Manus Celtic and Fair Green Celtic also found out their last eight opponents in Munster while the weather ensured that league matches were limited but couldn’t take from the drama according to CDSL PRO Dean Russell. 33:04-44:16 - Contrasting weather conditions and results for the start of Mark Fitzgerald’s reign as Clare Senior Football Manager are assessed by Kieran Madigan as Cork rained supreme on Wednesday before Clare got found in th