This evening sees the start of the East Clare Hurling Championship for the Tony Marsh Cup.

Broadford will face Feakle, away in Feakle, for their Group B match. Throw-in at 7:30pm.

Tony was a great man in the parish of Broadford, a renound hurler and of course a respected member of the East Clare Harriers. This is a very fitting event to mark his Memory.

Further match fixtures below.

Good luck to Broadford lads Sean Phelan and Darren Chaplin who have both made the Clare team for tomorrow's  Munster minor semi-final match against Tipp.  The match takes place on Thursday in Semple Stadium, Thurles at 7.30pm.

Good luck to all the Clare Minor team, coaches and supporters.
 
The match was postponed from Wednesday as a mark of respect to the late Jimmy Doyle

Broadford will meet Doora Barefield this Sunday 28th June in the Junior A Semi-Final. Throw-in at 12:30pm in Tulla.

The last match between the two teams at the beginning of this month was close run and this match is  sure to be exciting.

Be there if you can to support our team.

Good Luck to the players, trainers and everyone connected with the team.

The Broadford hurlers played their Junior A League match against Whitegate on Saturday evening at home.

Broadford’s Declan Teefy took the first score with one over the bar from play at the end of the third minute. Further points then followed from Jack O’Brien, again from Declan Teefy, and then Paul Moloney. The match seemed to be going well for Broadford until Peter O’Brien suffered an injury whilst defending the back line and had to be helped off the field. (Here’s wishing Peter a speedy recovery). After a point for Diarmuid O’Brien, Whitegate scored their first point from a 65. (0-05 to 0-01). The next 12-minutes again saw Broadford taking command of the game but points for Sean Doyle and Paul Moloney were outnumbered by wides, including a wide from free taken after a foul between the 45 and 20m lines, that all could have lifted Broadford’s tally still higher. An opportunity for a Broadford goal from play in the square was foiled by a foul. However, the resulting penalty gave Declan Teefy a second chance and the ball was slammed to the left corner of the net.  Whitegate turned themselves around and the last seven minutes of the first half seemed more evenly balanced. A point from play and another from a free extended the Broadford lead further and was only responded to by wides from Whitegate despite fighting hard for possession. Broadford tried to pile on the pressure with further goal attempts but the Whitegate goalie had the measure of them and made a number of fine saves. In the closing minute of the first half Whitegate managed to score a goal after the ball was sent far down the field from a long puck from the Whitegate end. A final free for Broadford in the last seconds of the first half, as if to prove a point, left the score as the players left the pitch at 1-11 to 1-02.

The first 12 minutes of the second half saw neither team make a significant breakthrough.  Broadford were unable to take the advantage when Padraig Gunning, Willie Hayes and Jack O’Brien were each able to send the ball flying down the field. Likewise, Whitegate tried for a goal from a free but it was successfully blocked by Eoin Donnellan.  In the 13th minute though, Jack Dillon made a long puck from the 65 line to send the ball to Declan Teefy who saw an opportunity and continued the ball on its journey in to the net (2-11 to 1-02).  Seanie Casey closely followed the goal with another point for Broadford. Whitegate were not giving up though and took the next three points with their no.12 breaking for the border a number of times with some fine solo runs up the side of the pitch. Broadford broke their run of wides in the 21st minute of the second half with a point for Diarmuid O’Brien.  The last point of the match went to Declan Teefy who made the final point for Broadford after a free out from Willie Hayes sent the ball his way. The match had been largely good tempered with nothing more than a couple of bouts of colourful language between opposing players and occasionally directed to the Broadford camp; much to the merriment of some of the spectating kids! However, sabers were rattled in the final minutes of the match and the spectators were witness to something less than a minor shemozzle that resulted in a red card for Whitegate and a yellow for Broadford.  Final score 2-14 to 1-06

With the last of the qualifying matches played this weekend Doora Barefield and Ballyea were at the top of the table with The Bridge, The Mills and Broadford on seven points each. Based on points difference though, Broadford pip The Mills for a place in the semi-final which will be played against Doora Barefield – details to be announced. Well done!

Áth Leathan Abú 

The Broadford Junior team is in action this evening in their league match against Whitegate. 

Home match for Broadford with throw-in at 7.30pm.

Good luck!

Broadford played Tubber at home on Sunday in their Clare Cup fixture. A number of regular names from the Broadford panel were absent due to injury and others, most notably, due to the match falling in the middle of the Leaving Cert exams.  However, Broadford pulled from its breadth of talent to mount a challenge to the visitors from North Clare.

Tubber got off to a good start with the first point of the match in less than a minute of play but this was soon responded to by Broadford’s Diarmuid Moloney. Tubber though were clearly on top of their game and scored the next two points within a minute of each other. Over the bar again for Broadford, this time from Declan Teefy and with less than five minutes gone, a score line of 0-02 to 0-03. For the next 10 minutes Tubber really piled on the pressure and kept the Broadford backs busy with a seemingly constant stream of attack.  A free for John Corcoran taken from 30 metres in front of the Broadford goal dropped the ball to 30 metres in front of the Tubber goal but Broadford were unable to keep the advantage and Tubber turned the ball around and sent it back down the field in response.  Broadford gained possession but a misjudged attempt to connect the ball with the hurley in order to get the ball away again and Tubber seized possession to send the ball to the back of the net for the first goal of the match. Tubber was definitely in command of the field and raised the white flag a number of times to complement their goal with Broadford only able to respond with wides from both play and at least one free from near the side line in front of the Tubber camp.  With 17 minutes on the clock and score line of 0-02 to 1-08 Broadford needed to pull together. Two points for Broadford, one from Cailean Cox and the other from Diarmuid Moloney but this was not the start of a turn in Broadford’s fortunes.  Tubber were unstoppable and just kept the points coming. 28 minutes gone with just one more point for Broadford and another goal for Tubber the two teams were worlds apart in terms of the score 0-05 to 2-17.   A free for Diarmuid Moloney 45 metres out from the Tubber goal should have given Broadford a much needed chance but a Tubber player intercepted the ball by contentiously launching in early and blocking its short trajectory.  This may have spurred Broadford on however. Diarmuid regained the ball less than a minute later from around the middle of the field and took it back up at least 20 metres before passing it across the field to Shane Taylor who took the ball further on its way before passing it back to Diarmuid who then sent it to the back of the net. This was a piece of inspiring play and with two players playing as one.  A minute later and a free for Eoin O’ Brien taken from around 65 metres sent the ball just out of Declan Teefy’s reach to a metre or so in front of the Tubber goal. Tubber’s no.3 tried to reach in and flick the ball back out but Jack Dillon was close behind and prevented him turning on the spot and the goalie was almost pinned to the back of the net. With the dust rising up, down to the ground went no.3. The ball was free and Declan Teefy stormed in to send it to the back of the net. In the last few minutes of the first half Broadford had found their spirit and were fighting back. Another one over the bar from Diarmuid Moloney before the halftime whistle to put the scores at 2-07 to 2-17.

With a number of substitutions, the second half started much better for Broadford and Diarmuid Moloney scored the first point to narrow Tubber’s lead to nine points. Another piece of great play followed with Darren Chaplin securing the ball from 65 meters and ducking n’ diving his way down the field storming through  Tubber’s  backs  and making his way to somewhere between the  20 and  13 metre lines.  A hand pass to Stiofain McMahon, the ball caught, two steps taken and then the ball was pucked from a difficult angle to the back of the net. A point in response from Tubber but with the The Angelus sounding from Broadford’s Church,  two more over the bar for Broadford before the toll of the last bell; one from play for Diarmuid O’Brien after a long pass from Stephen Gunning and the other from a free taken by Darren Chaplin. That gap had closed further with the score now at 3-10 to 2-18.  The next seven minutes of play and the ball went back and forth with two wides for each side but Tubber managing to also send two over the bar and then a goal 12 minutes in to the second half. Cailean Cox made a fine attempt to put one over the bar from the 65 metres but the ball hit the left-hand post and bounced back in to play. Broadford rallied again with a succession of three points from Darren Chaplin, Jack Dillon and Stiofain McMahon. This flow was interrupted by a point for Tubber but with eight points between them, Broadford were not going to let go. A point from play for Shane Taylor followed by a goal from Darren Chaplin scored from a free after he was downed from a foul between the 13 and 20 metre lines narrowed the gap futher. Broadford had clawed back a respectable score (4-14 to 3-21).  With play intensifying and a further two points for each team Tubber knew that just a few more minutes might have been all Broadford needed to turn the final result around. With shouts from on and off the pitch for the ref to blow up the game, the whistle sounded and left Tubber with a victory narrower than might have been envisaged earlier in the game. Final score 4-16 to 3-23.

Broadford did not get off to as good a start as they might have liked and their backs were busy defending from a strong opposing side that played well consistently. Broadford showed bouts of great skill and teamwork to close the wide gap that Tubber established in the first half but in the end the gap was too wide to reverse completely. 

The Broadford (assisted by Smith O’Briens) team came up against a formidable Clarecastle side on Friday in the Under 14A Final that took place in Cusack Park, Ennis.

The first 10 mins of the game were strongly contested but with no score to either team. Clarecastle got on the front foot after this and if it wasn't for some heroic goalkeeping from Óisín Kavanagh Clarecastle could have been ahead further in the early stages. Broadford found it hard to win much clean ball around the middle of the park but with battling performances all around the pitch you felt that if Broadford could keep it tight having the wind in the second half they could give themselves a chance. Although we fought hard with great efforts from all players like of David Boland and Patrick Lucas, it was to be Clarecastle's goal to prove we had a mountain to climb in the second half.

It was Clarecastle who started the stronger in the second half and with strong performances by Mike Gough and the Vaughan brothers to keep the scores down the Clarecastle forwards proved that it was their day to shine. Cian Mulqueen took on the Captains role and really rallied the Broadford side when they got the goal they had been waiting for. James Mason pounced on a loose ball and struck it brilliantly only to be saved by the Clarecastle goalie. Jack Ward Murphy stepped up to rifle a low ground strike to the back of the net. It was great to see the drive and determination by the younger players who came on in the second half. James Quinn Tuite one of the many players who worked tirelessly to get to grips with the Clarecastle attack. It was however to prove to be Clarecastle's day with a number of goals in the second half to put the game to bed. 

A win was not to be for the lads from Broadford and Smith O’Briens on this occasion, but let’s not forget how well the team did to get to the final. This in itself took a lot of determination and hard work. This year has been a massive learning curve for so many young players having a chance to play in the 'A' division. This can only help to develop them as better hurlers for the future. 

The players and coaches can be very proud of themselves, as surely everyone from Broadford GAA club is. Lastly, congratulations to Clarecastle on their fine win.

Broadford Team: Óisín Kavanagh, Paddy Donnellan, James Vaughan, Gearóid Vaughan, Alex Mason, Michael Gough, Evan Connolly, Cian Mulqueen (Capt), Patrick Lucas. David Boland, Conor Phelan, Stephen O' Dowd, Paul McNamara, Jack Ward Murphy, James Mason, T.J. Dillon, Dean Ryan Cashman, James Quinn Tuite, Paul McNamara, Alan O' Brien, Shane O' Connell. Jamie Butler.

Management: Danny Scanlon, Bernard McMahon, Diarmuid Moloney.

Thank you to Joanne Moloney for providing all of the photographs.

It’s a busy day on Sunday for Broadford Hurling and Camogie.

In hurling the adults play Tubber in Broadford at 11:15am in the next round of the Clare Cup.  Later the same day, the U12’s are playing Clonlara, again at home in Broadford, in their next Davin League, Group 2 match at 6:30pm.

For camogie and the Intermediate Division 2 League Final,  Feakle/Broadford play Scarriff/Ogonnelloe at 5pm in Bodyke. The Under 11’s also have a blitz semi-final and finals.  Venue and time are still to be determined.  Watch this space for updates 

Good luck to all the players and everyone involved in supporting them.

Don’t forget the U14 Hurling Final on Friday in Cusack Park.

Mass at 10am on Sunday in St Peter’s Church, Broadford is for all the deceased members of Broadford Hurling Club.

Go ndéanfaidh Dia grasta orthu.

A momentous day for Broadford GAA on Friday as our Broadford (assisted by Smith O’Briens) Under 14’s will play Clarecastle in the U14A Final.

The match is on in Cusack Park with throw-in at 6.15pm.

This is a great achievement for this formidable team of young players and everyone at the club wishes the team, trainers, mentors, and the parents, the very, very best of luck!

Hopefully we can get out in force to support the team.

Go Broadford and the boys from Smith O'Briens!