It seems an odd one at first.

CLARE football manager Michéal McDermott is hopeful that more members of county senior champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane will be part of his squad for the 2012 season.

THERE’S roughly 137 miles separating Liam McHale’s home in Ballina in north Mayo and the village of Cooraclare in the west of Clare. In the winter he embarks on that route two nights every week to the pitch which is the epicentre for the Banner county’s football preparations.

At a meeting of the Clare County Board last night in Ennis, Micheal McDermott was appointed as the new manager of the Clare senior footballers.

THE good times roll on for De La Salle. The Waterford and Munster senior champions collected the county U21 HC title at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, yesterday.