Latest news with #IkemUgwueru
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘This year can be different' – Clare ace Ikem Ugwueru says Banner won't settle for just showing up in All-Ireland group
Ikem Ugwueru is confident that Clare can make it third time lucky and qualify from their All-Ireland SFC group. 2 Ikem Ugwueru is confident Clare can qualify from their All-Ireland SFC group 2 Clare host Down this weekend in their All-Ireland group opener The beaten Munster finalists have been handed an easier fixture list this year, with three Division 2 teams in their group. They were tossed into a group of death in 2023 with Division 1 sides Donegal and Monaghan, as well as Ulster champions Derry. Last year, Clare were demolished by Ulster heavyweights Donegal and Tyrone in their group and lost out to Cork also. Peter Keane's side will host Down this Sunday in Ennis, a great chance to score a win that could even secure a knock-out place. READ MORE ONN GAA Speaking at the announcement that SuperValu has renewed its sponsorship of the football championship for five seasons, Ugwueru said: "We don't want it to just end after the Munster campaign. "You could have put in a decent performance against Kerry, who are obviously a Division 1 team, and if you play well people give you a pat on the back. "You feel like, okay, you've done your job - that's the season done. But now we still have three more games to play and you have every chance of beating the first team that you're coming up against, or the second team, or the third team. "So it's never over. You could almost say that last year, it was a bit of a shock, that we only lost by five or six or seven to Kerry in the Munster final. But then that good performance was our last one. We didn't win a game after that. Most read in GAA Football "We lost to Cork, and then we lost to Tyrone and Donegal. And that was the year done for us and we didn't feel like we were happy with that. So yeah, we're going to try to change that this year." Clare put 0-21 on the board earlier this month in the Munster final but were still well beaten by the Kingdom. Gardai investigating as GAA fans engage in brawl in shop The game was as good as up inside 10 minutes when Kerry led by 2-4 to 0-1. But Clare won't view Down as their superiors as both teams will compete together in Division 3 next season. And with home advantage the Banner could even be favourites. Powerful wing-back Ugwueru said: "We've won all our league games at home and we're planning to continue that." Ugwueru is loving life under the new rules with more one-v-one opportunities cropping up. He said: "I back myself one-on-one against most people. That's what I enjoy about the new rules." And the Eire Og man, the son of Nigerian parents, is enjoying being a role model in the Clare jersey too. Strength and conditioning coach Ugwueru said: "That's why I'm part of the SuperValu campaign as well, just to show lads that are not from Irish backgrounds, or that have never played the sport before, that you should just give your best effort and you never know where you could go. "There was a funny story actually. I was selling an old pair of boots that I had on Depop and one fella actually texted me. He wasn't even trying to buy the boots. "He was just texting me to ask for tips about football. Because he didn't know how to contact me but he saw my page on the website and texted me saying, "I saw your ad for SuperValu, you've really inspired me. Do you have any tips for gym, fitness and how to be a good defender?' That meant a lot to me." Pictured are Clare's Ikem Ugwueru, at SuperValu's launch of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and showing their support for diversity and inclusion within the GAA. SuperValu has today announced a five-year extension of their partnership with the GAA, marking a 20-year commitment to communities across Ireland and making SuperValu the longest standing sponsor of the GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
BreakingNews.ie
10-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Ikem Ugwueru backs Clare for All-Ireland quarter-finals
Clare footballer Ikem Ugwueru believes the Banner can repeat their 2022 run to the All-Ireland quarter-finals as they prepare for the group stages of the Sam Maguire. Despite suffering a third consecutive Munster final defeat to Kerry last weekend, Ugwueru insists there are positives to take from another provincial decider appearance, not least their confirmed place in the All-Ireland series. Advertisement Clare will face Down, Monaghan and the winners of the Leinster final between Meath and Louth in a group devoid of any Division One side — something Ugwueru sees as an opportunity. 'On any day, anyone can beat anyone,' he said. 'If I reference Meath against Dublin, everyone would have said Dublin would easily win, but Meath showed up on the day and got the result. 'It was the same with Down — they almost beat Donegal. If one or two points or a goal had gone their way, they'd have taken it. Advertisement 'The group is evenly balanced. We won't take anyone for granted. We'll take each game one by one and not look too far ahead.' Clare's progress under Colm Collins and now Mark Fitzgerald has been evident, with three successive Munster finals and a quarter-final appearance in 2022 demonstrating their consistency at the top end of the provincial and national game. Although they've failed to pick up a win in the group stages over the past two seasons, Ugwueru sees clear signs of development and believes Clare are building a team for the long term. 'Any county can use it as a blueprint — we all started somewhere. It's about the team and the collective. Advertisement 'If you buy into it, you can work your way up. Clare were in Division Four, then Three, and then spent years in Division Two. 'Some of the lads on the team have gone through that journey. We all have that fight in us, and we're using it to our advantage. Sport Waterford's Lorraine Bray on wearing skorts: 'Play... Read More 'We're not going to end it this year — this could take a few years, and all of us are willing to do that.' With Down up first next weekend, Ugwueru says the goal is to progress beyond the group — and see where that momentum might lead. 'We got to the last eight a couple of years ago and lost to Derry. Getting out of the group is an achievement for any county in the Sam Maguire. 'That's our biggest aim now — to put our best foot forward and, when we do get out, challenge the bigger counties. That's the goal for me, and for the group.'
