Cratloe remain the Jack of all trades and currently master of one

Pick up this weeks Clare Champion for extensive previews of all the upcoming action in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football Club Championships.

Leading forces in the first wave of revolution at the backend of the noughties, Cratloe and Clonlara’s 2024 renaissance was not only long overdue and fully merited but also potentially the touchpaper for a fresh tide of senior championship dream-makers.
After all, it was Clonlara (2008) and Cratloe (2009) that ended the long held dominance of the traditional clubs and breathed new life into the Canon Hamilton race, with dual force Cratloe doing likewise in football when securing historic back-to-back Jack Daly crowns in 2013 and ’14, the latter a senior hurling and football double.
It took five finals and as many semi-final exits to finally get back into the winners enclosure, with Cathal McInerney’s pivotal goal finally turning the tide in Cratloe’s favour to bridge a seemingly interminable nine year gap to their last senior title.
And now that they have their hands on the Jack Daly once more, Colm Collins side have no intention of giving it up without an almighty fight according to dual star McInerney.
“That’s the challenge ahead of us now, trying to keep a clean bill of health and being fully aware that every team we meet will be going all out to beat us because of last year as well.
“Look, the last year has been a breath of fresh air and it has given the club a new lease of life really. We have been to so many finals between 2014 and last year and lost the lot of them so it was brilliant to get our hands back on senior silverware.
“Like any championship, you need a bit of luck along the way and we did get some luck throughout last year’s run to the Jack Daly.
“Being champions, we also know that there will be a target on our backs just like anyone that wins a championship but we’re looking forward to it.”
Indeed, every club is relishing this weekend’s adult club championship throw-in following Clare’s All-Ireland success that has inspired players young and old in both codes according to the 2013 All-Ireland hurling winner.
“Firstly a huge congratulations to the boys. I know a good few of them and you couldn’t neet nicer lads and obviously Bugs [Brendan Bugler] and Brian [Lohan] in the backroom start as well so it was thoroughly deserved.
“It has given a great boost for the entire county and everyone is looking forward to the club championships now and it’s a bonus with the split season that you know roughly when you are out even when Clare keep progressing.
“In fairness to the county board, they gave us the date as early as possible so we could plan for this timeline.”
A condensed club championship campaign effectively means an incessant stream of matches for dual senior clubs such as Cratloe, Éire Óg, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and now Corofin but that’s par for the course at this stage.
“We’re kind of used to that in Cratloe anyway.”Admitted five time (two hurling, three football) county senior champion McInerney.
“It kind of has its advantages and disadvantages in that if you do pick up an injury you could miss a lot whereas on the other side it can also help build momentum.
“Look, you’d rather be playing games than training anyway so we’re looking forward to six group games over the next six weeks if we can avoid injuries and keep a clean bill of health.”
While three quarter-finalists will emerge from their group in the senior football championship comprising of St Joseph’s Miltown, Ennistymon and Doonbeg, only two will prevail in an equally evenly-matched pool involving last year’s semi-finaists Feakle, Corofin and perennial contenders Kilmaley in the hurling equlvalent.
“Both championship groups are tough because everyone will fancy their chances of topping them.
“We’ve Miltown in the first round this Friday in the football and they’ve great history and great tradition so we won’t be taking our eye off the ball for that and similarly in the hurling, Feakle are on a high at the moment with a couple of lads on the county senior panel.
“We lost the first round last year and it kind of put us under pressure as there’s no more room for error as you could easily be staring down the barrel of relegation so the first round is pivotal especially in the hurling championship.
“I mean there will be nothing between all four teams as Feakle are definitely on a high, Corofin also have huge momentum after coming up from intermediate and Kilmaley are always going to be there or thereabouts with their tradition as well.
“So I think all four will fancy their chances of getting out of the group but that’s just the competitive nature of the Clare Championship anyway.
“If you look through the history, there has been a huge list of teams that have won the Canon Hamilton in the last ten to fifteen years.”
Ten to be exact over the past two decades whereas only four clubs have shared the Jack Daly over the past 13 seasons, with Cratloe and St Joseph’s Miltown (3 apeice) only second to Kilmurry Ibrickane (5) as senior football kingpins in that period.
However, with an ageing core and the likes of McInerney himself and fellow 2013 All-Ireland medalists Conor McGrath and Sean Collins on the treatment table for the bulk of 2024 to date, Cratloe will require all hands to the pump once more if they are to retain their crown.
“I think Clare did us a favour really by postponing the start of the club championships for a few weeks but hopefully now we’ll have a full squad come this weekend and we can hit the ground running.’