Munster honours beckon for Clare clubs

By Seamus Hayes

The GAA season just keeps getting better for Clare. In a year in which two All-Ireland hurling titles were captured, the county champions in hurling and football are now making their mark in Provincial competition.

Sixmilebridge travelled to Pairc Ui Caoimh on Sunday where they proved too strong for their Cork counterparts Midleton. A four point win has sent the Clare champions through to the Munster finalwhere they will face Na Piarsaigh from Limerick on Sunday next in Cusack Park at 2p.m. Adding spice to the final is the fact that former Sixmilebridge captain Sean Stack is manager of the Limerick champions.

While the Bridge were maintaining Clare’s dominance over Cork, their neighbours from Cratloe were making their own history. On Saturday they won their first ever Clare senior football title when they defeated Doonbeg who top the roll of honour in the Clare senior championship.

Twenty four hours after their 0-10 to 0-7 win over the magpies, Cratloe were back in action when they entertained the Waterford champions Ballinacourty. The South East Clare club delivered another impressive display to record a 1-10 to 0-11 victory. In the space of twenty four hours they went from never having won a Clare senior title to securing a place in the Munster final where they will face Dr.Crokes form Killarney on Sunday week in Limerick.

On this Saturday, Clare intermediate champions Miltown St. Josephs will travel to the Gaelic grounds in Limerick where they will take on Clyda Rovers from Cork in the Provincial final. Interestingly, the Cork team includes the newly appointed Clare senior football coach, Paudie Kissane, in their line up.

On the domestic front, Newmarket qualified for the final of the Clare Champion cup (senior hurling league) when they beat Tubber and they will play Inagh-Kilnamona in this Saturday’s final.

On the same day O’Curry’s will play St. Josephs in the senior B football final