’Bridge cast doubt over U-21 replay

The replay of the U-21A Hurling Championship semi-final between Sixmilebridge and Kilmaley has been fixed for this Friday evening at Cusack Park at 6pm but a doubt remains about the game, as Sixmilebridge have indicated they are not happy with the decision.
They point to the fact that team member Seadna Morey is a member of the Clare senior panel for Sunday’s league semi-final date with Kilkenny and argue that it’s unfair to expect him to play the club replay on Friday evening, less than 48 hours before the league fixture.
Because of the upcoming Munster Minor Hurling Championship first round between Clare and Waterford (Wednesday, May 2) and the involvement of the Clare minor footballers in the Munster semi-final (Wednesday, May 16), the fixtures committee pressed ahead with fixing the replay for this Friday.
The CCC (fixtures committee) met with representatives of both clubs on Monday night before deciding the replay will go ahead this Friday.
The final involving Ballyea and the winners of the replay has been scheduled for Wednesday next in Cusack Park, just seven days ahead of the Clare v Waterford minor championship game.
All three teams still in the running for the U-21 Clare title have players in the Clare minor hurling panel, with Sixmilebridge having the most, in five. All three also have players in the Clare minor football panel.
Reports this week that Clare senior manager Davy Fitzgerald had made Daire Keane participate in a training session before Sunday’s game have drawn an angry response from the Clare boss.
“Reports that lads trained for two hours before Sunday’s match are totally untrue. In the 16 days before the game, Daire Keane, Seadna Morey and Shane Golden attended no more than two sessions with us, as they were released to their clubs.”
Fitzgerald added, “All of our players were in at the weekend for measurements (body fats, etc) which is a standard procedure every couple of weeks but there was no physical work whatsoever involved. I am annoyed that such untruths are being circulated.”
With James McInerney ruled out of the Clare senior side for Sunday, Morey’s chances of playing some part in the game have increased. The Sixmilebridge view is that he should be allowed focus on the league game and that the U-21 game should go back for a week.
The ’Bridge are the title holders and sources close to the team have indicated they will not play this Friday but the expectation is that the game will go ahead.
Last week, Sixmilebridge were without the injured Jamie Shanahan and while he is believed to be close to returning following a shoulder injury suffered in the first round win over Inagh-Kilnamona, it remains to be seen if he will be able to make an appearance in this week’s replay. It is understood the Clare minor selectors are keeping their fingers crossed he might be able to play some part in their meeting with Waterford in two weeks’ time
Another very close contest is expected and it may well be that extra time will be required before Ballyea learn who their opponents will be in the final.

C final on Thursday
The U-21C final between Tubber and last year’s beaten finalists, Feakle-Killanena, will take place on Thursday, April 26, at Cusack Park.