Busy GAA season ahead for Clare schools

The school season may have just ended but, already, plans are afoot for the new school year.

The colleges GAA authorities have made the draws for all of their competitions for the 2012/13 season and it promises to be another busy one for all Clare schools.
Clare’s only two representatives in the Harty Cup (Senior A hurling), St Flannan’s and St Caimin’s, have been drawn in group D. Ard Scoil Rís, who are expected to have some players from South-East Clare in their line-up, will be in group A, which has six teams. First-round games are scheduled for September 19, with subsequent rounds on October 3, October 17, November 15 and November 29
In the Dean Ryan Cup (Junior A hurling), St Flannan’s will play either Nenagh or Midleton CBS in a quarter-final game on October 10. On the same day, St Caimin’s will play Clonmel or De La Salle from Waterford.
In the U-15A Championship (White Cup), St Flannan’s play Blackwater CC from Waterford, with the winners going on to play St Caimin’s in a quarter-final tie.
In the Senior B Hurling Championship (Corn Phádraig), two Clare schools will take part. Ennis CBS have been included in Group A along with Youghal and Hospital, while St Joseph’s Tulla are in group D with Mallow and St Augustine’s. First-round games will be on October 3.
The same schools will compete in the Junior B (Corn an Chuinneanaigh) competition, where Tulla will play Borris-Illeigh and Ennis CBS will play Doon CBS. First rounds are set for the end of September.
Tulla will be Clare’s only representatives in the U-15B (Corn an Phiarsaigh) competition and they will play Coláiste an Spiorad Naomh in the opening round.
In the Senior C Hurling Championship (Corn Mhic Ruairi), Clare hopes will be carried by Scariff Community College and they will play Newcastle West in the opening round.
In the Junior C competition (Corn Iognaid Rís), there are two Clare schools and Scariff and Ennistymon clash in Round 1, which is set for September 26.
In U-15C hurling (Corn Solo) Scariff play Newport in the opening round, while Ennis CBS have received a bye.
In the Senior A Football Championship (Corn Uí Mhuirí) West Clare Colleges are in Group A along with Rochestown CS, De La Salle Macroom and Intermediate School Killorglin.
In Group B, North Clare Colleges will be with Chorca Dhuibhne, West Limerick Colleges and Clonmel. St Flannan’s are in group D with Coláiste na Sceilge and Coláiste Chríost Rí. First-round games are set for October 10.
In the Frewan Cup (Junior A Championship) St Flannan’s play PS Chorca Dhuibhne in a preliminary round, with the winners going through to meet North Clare Colleges in the quarter-final. West Clare Colleges will play Waterford colleges in a preliminary-round game. The start-up date for this championship is February, 2013.
In the U-15A Championship (Corn Uí Mhorain), St Flannan’s will play West Clare Colleges in the opening round on October 3, while North Clare Colleges have received a bye into the quarter-finals on October 17, where they will play Chríost Rí.
In the Senior B football competition for Corn an Uachtaráin, St Caimin’s from Shannon face Milltown from Kerry in the opening round, while Ennistymon will play Mallow. October 10 is the start-up date for this competition.
In the Junior B Championship (Corn na gColáistí), St Caimin’s will play Mallow in a first-round game.
The U-15B Championship (Corn na Bandan) will have one Clare school and St Caimin’s will play Tarbert from Kerry in their opening game.
Six Clare schools will challenge for the Senior C Football (Corn an Runai) Championship and all are in Group 2. In a preliminary tie, Ennis CBS will play Kilkee, with the winners going into the first round proper against Limerick side, Kilmallock.
Kilrush will play Cashel, St Patrick’s Comprehensive School Shannon will play Charleville, Mary Immaculate Lisdoonvarna will play Listowel and Spanish Point will take on Hazelwood CC.
In the Junior C Championship for Corn na Carraige, Division 2 will have eight Clare schools. Kilrush play Ballybunion in a preliminary tie, with the winners going on to face Thurles. In first-round games Ennistymon play Kilkee, St Anne’s Killaloe play St Munchin’s, St Patrick’s Comprehensive School Shannon play Hazelwood and Ennis CBS play Mary Immaculate Lisdoonvarna and Spanish Point play St Michael’s Limerick or Pallaskenry.
There will also be eight Clare schools in Division 2 of the U-15C Championship (Corn Mhic Chraith). Kilrush play Ennis CBS, with Listowel awaiting the winners. Ennistymon CBS play St Michael’s Limerick for the right to play Hospital in a first-round tie. Kilkee play Newcastle West, St Anne’s Killaloe play Castletroy, Mary Immaculate Lisdoonvarna play Nenagh and Spanish Point will face St Patrick’s Comprehensive School Shannon.