Can the real Inagh-Kilnamona please stand up?

Clare Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 preview
Group 3
Inagh-Kilnamona v Broadford at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1pm (Kieran Liddane, Sixmilebridge)

While they’ve encountered each other in the Clare Cup and most recently at senior B level, this is actually the first time that Broadford and Inagh-Kiinamona have locked horns in the top tier.
That’s hardly unusual considering that Inagh-Kilnamona only became a permanent entity 16 years ago, the year that Broadford regained their senior status and also spend a second spell at intermediate between 2015-19.
This historic clash only adds the the intrigue of what is effectively a good old fashioned winners-takes-all encounter for a quarter-final place. Without having to depend on any other result is not only refreshing but could lead to perhaps the tie of the round as both sides simply had to throw everything at this in order to prevail.
A draw would suit Paddy Meehan’s side who remain unbeaten after a hugely impressive start against O’Callaghan’s Mills and Scariff. The only downside was that while not may teams have even been in the enviable position of leading by eleven points, Broadford were the only ones to let that sizeable cushion slip as for a finish they were merely hanging on against a resurgent Scariff.
What we do know for certain is that the East Clare side will give every ounce for the cause of trying to obtain a last eight spot for the first time since 2020 which was predominantly due to the automatic bounce of momentum from winning the intermediate crown.
That passion and relentless drive is unfortunately not such a given for Inagh-Kilnamona who have easily been the epitome of Jekyll and Hyde these past few seasons. Ironically, their seesaw performances have been more pronounced ever since coming within a whisker of winning the Canon Hamilton in 2021, a surge to the final that seemed to brush aside any perceived soft underbelly within their ranks and finally saw them fulfilling their potential.
When they’re on form, they can be devastating as evidenced by last year’s demolition of Kilmaley and their most recent display against O’Callaghan’s Mills but alarmingly when they’re bad, they’re deplorable as witnessed against then intermediate champions Smith O’Brien’s (2022), Éire Óg (2022) and their their two clashes against Scariff in the last twelve months.
That’s not just opinion but fact as in the ten championship matches since contesting the 2021 county final, they’ve won five and lost five.
So the question remains which Inamona will turn up in Cusack Park on Sunday, the one that appeared like they didn’t care enough for the jersey against Scariff in Round 1 or the one that utterly dismantled the Mills by 16 points a fortnight ago.
That quiz will only be answered on the day but if there was one glimmer of light for Tomas Kelly’s side, it was that they finally produced the goods without Aidan McCarthy last time out.
Consequently, if the All-Ireland winner has recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury in time, it could be the catalyst to finally get back on track having missed out on the knock-out stages last year.
So while Broadford are the much more reliable bet, it’s that x-factor surrounding Inagh-Kilnamona that keeps people presuming that there is more Dr. Jekyll than Mr. Hyde within them.
Verdict: Inagh-Kilnamona

Scariff v O’Callaghan’s Mills at Dr. Daly Park Tulla, Sunday 1pm (Gus Callaghan, Feakle)

While all the Group 3 hype is understandably centred around the Broadford and Inagh-Kilnamona showdown, it would be foolhardy to overlook this tie, especially since the Mills have already been confirmed as a relegation candidate.
It was initially anticipated as a mouthwatering finish to the group but things haven’t exactly gone to plan for last year’s Clare Cup winners who after a frustrating narrow loss to Broadford on the first day out, just failed to turn up at all against Inagh-Kilnamona a fortnight ago.
Being their heftiest defeat in 18 years since eventual champions Wolfe Tones inflicted a comprehensive opening round 23 point pummelling in Cusack Park in 2006, PJ O’Connell’s side simply cannot afford to regroup for the demotion series as they need an immediate response.
What better way to get back on the horse than trying to put a spanner in Scariff’s championship hopes as with no pressure upon their shoulders, the Mills can now really tinker with their side and attack the game aggressively in the hope of regaining some pride and confidence when they do have to circle the wagons two weeks later for the relegation play-offs.
The thing is that Scariff will be expecting an ambush and will look to either try and weather the inevitable storm or more likely fight fire with fire as Mark McKenna has his own stick to beat his players with after a sorely underwhelming first half showing against Broadford last time out.
Having seemingly turned the corner after two years of survival at senior level, that paltry error-ridden half was a throw back to those assimilation seasons in which they didn’t really know what to expect any day they went out.
Unbeaten in six consecutive group matches over the past two years, Scariff’s defiance ensured that they did produce an eleven point turnaround to salvage a share of the spoils against Broadford and now with the possibility of contesting the business end within touching distance once more, it’s an opportunity much too tempting to pass up.
If viewed as a mere blip, addressing that first half slump has to be Scariff’s chief priority on Sunday when returning to the scene of the crime in Tulla.
Both sides won’t lack for motivation but if Scariff can return to their free-scoring best, then it will inevitably put seeds of doubt in an already addled Mills collective.
Verdict: Scariff