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Clare SHC Final: Sixmilebridge 0-21 Cratloe 0-15 Sixmilebridge added the 2019 Clare SHC title to the crowns they won in ’13, ’15 and ’17. Cratloe will rue some wayward shooting at crucial junctures late on when the game was in the balance, as poor shot selection and execution proved costly. Sixmilebridge recovered from a slow start to lead 0-11 to 0-9 at the break with 0-5 from Alex Morey frees along with five different scorers from play contributing to their tally. Cratloe settled quickest and led 0-6 to 0-2 after the opening ten minutes, but Sixmilebridge’s influence in the middle third grew as they powered back into the game. Jamie Shanahan and Seadna Morey were controlling proceedings while Brian Corry and Cathal Malone were constant threats for the Cratloe defence to deal with. Sixmilebridge outscored Cratloe 0-9 to 0-3 for the closing 20 minutes of the half as Alan Neville’s side struggled to create the space for their forward line …

Cratloe’s Enda Boyce has served his club with distinction for ten seasons and will be playing with his family and wider community firmly in mind when he lines out against Sixmilebridge this Sunday. “It is great to get into any final but even the family; Dad played for Cratloe, my uncle Seamus did, my brothers played, all my little cousins are playing. Most people have a similar story to me in the sense that their community is nearly built around the club. There are some big families involved in the club with the likes of the Collins’ in the football and that. So, the place is buzzing. We just can’t wait to get out there and give it our all. “To me, there isn’t much pressure on us. This is my 10th year playing for Cratloe and we have a lot of experience. We have done okay in the last few years without winning, but with that comes experience, such …

If ever there was someone who owes nothing to his club, it is Tim Crowe. His first involvement with Sixmilebridge came back in 1975 and since then, he has had a massive input into the development of the club. He has a unique record in the club, as he holds the distinction of having trained each of the five hurling All-Stars that the club has produced with each of those All-Star jerseys displayed proudly in the club house at O’Garney Park. There are also two camogie All-Star jerseys on display with one belonging to Chloe Morey, while ironically the other is that which was presented to Cratloe native Maire McGrath who plays her club camogie with Sixmilebridge. After 15 years away from the senior squad, Crowe was coaxed back in this year when his beloved club came calling. While initially there were some issues to be straightened out, he says everyone came to the table with one thing in mind, …

Whatever happens in this Sunday’s county final, you can be sure it won’t faze Cratloe captain Conor McGrath. The former All-Star, All-Ireland winner and county champion is the epitome of composure. McGrath has had a stellar year for Cratloe since returning from injury and he says it feels good to lead his side into another county final. “It’s a great honour to be the captain of this side heading into the county final, but to be honest, there isn’t a whole pile I’ve to do. We have many leaders involved in the squad, so it is not an onerous task for me, but at the same time it is a great honour to captain the club and the parish in a county final. “I had a small job done on my shoulder just before Christmas and I took care took care of it for four or five months. I got back for the last four or five rounds of the …

Seadna Morey pulls no punches or offers no clichés about Sunday’s county hurling final appearance being something that Sixmilebridge targeted being involved in. The Garney side club are set to end a decade that has already seen them contest four showpiece events with another march behind the band, and the omens are in their favour if that is something you believe in. 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and now 2019 have all seen the Bridge in Cusack Park on the biggest day in the Clare club hurling calendar, and only the first year of that run has seen them come away without the Canon Hamilton trophy. Morey admits they were eager to get back there once more. “We would be lying if we said that we didn’t target this at the start of the year and it really is something that we were aiming for. We wanted to build our performances throughout the campaign to get to the county final and …

Fergie O’Loughlin I really think this could be one of the best county hurling finals that we have ever seen. Both squads are brimming with talent and pace and power and guile, and when you add into the mix how close the two parishes are, it makes for a mouth-watering prospect ahead in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon. I think this will be a really tactical game. On the Cratloe side, Mike Deegan and Alan Neville will have studied Sixmilebridge’s strengths and they will have a plan to try and put a stop to them. Davy Fitz and Tim Crowe will also have been taking a good long look at their opponents and will have worked on a plan to try and take them on. I think a major aspect of the game that Sixmilebridge need to focus on is pushing up at all times on the Cratloe players and do not give them that time to build their game …

We asked a number of expert pundits for their predictions for Sunday’s Clare SHC Final.  Pundit View: Brendan Bugler Thoughts on Sixmilebridge and Cratloe in the championship to date They are both deserving of their place in the final because they are the two teams that have played the best hurling in the championship to date. It will be a really interesting battle and the rivalry between the two parishes will only add to that. Over the last decade Sixmilebridge have an excellent record in getting to finals and their record in those games is not bad either. Cratloe have been the club of the decade for what they have done in both codes and how consistent they have been. Both teams are capable of playing really exceptional hurling and it should make for a great final. Key Areas It is going to be a real tactical battle. A lot of work will be done before the game on both …

It’s a ninth final this decade for Newmarket-on-Fergus but arguably their most significant after shipping three consecutive defeats in as many seasons. However, while from the outside in, it would appear a mammoth task to pick themselves off the floor and rally again, Blues captain Aoife Griffin puts it down to sheer character and an innate leadership within the group. “I can totally appreciate how people would think ‘how can you lose three finals in a row and still have that determination to come back again?’ I just think it’s a testament to the resilience we have as a team to keep coming back each year. “In all honesty, there’s a very special group of girls there that have that buy-in attitude. There’s a seriously dedicated bunch there and we’re very lucky because it’s not something that every team has or something that you find happens all the time I guess. It’s just we’ve predominantly come along at the same …