Champions face Kilmaley in opening round

THE draws for the Senior A and B Hurling Championships and the Intermediate Hurling Championship title race were made at the March meeting of Clare GAA at the West County Hotel, Ennis on Tuesday night.
The opening round will see a repeat of last season’s semi-final meeting of Cratloe, winners on that occasion, and Inagh-Kilnamona. Title-holders Newmarket will face Kilmaley in their opening tie.

Last year’s finalists, Newmarket and Cratloe, were seeded into groups 1 and 2, with a draw taking place between the beaten semi-finalists, Clonlara and Inagh-Kilnamona, for the remaining ‘seeded’ spot, which went to Clonlara.

In the Senior B Championship, the intermediate champions of the past two years, Ruan and Éire Óg, will meet in the opening game and they are in the same group as last year’s B runners-up, O’Callaghan’s Mills.
There will be a North Clare derby in the opening round of the intermediate championship as Corofin will face Ennistymon.

The groupings and the order of play is as follows:
Senior A
Group 1: Newmarket, Kilmaley, Tulla, Tubber
Round 1: Newmarket v Kilmaley; Tulla v Tubber;
Round 2: Newmarket v Tulla; Kilmaley v Tubber;
Round 3: Newmarket v Tubber; Kilmaley v Tulla.

Group 2: Cratloe, Inagh-Kilnamona, St Joseph’s, Crusheen.
Round 1: Cratloe v Inagh-Kilnamona; St Joseph’s v Crusheen;
Round 2: Cratloe v St Joseph’s; Inagh-Kilnamona v Crusheen;
Round 3: Cratloe v Crusheen; Inagh-Kilnamona v St Joseph’s.

Group 3: Clonlara, Clooney-Quin, Clarecastle, Sixmilebridge.
Round 1: Clonlara v Clooney-Quin; Clarecastle v Sixmilebridge;
Round 2: Clonlara v Clarecastle; Clooney-Quin v Sixmilebridge;
Round 3: Clonlara v Sixmilebridge; Clooney-Quin v Clarecastle.

Senior B
Group 1: O’Callaghan’s Mills, Smith O’Brien’s, Ruan, Éire Óg.
Round 1: O’Callaghan’s Mills v Smith O’Brien’s; Ruan v Éire Óg;
Round 2: O’Callaghan’s Mills v Ruan; Smith O’Brien’s v Éire Óg;
Round 3: O’Callaghan’s Mills v Éire Óg; Smith O’Brien’s v Ruan.

Group 2: Scariff, Wolfe Tones, Broadford, Ballyea.
Round 1: Scariff v Wolfe Tones; Broadford v Ballyea;
Round 2: Scariff v Broadford; Wolfe Tones v Ballyea;
Round 3: Scariff v Ballyea; Wolfe Tones v Broadford.

Intermediate
Group 1: Corofin, Ennistymon, Sixmilebridge, Whitegate.
Round 1: Corofin v Ennistymon; Sixmilebridge v Whitegate;
Round 2: Corofin v Sixmilebridge; Ennistymon v Whitegate;
Round 3: Corofin v Whitegate; Ennistymon v Sixmilebridge.

Group 2: Clarecastle, Meelick, Newmarket, Killanena.
Round 1: Clarecastle v Meelick; Newmarket v Killanena;
Round 2: Clarecastle v Newmarket; Meelick v Killanena;
Round 3: Clarecastle v Killanena; Meelick v Newmarket.

Group 3: Parteen, Feakle, Ogonnelloe, Crusheen.
Round 1: Parteen v Feakle; Ogonnelloe v Crusheen;
Round 2: Parteen v Ogonnelloe; Feakle v Crusheen;
Round 3: Parteen v Crusheen; Feakle v Ogonnelloe.

According to the masters fixtures schedule, Round 1 is set for the weekend of May 17, 18 and 19. Round 2 is set for either June 28, 29, 30 or August 16, 17, 18, with Round 3 due to be played on the weekend of September 6, 7 and 8.