Clare U- 21 A hurling champions, Sixmilebridge face a preliminary round tie in this season’s competition, which is set to begin in February.

They were the first team out of the hat when the draw was made at GAA headquarters in Clareabbey on Monday evening and they will face Broadford, with the winners going through to a quarter final tie with Ballyea, last year’s beaten finalists.

Nine teams will compete for the A title, with 12 in the B competition and a further nine competing for the C competition.

Neighbours, Kilmaley and Inagh-Kilnamona will meet in a quarter final tie and this promises to be a lively contest.

The full draw is;

Under 21 A

Preliminary round—Sixmilebridge v Broadford;

Quarter finals—1—Kilmaley v Inagh-Kilnamona; 2—Newmarket v Éire Óg; 3—Feakle-Killanena v Clarecastle 4—Sixmilebridge or Broadford v Ballyea;

Semi-finals—4 v 2; 1 v 3;

Under 21 B—

Byes to A—Tulla; B—Wolfe Tones; C—Smith O’Brien’s; D—Cratloe;

Round 1—E—O’C. Mills v Scariff-Ogonnelloe; F—Parteen v Crusheen-Tubber; G—Whitegate v Clonlara; H—St Josephs v Clooney-Quin;

Quarter finals—1—C v F; 2—B v A; 3—D v H; 4—E v G;

Semi-finals—2 v 4; 3 v 1;

Under 21 C—

Preliminary round—Meelick v Ruan;

Quarter finals—A—Ennistymon v Corofin; B—Scariff v Bodyke; C—St Joseph’s v Ballyea; D—Kilmaley v Meelick of Ruan;

Semi-finals—B v C; D v A.

By Seamus Hayes, sports editor