Current kingpins Truagh-Clonlara and Scariff-Ogonnelloe may have switched roles last October after the latter’s two year reign but having clashed in the last three finals, they will be overwhelming favourites to do so once more come October 19th.
It’s up to the chasing pack to alter that perceived narrative as with only the finalists seeded for this year’s race for the McMahon Cup, the groups initially appear a bit lopsided.
After all, with three of last year’s semi-finalists (Scariff-Ogonnelloe, Inagh-Kilnamona and Feakle-Killanena) pooled in Group B, the fact that there are two business end berths means that one major contender has to fall at the group stages.
Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s vast experience of three titles in the last five seasons makes them the forerunners to maintain their perfect group record as since bounding back to senior level in 2017, they have progressed to the penultimate stage at a minimum.
That’s a seven year record that no other senior side in the county can equal or emulate except for Inagh-Kilnamona who have played in the last ten semi-finals, winning four senior crowns in the process in 2016, ’17, ’18 and ’20. They have crucial big game experience and have already bounced back to Division 1 League success this year but they’ve also lost some key protagonists to their travels over the past few years.
That decade of experience is total contrast to the newest challengers for senior silverware as Feakle-Killanena’s progression chart has been on a steep upward curve since 2020. Back-to-back Senior B titles blossomed into a first senior cup semi-final last October and while they didn’t reach the heights of previous performances against fellow East Clare force Scariff-Ogonnelloe, that sobering experience was still a major learning curve to build on this year.
Essentially Group 2 comes down to what Feakle-Killanena can offer from the outset as while Lorna McNamara has been out for much of 2024 through injury, they will need to hit the ground running if they are to maintain their development and improve upon last year’s finish as they face group favourites Scariff-Ogonnelloe and Inagh-Kilnamona in the first two outings.
It means that they will either have one foot in a semi-final or be effectively dead in the water by the end of August.
With Inagh-Kilnamona having the bye in the this weekend’s opening round, they cannot afford any ring-rustiness against Feakle-Killanena who will have had a major test under their belts by that stage.
Newcomers St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield will also have momentum though after winning both the county intermediate and Munster Junior championship at the backend of 2023 so none of the big three can afford to treat them likely.
Essentially the crunch test for the Parish comes first as a newly independent Kilkishen, senior semi-finalists themselves with the assistance of Bodyke as recently as 2021, will be equally eyeing this opener as a make-or-break tie.
Group A is a little more clear-cut in that Truagh-Clonlara are not only seeds but the stand-out candidate to top the pool mainly due to their vast experience of contesting the last three finals, four if you include the decider replay in 2021.
Newmarket-on-Fergus, Kilmaley and Sixmilebridge have all had their share of successes but it’s nine years since the Blues garnered their last senior crown, ten for Kilmaley while aside from their 2009 final appearance, one would have to delve back 24 years for the ‘Bridge.
They’re rebuilding from the ground up but having just avoided relegation last year, it’ll take time and patience for Sean Chaplin’s side to develop.
There’s still a kick in Newmarket and Kilmaley though as they mix title winning experience with a new generation and they will be favourites to snatch second spot, with that semi-final place hopefully being decided by a last round showdown between the old rivals.
Clarecastle/Ballyea are the reigning Senior B champions, having exact revenge on Kilmaley for their group defeat. However, with this being only their second year back in the top flight, a safety first approach will be their chief priority.