The weekend’s action couldn’t ask for a better ignition with neighbours Wolfe Tones and Newmarket-on-Fergus commencing a 35 match adult league weekend schedule that includes a repeat of last year’s county final and the commencement of a 26 team Division 5.

Clare Cup Division 1A Round 3
Crusheen v Sixmilebridge at Crusheen, Saturday 1.30pm
Requiring a strong reaction to their relegation scare, Crusheen have hit the ground running in 2022 but face their biggest test to date on Saturday against a ‘Bridge side that have had the Indian sign over them in recent times. Indeed, Sixmilebridge are bidding for their fifth consecutive victory over Crusheen in as many seasons but more than that, crave the points to further establish their new-look structure under new manager Sean Stack.

Feakle v Clooney-Quin at Feakle, Saturday 2pm
No point going over old ground again about that now infamous 2017 championship clash and its remarkable diverging subsequent paths. Better to reflect on last year’s seesaw opening championship draw that ended up benefitting neither as Clooney-Quin drifted into relegation peril while it also cost the recently-crowned Clare Cup winners Feakle a place in the knock-out stages. What the result does reveal is that there is little to separate these sides.

Cratloe v Kilmaley at Cratloe, Saturday 5pm
Apart from gatecrashing the 2019 county final programme in Cratloe’s place, Kilmaley have predominantly been on the losing side of their clashes over the past four years. Three championship reverses including a heartbreaking 2018 penultimate stage clash have meant that Conor Earley’s side have are aiming for their fifth victory in six meetings on Saturday. Kilmaley crave a win but it’s a significant barometer of where both are really.

Ballyea v Inagh-Kilnamona at Ballyea, Saturday 6pm
Too early for a county final rematch? Ballyea certainly won’t mind as their third Canon Hamilton success in six years was brought back to the forefront of their minds once more last weekend with their medal presentation. Inagh-Kilnamona undoubtedly possess plenty of regrets from November’s first ever showpiece but it’s unlikely that this will have a sufficient cathartic effect regardless of the result.

Broadford v Clonlara at Broadford, Saturday 6.15pm
A derby that has been really rekindled since Broadford’s re-emergence at senior level and they’ve already snatched the upper hand in the relationship with three successive victories in as many seasons. The 2019 intermediate champions could do with extending that impressive run to kickstart their season while equally Clonlara supporters would certainly warm to their new management if they could stop the rot against their neighbours.

Clare Cup Division 1B Round 3
Wolfe Tones v Newmarket-on-Fergus at Shannon, Thursday 7.30pm
There’s arguably no such thing as a dull Tones v Newmarket derby but contrasting starts don’t necessarily indicate a compelling seesaw classic. A repeat of last year’s senior championship quarter-final, winners Newmarket have only built upon being only a puck away from eventual champions Ballyea and appear physically stronger in a perfect Clare Cup start. The hosts meanwhile have struggled to find their feet but there’s nothing like a derby to get the competitive juices flowing.

Éire Óg v Tulla at Éire Óg, Saturday 2pm
Forget about it being a senior versus intermediate encounter as without a sizeable chunk of inter-county players in both codes, Éire Óg were always going to struggle to obtain victories in the division. As last year’s encounter proved, with only Sean Withycombe’s last gasp brace inching Tulla over the line at 2-17 to 1-18, it’s an ideal contest for both to try and boost their status in the 1B table.

O’Callaghan’s Mills v Scariff at Hamilton Park Kilkishen, Saturday 6pm
Two East Clare rivals with a rich history but a paltry present as aside from a 2019 Clare Cup clash, once would have to go back to 2014 to find any other meaningful senior showdown. Still, if that last meeting three years previously is anything to go by, it could be worth the wait as the second half alone shared 12 goal chances before Gary Cooney fired a spectacular winning goal in injury-time to prevail by 3-17 to 2-17.

An intriguing Division 2 top-of-the-table bout between flagship sides Tubber and Ruan is the pick of the remainder of the leagues when they meet in Tubber tomorrow evening (Friday) at 8pm. Parteen and Sixmilebridge’s second string would also be an interesting watch while unbeaten Division 3 pacesetters Bodyke and Cratloe also meet on Sunday (2pm in Bodyke).