Éire Óg and Ruan to provide lively intermediate final

At the end of March, Ruan and Éire Óg clashed in the opening round of the Clare Champion Cup, (Division 2B) when Ruan emerged victorious by two points, 2-16 to 2-14.
That result, Éire Óg supporters feared, would cost them promotion in the league but, in their final outing of the campaign, they beat leaders Kilmaley and secured promotion on score difference ahead of Ruan.
Understandably, Ruan were very disappointed not to have won promotion and having failed at the final hurdle in the championship 12 months ago to Killanena, they won’t want to taste another defeat.
At the start of the campaign, they were included in a shortlist of favourites for this championship but most followers had Éire Óg and Corofin as the front-runners. Ruan accounted for Corofin in a semi-final replay two weeks ago and with victories over both fancied sides under their belts, they can approach Sunday’s final with a degree of confidence.
Despite the fact they have shown mixed form this season, Éire Óg are deserving of their final place. On paper, they have a strong squad from which to select their final team.
Teenager Shane O’Donnell is a doubt due to a broken finger suffered in a challenge game against Offaly opposition two weeks ago. In that game he was most impressive but the injury caused him to miss St Flannans’ College Corn Uí Mhuirí cup-tie last week.
Ronan Keane, a surprise omission from the team that started against Parteen in the semi-final, is expected to be in the starting line-up this week. He has had a tremendous season and was particularly impressive with the Clare intermediate side that won the All-Ireland title in August.
The team is captained by the experienced Mark Fitzgerald and will include the vastly experienced Fergus Flynn and Barry Nugent, both of whom have a lot of inter-county experience under their belts. Kevin Moynihan, Kevin Brennan and David O’Halloran have played at underage level for Clare, while Danny Russell is one of the most skilful young forwards in the game in the county at this time.
The Ennis club lost their senior status in 2008 and in the past two years, they have been knocked out of the senior title race by eventual winners, Whitegate in 2009 and Killanena last year.
The Nugent brothers, Tony and Martin, and Michael Chandler are the team mentors and they are assisted by Sixmilebridge’s John O’Meara.
Ruan have shown good form throughout this campaign when their half-back trio of Killian Ryan, Jonathon Clohessy and Darragh Roughan have impressed. Up front, Aidan Lynch, Michael Vaughan and Brendan Lyons have been their main score getters and Ruan followers will be looking to them to get the important scores.
Beaten by the minimum margin last year by Killanena, 1-10 to 1-9, Ruan followers will hope the experience gained will stand to them this time around.
Team manager Pat Meaney together with Cyril Lyons, Jimmy Courtney and Mike Daffy are again in charge of preparations, which they hope will result in a return of the club to senior ranks.
However, Éire Óg have greater strength in depth which should prove decisive this time out. That said, those who saw Ruan’s win over Corofin in the semi-final replay will argue that a repeat of that form will be good enough to see them take the title. In addition, Ruan teams have a good record against their Ennis neighbours over the years.
The intermediate championship has produced some of the best club games in Clare over the years and Sunday’s final promises to maintain that standard. Éire Óg look to be the stronger but Ruan’s recent form suggests they can go that extra step this time out.