Éire Óg seek to reach two league finals

Éire Óg will chase qualification for both the senior hurling (Clare Champion Cup) and senior football (Cusack Cup) on Sunday when they see semi-final action against Newmarket and St Joseph’s.
Clarecastle will host the first of the Clare Champion Cup  semi-finals this Sunday when Newmarket and Éire Óg clash at 1pm.
Newmarket have been in the concluding stages of this competition for the past number of years and they will start as favourites.
Inter-county man Enda Barrett remains a doubt because of a hamstring injury, which has kept him out of action since the middle of June.
Colin Ryan, James McInerney, David Barrett and Stephen Kelly are again expected to play key roles for the Blues as they attempt to reach another final.
Winners of the intermediate title last year, Éire Óg,  have continued to improve this season and a win here would further highlight their progress.
They have a good mix of youth and experience, with Fergus Flynn and Mark Fitzgerald filling key positions and they will be joined by Danny Russell, Davy O’Halloran, Kevin Moynihan and county minor Shane O’Donnell.
While they will be expected to make a bold bid for a place in the final, the greater experience of Newmarket should prove decisive.
On Sunday evening, Gurteen will be the venue for the clash of Éire Óg  and St Joseph’s in the football league semi-final.
The sides met in the last round of the league back in June, when St Joseph’s emerged with a three-point win, 0-8 to 0-5 and they will be keen to repeat that victory.
Adding to the interest in this tie is the involvement of James Hanrahan as team boss with Éire Óg. Last year, he was in charge of his native St Joseph’s and led them to the county senior championship final, where they lost out to Kilmurry-Ibrickane, who await the winners of Sunday’s game in the final of the league.
A close contest is expected this week but home advantage may prove decisive for the Doora-Barefield outfit.