By Seamus Hayes

It’s official. The worst kept secret in  Clare GAA is out. Four senior hurling championship games scheduled for this coming weekend have been called off against the wishes of some of the clubs involved.

Representatives of the eight clubs–Ballyea, Clooney-Quin, O’Callaghans Mills, St. Josephs, Wolfe Tones, Éire Óg, Sixmilebridge and Cratloe–were told this evening that the Clare senior hurling management team had “invoked the 13 day rule” which says that players “shall be free from club fixtures for 13 days prior to inter county championship action”.

With three of the games scheduled for Friday evening and one for Sunday, there were only eight days, and in the case of Sixmilebridge v Cratloe, six days until Clare play Wexford in the hurling Qualifier first round.

The earliest that these games will take place is August and if Clare progress in the championship, it may be later than this.

The senior championship game between Scariff and Broadford goes ahead as scheduled on this Friday at Cusack Park (7.30pm) as neither side has any players on the current Clare senior panel.

All six first round games in the intermediate hurling championship go ahead as scheduled this weekend