Kilmaley to edge out Clonlara

Clonlara and Kilmaley, the only two unbeaten sides, will be in opposition on Sunday evening.
Clonlara have topped Group 1 with three wins and a draw while Kilmaley were runners-up in Group 4 with two wins and two draws to their credit.
The absence of Domhnaill O’Donovan and Darach Honan due to injury is, without question, a huge blow to the South East Clare side but they have reached this stage of the competition without both players.
O’Donovan has been out of action since May due to a back complaint while Honan hasn’t played since the summer due to a groin strain. There appears to be little chance that either will see action this year, although there are reports that O’Donovan is back doing some running.
Current county minors Colm Galvin, Cathal O’Connell and Shane O’Brien are expected to be in the Clonlara line-up. All three have impressed in the side’s progress to this stage of the championship.
O’Connell will join his brothers Nicky and team captain Ger, in a side that will also be looking to John Malone, Cormac and Tomás O’Donovan, Donal Madden, Senan and Paul Nihill, Tommy Lynch and John Conlon, most of whom played vital roles in the club’s memorable championship success in 2008.
This year, they are under new management with Pat Conlon, Tony O’Sullivan and Tommy Moloney at the helm.
When Kilmaley drew both their opening games against Crusheen and Newmarket, it looked like they might miss out on qualification but wins over Clooney-Quin and Ballyea saw them finish in second place.
They have mixed the good with the not so good in this campaign and John Carmody and his backroom team will be hoping they hit top form this week.
They have a core of very experienced players, with team captain Alan Markham leading the side from centre-back. His cousins, the McMahon brothers, Conor, Diarmuid and Brian, will be in the line-up while Colin Lynch will line out at midfield alongside Kenneth Kennedy, who is having a fine season.
Noel Casey and Colin McGuane from the Clare U-21 squad of recent times, Daire Keane from this year’s All-Ireland-winning intermediate outfit, Michael O’Neill from last year’s minor side and Eoin Enright from this year’s minor team, are all expected to be in their line-up.
Against Ballyea last time out, Kilmaley struggled in the half and full-forward lines and an improvement is needed in these sectors if they are to progress to the last four.
Some think this Kilmaley panel has underachieved and that this season they have an opportunity to set the record straight.
It has the makings of a great contest but at the end of the day, the loss of Domhnaill O’Donovan and Darach Honan may prove too much of a burden for Clonlara.