HAVING been relegated from the Cusack Cup last year, a win in Saturday’s Garry Cup semi-final will mean that Kilrush will be back playing first division league football next year.
However, Wolfe Tones will be equally determined to win promotion and compete at the highest level of Clare league football.
When the sides met in the league Kilrush defeated Wolfe Tones, who lost their opening championship game to Éire Óg in Cusack Park. Kilrush also lost their opening game to Cooraclare in Doonbeg. Whoever wins this weekend will head into their second group game in a much more positive mind frame.
Kilrush will look to John Hayes, Donal O’Sullivan, Peadar McMahon and Rory O’Connor to inspire them while Wolfe Tones will need players such as Chris Dunning, Stephen Monahgan, Kevin Cahill and Patsy Keyes to inspire them.
However, Kilrush should be capable of winning this one and qualifying for the Garry Cup final the following weekend.

Barefield to edge out Lissycasey

Lissycasey have had a rough time of it lately but will be very keen to overturn their recent form on Saturday evening in Ballyea from 7.30pm.
St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield defeated Lissycasey in their league meeting earlier this year, while St Joseph’s also recorded an impressive championship win over Cratloe in their first group game.
Lissycasey, meanwhile, were well beaten by Ennistymon in their first championship game, while they fell to Doonbeg last Sunday evening in the O’Gorman Cup final. They did record a good O’Gorman Cup semi-final win over Kilmurry-Ibrickane after extra time.
To make this weekend’s semi-final even more interesting, St Joseph’s will play Lissycasey in their third game in the  championship group.
St Joseph’s have Declan O’Keeffe in goals and players such as Niall White, Seán Flynn and Damien Kennedy in defence, while Kevin Dilleen could be at full-back or midfield. They also have attacking quality in Greg Lyons, who is commuting from Scotland, his brother Enda and Cathal O’Sullivan.
Lissycasey will look to Joe Hayes, Colin Lynch, Martin O’Connor at corner-back, Matthew O’Shea and Seán Hill to lead them back to Cusack Cup football.
Cathal Hill went off injured against Doonbeg last Sunday while Paul Nagle and Martin Daly didn’t feature.
On current form, St Joseph’s are tipped to win both a place in the final and promotion for 2011.