No rest for inter-county players as leagues resume

THERE will be little time for rest for the members of the Clare senior and intermediate hurling squads this weekend.
Following their games against Waterford in the provincial championships at Thurles on Sunday, it will be back to club action on Monday, with a full round of domestic league games.
In Division 1A of the Clare Champion Cup, joint leaders Éire Óg will be hoping to return to winning ways after their shock championship first-round defeat when they travel to play Clooney-Quin.
Another club seeking to get over a disappointing first-round championship outing is Sixmilebridge and they travel to play another of the joint leaders, Inagh-Kilnamona.
Clonlara, desperately in need of league points, travel to play Clarecastle, while title-holders Newmarket, who are also sharing top spot, will be fancied to win away to bottom-of-the-table Broadford.
The remaining game in Division 1A is the meeting of Cratloe and Crusheen, scheduled for Wednesday evening at Cratloe.
In Division 1B, unbeaten leaders O’Callaghan’s Mills will have Ruan as visitors. Unbeaten Tubber, who are in second place, will travel to play Gurteen, while Whitegate will have home advantage against East Clare neighbours, Tulla.
The game of the round may well be the meeting of neighbours Ballyea and Kilmaley, while Scariff will be hoping to repeat their recent championship first-round win over Wolfe Tones when they entertain the Shannon men on Friday evening.
Having suffered their first defeat when going down to a last-minute Corofin goal last time out, Ennistymon will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they entertain Crusheen on Sunday evening.
Elsewhere in this division, Parteen entertain Killanena on Sunday morning, while Ogonnelloe will have Inagh-Kilnamona as visitors, also on Sunday morning. The match between Sixmilebridge and Feakle will be played next Wednesday.
Last weekend, Smith O’Brien’s scored a 2-20 to 1-14 win over Corofin, earning much-needed league points.
In Division 3, Clarecastle will be hoping to reverse their recent first-round intermediate championship loss to Meelick when they take on the South-East Clare side on Saturday evening.
Elsewhere, neighbours Newmarket and Cratloe meet on Friday evening, while the remaining games will see Clonlara entertain Bodyke and Kilmaley take on Éire Óg.