Scariff looking to bring more glory to East Clare

Scariff’s Junior B hurlers will be hoping to keep the feelgood factor going in East Clare, writes Ivan Smyth

The first quarter of this year certainly belongs to East Clare. St. Joseph’s heroic Harty Cup triumph brought nationwide attention East of the county while on the camogie front Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s unforgettable Munster final win only served to increase the feel good factor.

Scariff’s Junior B side will be hoping to maintain that momentum when they face in to their Munster final showdown with Tipperary’s Clonoulty-Rossmore this Saturday in Killeedy.

The East Clare outfit will be hoping to claim their first ever provincial crown at any grade with their intermediate team robbed of the opportunity to pursue Munster glory in 2020 due to COVID.

Manager Brian Harte states there is one key ingredient behind the recent success; hard work.

“A lot of it is down to the trojan work behind the scenes and the amount of people willing to volunteer. Ger Rodgers has been a key driver but we are lucky to have loads of people willing to help out. The amalgamation with Ogonnelloe underage has worked out well. Scariff have played three games at senior while Ogonelloe winning Junior A was great too so it has worked out for both clubs.”

“There has been huge work put in over the last seven, eight, 10 years to get where we are now. Success has been a stranger to the parish in the past and we have had to fight hard to get people in to the club. We want to make a mark in Clare hurling going forward.”

The introduction and implementation of the provincial and All Ireland Club Junior B Hurling Championship is one of the most understated and underappreciated feelgood stories of the GAA.

There is something refreshing to see players operating at this grade get the opportunity to represent their club and county on a provincial and national stage.

“We were left a bit in the dark over whether this competition would go ahead but when we got word in January that it was on then we pressed on with our preparation. We have a very eager and determined group. The minute we knew the Championship was happening, we said we would prepare as best we can and give it a go.”

Both Scariff and Clonoulty-Rossmore will qualify for the All Ireland semi finals with the winner on Saturday facing the loser of the Leinster final between Wexford’s Blackwater and Galway side Cappataggle and vice versa.

Brian Harte’s side overcame an almost five month gap between their county final win over Sixmilebridge and their provincial semi final triumph over Limerick’s Blackrock.

They will face a stiff test against a Clonoulty-Rossmore outfit that possess John Devane up front. The full forward secured a Munster Championship medal with his county in 2009 and more recently managed the Tipperary U20 team for their past two Championship campaigns.

Devane proved he can still be a menace up front when notching 2-6 in their Munster semi final triumph over Cork’s Belgooly.

“They have no shortage of talent in their side. Devane played in the Munster Championship so he will so we know he is a quality player.

“We won’t focus on any one player though. They are a big, strong, physical team but we won’t show any fear. We have prepared well for the game so it should be a good spectacle.”

With Harte stating that his side have no injury concerns heading in to the weekend, this Scariff outfit have experience with Sean Cunningham and Jim Minogue in the side.

Meanwhile, William Kavanagh, Seamus McCaul, Tadhg Kavanagh, Sean Collins, Martin Walsh and Eanna O’Brien started Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s one point U21A Championship semi final defeat to eventual champions Corofin-Ruan and also took to the field against Blackrock in the Munster semi final.

Harte feels he has the ideal mix of players at his disposal to claim an historic title for the club.

“The age profile of the squad is very young but we do have experience too.

“I took over this team last year with the aim of getting them up the ranks. This is bonus territory for us but we are entering it to win it.”

“We won’t be thinking of an All Ireland semi final. This is a unique occasion and the players are very excited so let’s hope we can follow in the camogie team’s footsteps and have another Munster Championship to celebrate.”