Senior hurling sides look to push on, not fall behind

Eoin Brennan previews all of this weekend’s senior hurling championship ties

Senior Hurling Championship Round 2
Group 3
Kilmaley v Clooney-Quin at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1pm

More than a battle of the first round winners as it’s a golden opportunity for both to not only maintain their table-topping form but make a real statement of intent in the Canon Hamilton race.

Having seemingly turned a corner previously before skilfully reversing back around it, both Kilmaley and Clooney-Quin have a free shot on Sunday to put one foot in the quarter-finals.

Kilmaley seemed better positioned to snatch that chance as there were finally real signs of maturity amongst their core in seeing out a significant opening victory over neighbours Éire Óg.

It’s also an exciting time for Clooney-Quin who are in the midst of assimilating a new generation of stars.

However, while it was enough to edge out relative newcomers Scariff, taking down the recent Clare Cup champions might be a step too far, at the moment at least.
Verdict: Kilmaley

Éire Óg v Scariff at O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge, Sunday 4.30pm

They’ve been here before. Last year at the same juncture of the group stages in fact as following disappointing opening reverses, it was must-win territory for both.

Éire Óg’s predicament emanated from being without county seniors David Reidy and Aaron Fitzgerald and only seeing Shane O’Donnell sprung from the bench for the second half.

The Townies simply didn’t have enough firepower against Newmarket but rectified that in their remaining ties against Clooney-Quin and Feakle on their way to a second successive semi-final.

Scariff meanwhile were just content to consolidate their new senior status but while their opening championship stanza against Wolfe Tones didn’t augur well, they circled the wagons sufficiently to edge out Clarecastle and eventually avoid danger on score difference.

Both sides’ ambitions remain the same this time around, with the Ennis side expected to unearth the bigger backlash and get their bid for the Canon back on track.
Verdict: Éire Óg

Group 4
Inagh-Kilnamona v Smith O’Brien’s at Wolfe Tones GAA Shannon, Saturday 2.30pm

Having underwhelmed in their first taste of senior championship acton in nine years, Smith O’Brien’s couldn’t have asked for a tougher reactionary tie when pitted against last year’s finalists.

Essentially, based on last year’s standings, it’s 2nd versus 18th, with Inagh-Kilnamona having had to learn the hard lessons themselves in order to metamorphosise from dark horses to genuine contenders.

Only a Canon Hamilton breakthrough will see them crowned as seasoned stallions but it will require a ruthless streak which needs to start on Saturday afternoon.

Smith O’Brien’s are also better than what they’ve shown so far and they will be determined to finally demonstrate that. However, whether it’s enough to unlock the Inagh-Kilnamona door appears a much taller task.
Verdict: Inagh-Kilnamona

Crusheen v Wolfe Tones at Dr Daly Park Tulla, Saturday 6.30pm

One of the most fascinating contests of the weekend as if this group pans out according to expectations, this could effectively turn out to be a quarter-final play-off.

Crusheen have had the better of their championship exchanges in recent years including a 16-point pummelling last time out in 2019. However, the wheel has turned somewhat since as while Wolfe Tones haven’t exactly been pulling up any trees in the top tier, they are survival experts and confidence-wise have already put points on the board with an eight point opening win over newcomers Smith O’Brien’s.

The addition of former county senior panelist Billy Connors and the return of Aron Shanagher to an already inter-county spine of Aaron Cunningham, Rory Hayes and Darragh Lohan could actually see the Shannon side cause an upset against a Crusheen side that don’t necessarily possess the same firepower.
Verdict: Wolfe Tones

Senior Hurling Championship Round 3
Group 1
Clonlara v Whitegate at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 4.30pm
Based on last year’s rip-roaring group tie alone, neutrals will be flocking to this interesting match-up of two sides now desperate to get off the mark in another ultra-competitive Group 1.

With pool rivals Sixmilebridge, Feakle and Newmarket already with points in the bag, a second defeat for either would realistically be detrimental for their championship hopes and even position them as favourites for the dreaded relegation process.

Whitegate were in pole position to snatch the crucial points 11 months ago only to be robbed at the death while Clonlara have a much more comfortable victory in the Senior B rematch a month later.

Both were missing key players in their opening ties but with a month to regroup, Clonlara’s need for a backlash in both performance and general attitude should provide the greater hunger to edge what could be another cracker.
Verdict: Clonlara

Feakle v Newmarket-on-Fergus at O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge, Sunday 6.30pm
Familiar rivals but with contrasting rounds so far as Newmarket underwhelmed in their opener against Sixmilebridge before rectifying matters against Whitegate last time out whereas Feakle’s gritty first round win over Clonlara was replaced by a truly head-scratching collapse against the ‘Bridge.

A sobering 21-point reverse is unheard of for a Feakle side that prides itself on being competitive with every side since their senior redemption in 2019.

It should mean a tsunami like response to prove that it was just a one-off blip and not a more worrying system’s failure as with only two to advance to the knock-out stages, they won’t want to be outflanked by the Blues once more.

In 2021, Feakle’s long-awaited breakthrough against Newmarket ultimately counted for little as it was Tomas Ryan’s side that eventually contested the semi-finals. 12 months on, this is another timely acid test that could edge either way.
Verdict: Feakle

Group 2
Broadford v Cratloe at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 6.30pm

There’s almost a sense of Déjà Vu as Broadford and Cratloe lock horns for their second championship outing. After all, one only has to recall last summer’s campaign in which the sides met after Cratloe had cemented a comfortable opening victory while Broadford pushed Ballyea all the way.

In the end, Cratloe’s experience endured as despite an inordinate wide count, they snatched the whip hand from the outset with a Conor McGrath goal and managed to never reach for the panic button at any stage despite Paddy Donnellan’s timely goal giving Broadford momentum coming down the final straight.

So what Broadford have learned and whether they have evolved enough to turn the tables are questions that will only be answered on Saturday evening as with only a derby victory over Clonlara to show for their six senior championship ties since their long-awaited return in 2020, this is a major make-or-break crossroads.
Verdict: Cratloe

Ballyea v Clarecastle at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 3pm

These fellow parishioners have never clashed when both were at the top of their game as while Clarecastle traditionally held the upper hand and even fended off the relative senior newcomers in the 2003 county final, the Magpies’ incremental decline since has been eventually replaced by Ballyea’s exceptional rise over the past decade.

Clarecastle produced a shock quarter-final win in their last championship meeting in 2014 but since then Ballyea have secured three Canon Hamilton crowns while their neighbours have been embroiled in as many relegation series.

Consequently, contrasting development paths mean that while the champions will unquestionably have their sights set far higher that the transitional Magpies, anything less than a commanding Ballyea victory would be seen as a surprise.
Verdict: Ballyea