The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
Senior Football Championship Round 3
Group 1
Éire Óg v Corofin at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 6.30pm
With three quarter-final places on offer from Group 1, most eyes will be fixated on the other group tie in Ennistymon as a St Breckan’s victory would automatically see Corofin join Éire Óg in the quarter-finals regardless of the result between these neighbours.
The thing is that the defending champions still require something out of this game in order to confirm top spot and fundamentally will be determined to maintain their perfect title defence thus far.
Corofin arguably require a result more though as first and foremost, they can’t simply depend on their North Clare brethren to do them a favour and essentially require a positive result following contrasting performances so far.
Off the back of a lacklustre display against St Breckan’s, expect Corofin to throw everything at the Ennis side on the welcome return to Cusack Park. However, with Éire Óg seeking a seventh successive championship victory, the champions should have enough in their armoury to prevail.
Verdict: Éire Óg
St Breckan’s v St Joseph’s Miltown at Ennistymon, Saturday 6.30pm
Last year’s quarter-final triumph appeared to be a changing of the guard for St Breckan’s in their relationship with St Joseph’s Miltown. Jilted by the West Clare side in their sole final in 1985 and subsequently denied another senior decider appearance by the same opponents in 2015, goals through Joe McGann (2) and Aiden Davidson finally turned the tide last October.
Emerging unscathed from last year’s ‘Group of Death’ with an unbeaten record, Miltown haven’t won a game since but ending that three match run of championship defeats is now a prerequisite if they are to avoid the relegation play-offs. Only three years after completing back-to-back senior titles, such a bleak outcome is almost unthinkable but the miles on the clock have certainly hit home over the past 12 months as Miltown have been dogged by injuries.
Already without the leadership of Gordon Kelly for the season, top-scorer Cormac Murray had to succumb to a hamstring injury a fortnight ago while Seanie Malone is suspended.
The absence of such core protagonists could well be a detrimental blow, particularly as in contrast, St Breckan’s have only improved with every passing game.
Verdict: St Breckan’s
Group 2
Cratloe v Lissycasey at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 4.30pm
Much like their face-off against Ballyea last weekend, Cratloe’s unblemished dual start provides another free shot this Saturday against Lissycasey. With both safely through to the quaffer-finals with a game to spare, it’s a group decider that will allow these rivals to play with a bit of freedom.
It certainly didn’t do Cratloe any harm seven days previously as they decisively lowered county champions Ballyea by a whopping 13 points and therefore they will relish a similar timely barometer of their footballing title credentials.
Cratloe will still be wary of a Lissycasey side that have contested the last two semi-finals under their adopted son John Ryan and who overcame Colm Collins’ side after extra-time in the opening bout of the 2020 COVID championship.
Ryan’s inside knowledge has to count for something but while both sides have been in second gear so far, expect Cratloe’s greater current buoyancy to perhaps shade a tight contest.
Verdict: Cratloe
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Kilmihil at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 1pm
Having fired five goals past Kilmihil in last year’s group stages, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield will again hold the favourite’s tag in what is a straight shoot-out for either championship advancement or the dreaded relegation play-offs.
The winner will cement third place in the group and a play-off against the Group 3 equivalents and it’s a scenic route that certainly aided Kilmihil’s 2021 recovery from that harrowing 16 point reverse to the Parish. The absence of key players such as Dan Keating and David Lernihan has meant that Kilmihil have found it difficult to improve upon last year’s determined quarter-final display against eventual finalists Kilmurry Ibrickane whereas Doora/Barefield have been much closer to the the group’s big guns Cratloe and Lissycasey also far lbeit that they have an uncanny ability to shoot themselves in the foot.
That slightly more encouraging form along with last year’s group victory gives the Parish a slight edge but they certainly cannot afford to give away any more soft goals if they are to prevail.
Verdict: St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
Group 3
Kilmurry Ibrickane v Clondegad at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 3pm
With so many permutations in this intriguing group, the only obvious way to alleviate any confusion is to win. After all, regardless of what happens in the other tie in Miltown, a victory for Kilmurry Ibrickane would put them into a quarter-final play-off at a minimum and possibly clinch the group if their neighbours Doonbeg can do them a favour.
Clondegad, following back-to-back wins over Ennistymon and Doonbeg, are already assured of a quarter-final play-off before a ball is kicked but a positive result (win or draw) would see them win the group. That would be a major boost of confidence ahead of the business end and they won’t be short of motivation either as they have the opportunity to exact revenge on the ‘Bricks for their county final defeat five years ago and potentially knock out one of their major rivals from this year’s Jack Daly race.
Kilmurry Ibrickane have had the Indian sign over Clondegad in recent seasons though and after underwhelming last time out against Ennistymon, expect a major backlash from the 2020 champions in what is a pivotal make-or-break encounter.
Verdict: Kilmurry Ibrickane
Ennistymon v Doonbeg at Hennessy Memorial Park Miltown Malbay, Sunday 3pm
It must be the black and white colouring that has drawn Ennistymon and Doonbeg together so often in recent seasons as Sunday’s showdown represents their third senior championship clash in just four seasons. So far, Ennistymon have held the upper hand and after taking the scalp of last year’s finalists Kilmurry Ibrickane last time out to finally kickstart their championship challenge, the North Clare side will be determined to maintain that upward curve as defeat could send them into the relegation series.
A third successive Ennistymon victory would see them advance to at least the last nine, with score difference only coming into proceedings if Ennistymon and Kilmurry Ibrickane come out on top in their respective ties.
With no points on the board, a win is a must for Doonbeg to give themselves any hope of primarily avoiding danger but more optimistically advancing to the knock-out stages just as they did last season.
Ennistymon however have had the edge on firepower so far with 1-9 in each outing, a scoreline that the Western Magpies have yet to reach.
Verdict: Ennistymon
Intermediate Football Championship Round 3
Five quarter-final places still up for grabs
Group 1
Kildysart v Kilrush Shamrocks at St Michael’s Park Kilmihil, Saturday 6pm
A repeat of the 2018 final that the Shams shaded, Kildysart’s tireless bid to finally get back to senior level should give them the edge this time around. They’ve certainly been the more consistent side as Kilrush have rather meandered through the group so far but should welcome this chance to up the ante agains the championship favourites.
Verdict: Kildysart
Coolmeen v Naomh Eoin at Cooraclare Park Cooraclare, Saturday 6pm
Coolmeen and Naomh Eoin clash for the second successive year in the final group game and if last year’s clash is anything to go by, it will be a cracker. Necessity proved sufficient to get the Peninsula side over the line in 2021 and out of relegation danger but fortunately for Coolmeen, defeat wasn’t detrimental to their passage to the knock-out stages. With only a point to show so far, only a victory for Coolmeen would cement a quarter-final place this time around whereas back-to-back defeats to Naomh Eoin would send them into demotion peril.
Verdict: Coolmeen
Group 2
Cooraclare v Kilfenora at Hennessy Memorial Park Miltown Malbay, Saturday 4pm
Contrasting form has meant that this is a dead rubber as Cooraclare, following victories over the Banner and Ennistymon’s second string, have clinched Group 2 with a game to spare while Kilfenora will finish bottom of the group regardless of the result here.
Cooraclare weren’t overly convincing against Ennistymon last time out so will be gunning to raise the bar on Saturday while Kilfenora also crave a boost to kickstart their campaign.
Verdict: Cooraclare
Banner v Ennistymon at Páirc Finne Corofin, Saturday 6pm
Essentially a winner-takes-all showdown of the last two Junior A champions for the runners-up spot in Group 2, ironically a draw could well put both teams through to the quarter-finals. Ennistymon have been the surprise package of the championship so far, having lowered neighbours Kilfenora in the opening round before pushing group winners Cooraclare all the way.
However, the Banner possess the greater potential and after dramatically getting off the mark at the death last time out, they will hope that momentum can catapult them back to a second successive quarter-final.
Verdict: Banner
Group 3
Wolfe Tones v Michael Cusack’s at Gurteen, Saturday 4pm
Identical to the Cooraclare v Kilfenora tie, Wolfe Tones have already been confirmed as Group 3 winners while Cusack’s are in relegation trouble only three years after coming up from Junior A.
The Tones were in a similar perilous situation last year but have managed to revamp their adult sides in 2022 as both their flagship sides in hurling and football have reached the business end of their respective championships.
Cusack’s meanwhile have struggled without talisman Domhnall McMahon, with his availability a prerequisite from here on in if they are to survive.
Verdict: Wolfe Tones
O’Curry’s v Shannon Gaels at Shanahan McNamara Park Doonbeg, Saturday 6pm
It could well be the tie of weekend if both play up to form as both will legitimately feel that they could make a real splash in the intermediate championship if they get on a run.
O’Curry’s have the edge on experience and at full strength, have enough balance to get them over the line. However, Shannon Gaels appeared to finally find their feet last time out a fortnight ago and being their third clash with O’Curry’s in the last four seasons, they might have the added sprinkling of firepower to cement a quarter-final place with victory.
Verdict: Shannon Gaels
