Six teams enter the race for Clare intermediate hurling honours

Eoin Brennan looks ahead to this weekend’s Intermediate Championship hurling clashes

Round 1 Group 3
Tulla v Ogonnelloe at Glenomra Park Broadford, Saturday 7pm

Having watched their fellow contenders mainly swim rather than thread water last weekend, Tulla and Ogonnelloe will eagerly await this initial evaluation of where they currently stand. Only three years ago, two championship divisions separated them but Tulla’s back-to-back attempts to bounce straight back up haven’t exactly gone to plan whereas Junior A champions Ogonnelloe have been relishing their resurrection through the ranks that has included voluntarily stepping up to the Division 2 League in 2022 where they reached the semi-final.
Meeting in the middle should be an intriguing match-up but there has to be a greater kick in Tulla.

Verdict: Tulla

Bodyke v Inagh-Kilnamona at Fr. Murphy Memorial Park
Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sunday 1pm

Undoubtedly Bodyke would have been keeping a firm eye on how the no-win first versus second team clashes between St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and O’Callaghan’s Mills and then Tubber against Newmarket unfolded.
What would have concerned them more though was the Under 19A Championship crown garnered by Inagh-Kilnamona a fortnight ago that suggests that they have a deep reservoir of talent.
Forearmed with that caution, the recent Division 3 League winners will expect a stern test but one which if that have any ambitions of emulating their back-to-back quarter-final finishes, they simply have to pass.

Verdict: Bodyke

Round 2 Group 1
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Killanena at Dr. Daly Park Tulla, Saturday 3pm

That it was far from a comfortable hour for last year’s finalists St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield against O’Callaghan’s Mills last Saturday may be a blessing in disguise of sorts as a warning sign that they need to significantly up their performance levels.
Granted, they weren’t at full strength but they still have enough underage and adult experience to negotiate their way through their opening evaluations. It’s time to show that now as Killanena, having been unceremoniously edged out of the knock-out stages last year despite taking down Tubber in the first round, will be fresh and eager to wield their scalp knife on Saturday backed by Under 20 stars Keith Smyth and Ian McNamara.

Verdict: St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield

Tubber v O’Callaghan’s Mills at Clarecastle, Sunday 4.30pm

Arguably the performance of the opening weekend wasn’t Tubber’s comfortable win over Newmarket but O’Callaghan’s Mills’ second string’s determined cut off Doora/Barefield. It certainly raised a lot of eyebrows around the county and crucially Tubber’s awareness too that they will require a more consistent hour’s work on Sunday evening.
Backed by eleven different scorers against the Blues, Tubber excelled at times but did have lapses that allowed their opponents to remotely remain in the contest. A more ruthless streak will be a prerequisite for the North Clare title contenders against a Mills side that despite losing three to their seniors, are gaining a real monster-killing reputation in only their second season back at the intermediate grade.

Verdict: Tubber

Group 2
Corofin v Sixmilebridge at Clarecastle, Saturday 5pm

Top spot in Group 2 is up for grabs in Clarecastle on Saturday evening in what is the only battle of first round winners at intermediate level. Corofin’s revenge mission against underage amalgamation partners Ruan for last year’s humbling quarter-final exit will be a huge weight off their shoulders.
With the possibility of putting one major foot in the quarter-finals with another victory before they even kick a ball in their much-awaited return to the senior football championship, it’s an opportunity too juicy to pass up for the North Clare side. Sixmilebridge of course will have other ideas as proven against Clonlara last Sunday but Corofin’s superior threat up front should see them edge a tight contest.

Verdict: Corofin

Parteen v Ruan at Fr Murphy Memorial Park Newmarket-on-Fergus, Sunday 3.15pm

Having suffered a 16 point turnaround in their opening round derby tie against Corofin last Saturday, will it be the catalyst for Ruan to finally kickstart their campaign this Sunday or is it a malaise that has deeper roots?
Last year’s refreshing run to a first semi-final in nine years suggests the former but they will need to show their teeth if they are to fend off a Parteen side that got to witness their opponents at first hand in Clarecastle.
Parteen’s inconsistency in recent years means that they are largely an unknown entity heading into Sunday’s tie but they did upset the odds to overcome Corofin in their first outing last year and had 12 points to spare over Ruan on their way to the recent Division 2 League decider.

Verdict: Ruan