Sixmilebridge should have enough

Tony Carmody would probably have preferred if the pairings had provided anything other than a Sixmilebridge v Inagh-Kilnamona meeting.
Having taken the decision to join Sixmilebridge at the beginning of this year, he now finds himself preparing to line out against his native club. The former Clare star returned to training at the weekend after being out of action for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury that he sustained when leading Clare to the All-Ireland intermediate title in Thurles a few weeks earlier. It’s expected he will be fit to take his place in the half-forward line on Saturday evening.
Caimin Morey is also back in contention for a place in the line-up, having returned from the US, where he spent the summer months. Rory Shanahan is another who was in the US for the summer and he is also back in contention.
The expectation is that Eamonn Glynn will be in the starting line-up for the Inagh-Kilnamona outfit for this tie. The Clare panellist recently returned from a summer in the US and he was introduced during the course of their win over Tubber in the final group game two weeks’ ago. His presence is sure to strengthen the mid-Clare outfit’s challenge for victory in what promises to be a lively contest.
When Inagh-Kilnamona lost to Cratloe by a point in round four, their quarter-final place was in doubt but they delivered a strong performance against Tubber last time out to seal their place in the play-offs.
On the way to this stage of the competition, their defence has been very impressive, with the full-back trio of Milo Keane, Brian Glynn and team captain Dermot Lynch doing very well. In front of them Ronan O’Looney and David Hegarty are two of the most experienced club hurlers in the county.
Last time out, their full-forward trio of Niall and Ger Arthur and Conor Tierney scored 0-21 between them and this is something Sixmilebridge are sure to have taken note of. Their full-back line has had a few anxious moments in this campaign and they will need to be at their sharpest if they are to limit the Inagh-Kilnamona sharpshooters’ scoring chances.
Caimin Morey has lined out at full-forward and has featured at centre-back for the club side and it will be interesting to see where he will be named this week.
The ’Bridge will be looking to the experience of Niall Gilligan, Tony Carmody and Tadhg Keogh to blend with the hurling of the U-21s Shane Golden, Paidi Fitzpatrick, John Fennessy and minors Seadna Morey and Jamie Shanahan as they chase a place in the semi-final.
Apart from the opening round, when they struggled to overcome Clarecastle, they have had comfortable wins in their remaining group games.
Sixmilebridge look to have a slightly stronger panel and this may prove decisive on the day.