Tag Archives: @inagh_kilnamona

Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Finals Newmarket-on-Fergus v Wolfe Tones @ Cusack Park, Saturday 1.30pm A golden opportunity to return to a semi-final that neither side can afford to pass up in what is a unique derby showdown in Ennis on Saturday. It’s novel because at certain stages of their final group matches, the thoughts of staring the relegation play-offs in the face seemed a distinct reality so this is essentially bonus territory particularly after drawing each other in the last eight. Newmarket-on-Fergus’ late smash-and-grab victory over another neighbour Clooney-Quin will have injected a new lease of life into the Blues while Wolfe Tones, despite coming off the back of back-to-back defeats, equally have nothing to lose on Saturday. That Wolfe Tones’ form has fallen off a cliff will be alarming as the first half of their group campaign up to half-time in the Sixmilebridge match, the Shannon side looked like Canon Hamilton contenders only conceding 1-18. However, since then, they have …

Senior Hurling Championship Round 3 Group 3 Broadford v Crusheen at Cusack Park, Sunday 12pm The Canon Hamilton may be out of reach but this is still a county final to both Broadford and Crusheen in a must-not-lose affair to avoid the unrepentant relegation play-offs that will cull two teams to intermediate level for 2022. It’s a difficult tie to call really as both have failed to register a victory so far, albeit that Broadford have shown the better form by putting it up to both Ballyea and Cratloe whereas Crusheen have had much less to shout about against the same opponents. Broadford’s battling qualities will be required as their track record in relegation play-offs isn’t good and therefore this represents the 2019 intermediate champions’ best chance of survival. Crusheen meanwhile haven’t won a Senior A Championship tie since 2019, a five match losing streak that won’t be easy to arrest on Sunday. Their transition stems from an ageing core …

Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 Group 1 Inagh-Kilnamona v Clonlara at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.45pm A ‘Group of Death’ Super Sunday commences with the tie of the entire round as one perfect record has to fall between Inagh-Kilnamona and Clonlara. Originally pencilled in for a fortnight ago, the switch of Round 2 and 3 at Clonlara’s request gave Inagh-Kilnamona the opportunity to build further momentum by adding the scalp of O’Callaghan’s Mills to neighbours Kilmaley. Of course, Clonlara also overcame the Mills in their opening bout but considering the performances of both sides so far, it’s not overstating it to suggest that neither Inagh-Kilnamona or Clonlara are the finished article quite yet. Considering their strength-in-depth, attacking flair and inter-county experience, unfulfilled potential has been a nouse around their necks over the past decade. Inagh-Kilnamona have certainly benefitted from their two outings, with incremental improvements displayed against the Mills, even if they still have a tendency to leave their opponents …

After graciously accommodating Clonlara’s request to switch Round 2 and 3 of the Group of Death following the wedding of Clare captain John Conlon and former Clare camogie player Michelle Caulfield on Monday, Clonlara now have a bye this weekend as Group 1 heats up further. Whitegate v Kilmaley at Cusack Park, Ennis Friday, 6.30pm C Maguire Having failed to maintain their bright opening half display against Inagh-Kilnamona, it’s now must-win territory for Kilmaley who simply cannot afford another set-back in the dreaded group of five. Getting back on the horse shouldn’t be an issue as Kilmaley, showed plenty of promise last Saturday at the same venue, without ever piecing together the consistency required to get the better of their neighbours. A fresh Whitegate will be determined to make a big impact in the championship bow and pour more misery over Kilmaley. And while they might have preferred to take Kilmaley out of the park, Whitegate did push champions Sixmilebridge …

Group 1 – O’Callaghan’s Mills, Inagh-Kilnamona, Whitegate, Kilmaley, Clonlara The footballing ‘Group of Death’ bears only a mild toxicity to its hurling equivalent as while three teams advance directly to the last eight of the Jack Daly race, only two will emerge unscathed from this heavyweight pool. All but Whitegate have contested at least a semi-final since 2017 so it means that at least two genuine contenders for the Canon Hamilton will suffer a premature exit. While O’Callaghan’s Mills are the seeded team and don’t appear to have any hangover from last year’s final reverse, it’s a reinvigorated Clonlara, complete with returning county senior duo John Conlon and Colm Galvin for 2021, that might steal their thunder to top spot. In addition, the winners of the opening round derby between Inagh-Kilnamona and Kilmaley will be favourites to nick the other spot. Whitegate could topple one of the four but perhaps haven’t the depth to be in the mix come the …

Clare Cup Division 1A Round 4 Feakle v Inagh-Kilnamona at Feakle, Saturday, 4.30pm (Jim Hickey) Depending on results, Feakle could be Clare Cup champions for the first time since 1988 on Saturday evening. For all the arguments surrounding the condensed format, it would be a major boost for the squad, their new management team under PJ Kelleher and of course the club as this would be their first senior silverware since that historic double winning season 33 years earlier. What has made their run all the more impressive is that they have been without key players which for a squad not renowned for its strength-in-depth will give Feakle great momentum for the championship, regardless of the outcome of the next two matches. Inevitably however, the pressure ramps up for their remaining ties against the last finalists Inagh-Kilnamona and Kilmaley. Inagh-Kilnamona, who have been affected much more by the absence of inter-county senior and Under 20 contingents, haven’t anything to play …

Broadford v Clonlara at Broadford, Friday, 7.30pm A first derby meeting since the intermediate champions unceremoniously knocked Clonlara out of last year’s championship and soared into a senior quarter-final against another neighbour Sixmilebridge. Both, whether by necessity or choice, have delved deep into their panels for new hands to potentially be put up ahead of the championship so this local duel should tell the respective managements a lot more about their strength-in-depth. Of course, Clonlara’s Jimmy Browne is manager of Broadford but it may not be enough to work the oracle once more as Clon’s new-look side appear hungry and determined to maintain their perfect start. Inagh-Kilnamona v Ballyea at Inagh, Friday, 7.30pm If asked to name two sides that would be pointless after two rounds, one would hardly have chosen this pair. That said, aside from Ballyea’s 2019 league burst, such is their dual inter-county commitments that they have been content to ply their trade in Division 1B of …

FEAKLE and Clonlara have set the early pace in the Clare Cup following the completion of back-to-back victories over the weekend, reports Eoin Brennan. 2016 champions Clonlara, a week on from overcoming last finalists Inagh-Kilnamona, managed to add the scalp of their nearest neighbours and reigning champions Kilmaley on home soil on Sunday afternoon. Leading from start to finish, a fortunate Dylan McMahon goal from distance provided the clear daylight that Clonlara needed to build up a nine point half-time advantage. And with Cian Moriarty excelling around the centre, that six point cushion would be maintained into the final quarter. Kilmaley inevitably rallied predominantly through Daire Keane and Mikey O’Malley. However, three points was as close as the visitors would come to Clonlara who deservedly held on for a 1-16 to 0-15 win. The previous evening, a strong finish to both halves saw Feakle lower home side Crusheen by 1-18 to 1-14 in another first round winners clash. Having been …