Title-holders out, new champions to be crowned

Clare Champion Cup

THE final round of games in the league section of the Clare Champion Cup and intermediate hurling league were played at the weekend and the way is now clear for the play-offs.

In the semi-finals of the competition, Sixmilebridge, the top team in Division 1, will play Smith O’Brien’s, winners of Division 2B while runners-up in Division 1, Newmarket, will face the Division 2A winners, Broadford. The semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of August 7/8.
The county champions of the past two years, Clonlara (2008) and Cratloe (last year) have been relegated from Division 1 to Division 2A.
Clonlara, Clare Champion Cup winners for the past two seasons, finished at the bottom of the table having won just one game in the first round against Tulla.
Cratloe’s fate was sealed on Monday evening when Tulla drew with Clarecastle. The result meant that Tulla and Cratloe finished on the same points but as Tulla had won their meeting, they finished above the Cratloe men on the table.
Broadford won Division 2A and they are promoted with the second promotion spot going to Wolfe Tones. St Joseph’s and Tubber were in the hunt going into the last round of games on Sunday but both lost and so remain in the division for another season.
At the bottom of the 2A table, Éire Óg and Kilmaley have been relegated. Corofin were in line to make the drop but their surprise, yet merited, win over table-toppers Broadford on Saturday saved them and Kilmaley make the drop after losing to Wolfe Tones on Sunday.
Promoted from Division 2B are Smith O’Brien’s who topped the group and Feakle. The latter side beat Bodyke in their last game and when Ruan could only draw on Sunday with Ogonnelloe, the way was clear for Feakle to move up. They finished on the same points as Ruan but the fact that they won when the sides met proved decisive.
Newmarket and Parteen will meet in the final of the intermediate league. Parteen beat Cratloe in their final game while Newmarket received a walkover from Wolfe Tones.
For the third year in-a-row, Meelick have lost out, finishing in third spot on the league table.