*Colin Crehan is one of the more potent goal-scorers in the Clare SHC. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
While those involved with the various teams setting out in the race for the Clare senior hurling championship may have different views as to their chances of winning the title, they all agree that how they do in the opening tie is most important.
“The first game is very important and in our case we are playing the county champions, a very serious team. We will have to be on top of our game”, O’Callaghans Mills manager Donach O’Donnell told The Clare Echo this week.
“The league gave us an opportunity to try out a lot of players as injuries, holidays and inter county commitments meant that we were without a number of our panel for most games. This meant that we got a lot of game time into the players and we succeeded in getting promoted to the top division”, the Tipperary based manager said.
Noting that “O Callaghans Mills are in a very tough group” he said “the Clare championship is very tight. Last year we lost three of our group games by a point while in the previous year a point was the winning margin in a number of our games. Every game is important as there is nothing between many of the teams”.
Asked about having two rounds in a week he said, “A six or seven day turnaround is very tight especially if you have injuries. Ideally I would love to have two weeks between each match but it is what it is and we have got to deal with it”.
“Right now we are not looking past Saturday’s first round. We can’t afford to look beyond that game. We will have a fair idea where we are after our game with Ballyea which will be a really good benchmark. We will find out quickly where we are after playing the champions”, he said
From last year’s panel Ciaran Cooney is unavailable as he is overseas. Teenagers Fionn Hickey, Mikey McMahon, Colm Cleary and Dara Moroney who helped St. Josephs Tulla win a first ever Dr. Harty Cup have been added to the panel where they will like up with the experienced Bryan and Pat Donnellan, Conor and Gerry Cooney, Jacob Loughnane and Colin Crehan to mention some.
The Mills have been knocking of the door in this competition in recent years but they have yet to get over the line. They have contested a couple of finals, the most recent being two years ago but a lack of consistency has proved costly on a few occasions. They will be hoping to build on a good league run which saw them reach the quarter finals.
Management: Donach O’Donnell (manager), Marty Baker (selector), Tom Crehan (selector), Ollie Nash (selector); Seanie McNamara (selector) and Aaron O’Connell(coach/selector), Kelvin Harold (S&C), Mike Weaving (physio)
Joint captains: Sean O’Gorman and Bryan Donnellan
Key Player: Colin Crehan
One to watch; Colm Cleary
Fresh Blood: Mikey McMahon, Colm Cleary, Dara Moroney
Departure Gate: Ciaran Cooney;
Titles won: 6 (Kilkishen won the title in 1932)
Last season’s run: Lost all four group games but survived relegation with wins over Clarecastle and Clooney/Quin
Schedule:
Round 1 v Ballyea
Round 2 v Clarecastle
Round 3 a bye
Round 4 v Broadford
Round 5 v Cratloe;
