*Sean Rynne and Inagh/Kilnamona must defeat Kilmaley to keep their championship bid alive. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CALCULATORS will be at the ready with club officials and patrons at this weekend’s TUS Clare senior hurling championship games as score difference may be required to determine the final positions of teams in Groups 2 and 4.
While there is another round to go in Group 1 which has five teams, there will also be huge interest in the games here.
In Group 3, Newmarket-on-Fergus will be top irrespective of the outcome of their game with neighbours Wolfe Tones and the Blues will be joined in the quarter finals by the winners of the Clooney/Quin v Cratloe tie. Should this game finish in a draw, Clooney/Quin will progress as they have a better score difference.
Irrespective of the outcome of their match with Newmarket-on-Fergus, the Shannon men will be in the relegation play off.
Clooney-Quin’s hopes of progress have been greatly boosted by the availability of Peter Duggan who was successful earlier this week in having the red card he received in their last outing against Newmarket overturned.
Cratloe may be without key man Podge Collins who missed his side’s football game last week due to a hamstring injury.
In Group 2 there could be a three-way tie at the top or at the bottom depending on the result of games. Sixmilebridge play O’Callaghans Mills and the latter must win this if they are to have a chance of remaining in the title race.
Should the Mills manage to win they will need Clonlara to beat Crusheen and this scenario would leave the Bridge, the Mills and Crusheen all on two points. Scoring difference would then be required and at present the Mills are well off the pace here on minus 10 with Crusheen on minus 5 and Sixmilebridge on minus 1.
The other scenario here is for Crusheen to beat Clonlara and Sixmilebridge to beat the Mills and this would mean that Crusheen, the Bridge and Clonlara would all have four points leading to scoring difference to calculate who would go through. Currently Clonlara are best positioned with a difference of plus 6.
In Group 4, Feakle lead the way with four points and they face fellow East Clare side Broadford who need to win to keep their hopes of progress alive. In the other game in this group Éire Óg face pointless Clarecastle who have an outside chance of getting through and of avoiding the relegation play off. A win for the Magpies together with a win for Broadford over Feakle would put the Townies into the relegation battle.
Wins for Broadford and Éire Óg will leave three teams, Broadford, Éire Óg and Feakle level on four points each leading to score difference being required. Currently Feakle lead the way with plus 9 from Éire Óg with plus 1 and Broadford on minus 6.
Victory for Clarecastle over Éire Óg and for Feakle over Broadford will leave Broadford, Clarecastle and Éire Óg on 2 points each. The magpies would have to win by a big margin to remain in contention for a quarter final place as they are currently on minus 14.
Group 1 still has two rounds to play but this weekend’s games will have a big part to play in deciding who will go through. Pointless Inagh/Kilnamona must beat their neighbours Kilmaley to keep their slim hopes of progress alive while champions Ballyea who will be playing their final game in the group, as they have the bye in the final round, will be in a stronger position to progress if they account for unbeaten Scariff.
