*Rory Hayes. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
WOLFE TONES make their return to the top tier this weekend where they face title holders Feakle.
The Clare Echo’s coverage of the Clare SHC is brought to you with thanks to The Temple Gate Hotel
Wolfe Tones Fact File:
Management: Barry Keane (manager), Alan Cunningham (coach), Barry Loughnane (selector), Daithí O’Connell (selector), Paul O’Shea (selector), Paul Hogan (goalkeeper coach), John Kearney (goalkeeper coach). Clem Nihill (S&C)
Captain: John Guilfoyle
Key player: Rory Hayes
One to watch: Gavin Carrig
Fresh blood: None
Departures Gate: None
Treatment table: None
Titles won: 2 (1996, 2006);
Last year’s run: Won the intermediate championship
Championship power ranking: 5
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Feakle on Saturday July 24th in Cusack Park at 18:00
Round 2 vs Éire Óg on Saturday August 9th in Fr Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus at 19:00
Round 3 vs Newmarket-on-Fergus on Sunday August 24th in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge at 16:00
Stepping up to the top grade after winning the intermediate title is never easy but that is where Wolfe Tones find themselves this week.
The Shannon club’s hurlers will be keeping their fingers crossed that they can make a better start than their footballers did last week and they were also stepping up to senior having won the intermediate title in 2024.
They face a huge task as they face the defending champions Feakle and they must do so without one of their most experienced players in Aaron Cunningham who misses the game due to suspension having been sent off in the club’s Munster championship campaign last season
While they can call on inter county players in Rory Hayes, Aron Shanagher, Darragh and Daithi Lohan, the absence of Cunningham is a huge blow to their hopes.
They had a dream start to their return to senior ranks when they scored a one point win over their neighbours and rivals Newmarket-on-Fergus in the opening round of the league earlier this season. The importance of Aaron Cunningham to the side was highlighted in that tie as he contributed 2-8 of their 2-13 total.
That was their only win in the league as losses to Corofin, Clooney/Quin, Clonlara and O’Callaghans Mills followed before they conceded a walkover to Kilmaley in their final group game.
If they are to upset the title holders they will need big performances from their inter county panellists along with team captain John Guilfoyle, Dean Devanney, goalkeeper Oisin O’Rourke and freetaker Cian O’Rourke.
Dean Devanney, Darragh and Daithi Lohan played for the club’s footballers last week and they won’t want to be part of a losing team again this week. While it will be expected that they will offer a stiff challenge to Feakle, anything other than a win for the East Clare side will be a surprise.
When contacted last week for this preview, manager Barry Keane refused to provide a comment to The Clare Echo. The Shannon club were the only of the sixteen senior teams not to give an interview in advance of the first round.
