Quarter-finals to shake up race for Jack Daly in Clare SFC

*Cormac Murray is an injury doubt for St Joseph’s Miltown but is tipped to feature. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. 

EIGHT WILL become four this weekend in the race to lift the Jack Daly.

The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SFC is with thanks to The Shannon Springs Hotel.

Football quarter-finals take centre-stage this weekend with double-bills at Cusack Park off the agenda following a decision by Clare GAA’s CCCC to move two of the last eight ties out of the county grounds.

Favourites Éire Óg will be looking to seal their return to the last four but each club will be heading to the quarter-finals with the target of advancing to the semi-finals and moving one step closer to tasting championship glory.

Seven of the teams in the last eight have had a month to prepare for the quarter-finals with a plethora of challenge matches played in the interval, many against clubs in the intermediate grade with the same window of preparation while others have gone outside the county to test themselves against opponents of a higher level.

Kicking off the action is Lissycasey versus St Breckans at 13:30 in Páirc Cuar an Chláir, Cooraclare on Saturday. Both sides will have been happy to draw each other and will see it is a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.

Connor Meaney has struggled with a groin injury for Lissycasey which has hindered his involvement during the group stages. He’s set to retain his spot in the starting team for Aiden ‘Horse’ Moloney’s outfit with Enda Finnucane also making good progress on a back injury which has kept him out of action all season.

Last year’s Cusack Cup champions have plenty of promise within their panel but feel a semi-final place is well within their grasp. They will be looking to Aaron Griffin, Conor Finnucane, Ryan Griffin, Shane Griffin, Mikey O’Neill, Matt Shea and Meaney to set the way.

St Breckans’ run to date includes a win, a draw and a defeat. They are looking to return to the last four after a year’s hiatus, they reached the decider in 2023 but have been hit hard by injuries this season with Cian Burke missing all of their campaign to date while his brother Conor sustained a knee injury in their third round draw with St Joseph’s Miltown. Liam Tierney’s absence allied with Joe McGann’s travels have greatly curtailed the Spa.

Patrick O’Neill’s side still possess plenty of talent and energy such as Colm O’Brien, Rowan Danaher and Jack Sheedy who mixed with the attacking prowess of Jamie Stack and leadership of Alan Sweeney will be confident of overcoming Lissycasey for the second time in the quarter-finals in three years.

Champions Éire Óg enter the knockout stages in fine form having impressed in all of their outings, overcoming Cratloe, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Kildysart at their ease. They face St Joseph’s Miltown at 17:00 on Saturday in Cusack Park.

Shane Daniels will have been pleased that none of their dual players picked up any knocks when lining out against Inagh/Kilnamona in the Clare SHC quarter-finals on Sunday. The form of Colm Walsh O’Loghlen and Mark McInerney up front along with Ikem Ugwueru’s deployment further up the field has strengthened their lethal attack with Ciaran Russell, Aaron Fitzgerald and Manus Doherty setting the example in the defence.

St Joseph’s Miltown are hopeful of fielding a stronger panel from that which overcame Doonbeg in the preliminary quarter-final. Cormac Murray who sustained an injury to his foot after scoring a hat-trick in round three may play a part in their quarter-finals and the West Clare side will need him if they are to have any chance of causing an upset. They will also be looking to the Cleary twins, Eoin and Conor, Gordon Kelly, Darragh McDonagh, Micheál Murray and Enda O’Gorman for big displays.

Miltown manager Martin Guerin told The Clare Echo, “We will probably have a stronger panel the next day, we will hopefully have Cormac (Murray) back, Ralph Whelehan and Eoin Devanney got their first championship start and that will stand to them even from a durability point of view so I think we’ll be stronger the next day for sure”.

Beaten finalists Kilmurry Ibrickane take on St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at 13:00 on Sunday. Five points separated them in the 2023 third round when the Bricks were 0-17 0-12 winners. They have met twice in this year’s Cusack Cup with the Parish coming out on top on each occasion.

Viewed as the strongest contenders behind Éire Óg, The Bricks have three wins from as many outings in the championship. Their cause was greatly boosted by the return of Aidan McCarthy following Inagh/Kilnamona’s exit in the Clare SHC to training this week, while he is unlikely to feature on Sunday his return is a welcome addition to David Egan’s side. Dermot Coughlan, Darragh Sexton, Joshua Moloney and Caoilfhionn O’Dea have been standout performers for the Bricks this year and they’ll also by relying on Shane Hickey, Cathal Talty, Diarmuid King and Daniel Walsh to deliver.

Although they are underdogs, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield will fancy their chances of causing an upset given that they got the better of their opponents twice this year. However, Donagh Vaughan’s side have yet to produce a big championship performance so far in 2025 and will need to bring this to the table if they are to have any chance of upsetting the odds.

Tom Curran has missed out on the last two rounds with injury but could feature in some capacity for The Parish. Joe Rafferty, Fionn Kelleher, Conor O’Brien, James Curran, Tom McDonald and Eoghan Thynne will be called on to lead the Doora/Barefield challenge.

Considered the closest of all quarter-final ties is the meeting of Cratloe and Ennistymon which is scheduled for 16:30 in Páirc Finne, Corofin on Sunday. The sides meet for the third year running, they drew in the group stages last season while in 2023 Cratloe emerged victors on a score of 2-11 2-5, a result that send Ennistymon into the relegation playoffs.

Adding extra intrigue is the clash of Kilmihil natives Colm Collins and Declan Downes who are in charge of either side. The duo who worked very closely together during their time involved with the county senior footballers and are close friends.

Cathal McInerney is expected to make his first appearance since the opening round for the Cratloe footballers in what is a massive addition to their cause. They are without David Collins (foot) and Eoin Carey (groin) for the quarter-final with the experienced Conal O’Hanlon a big injury doubt. Cratloe’s exit from the hurling championship has meant their focus has been exclusively on football, the last time they had had a sole focus on football in the knockout stages was in 2023 when they were crowned champions.

Preparation for Ennistymon has included challenge matches against Fr Caseys and Clondegad. Darragh Connelly has recovered from a knock which forced his substitution versus Lissycasey. The return of Joshua Vaughan was a big plus in securing a draw against Lissycasey to keep their championship alive. They will need him to deliver a repeat performance. Minor niggles for Cillian and Brendy Rouine won’t be enough to keep them out of the equation for Sunday, the duo are vital pillars in their team along with captain Eoin Rouine, Liam Cotter and Ciaran McMahon.

Kilmihil meet Wolfe Tones at 13:00 on Saturday in the relegation final in Clarecastle to determine who drops down to intermediate while it’s O’Currys versus Ennistymon’s second team at 15:00 in Quilty to find out who drops down to Junior A.