*Clarecastle captain Colin Brigdale in action against Whitegate. Photograph: Chris Copley
PAIRINGS for the last four clashes in the Premier Intermediate, Intermediate and Junior A hurling championships have been made.
Clare GAA conducted the draws for the penultimate stage of the competitions on Sunday evening with Chairman Kieran Keating and PRO Aaron Carroll conducting the draw in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg.
After topping their respective groups, O’Callaghans Mills and Whitegate advanced straight to the Clare PIHC semi-finals. The Mills will face Ruan in the last four after they defeated Tulla with a last-minute Shane Punch goal while Clarecastle’s reward for blitzing Tubber is a rematch with Whitegate.
It will be a second meeting of the Magpies and Whitegate in this year’s campaign, Clarecastle were 1-22 0-17 winners when they met in the first round. Whitegate won’t be short of motivation for this tie as it was Clarecastle aided by an outstanding display by goalkeeper Cian Broderick which relegated them from the senior ranks in 2022.
First teams from Ogonnelloe and Smith O’Briens are bidding to win promotion from the Clare IHC to the Clare PIHC. Both sides were relegated last year in the restructuring of the second tier along with Inagh/Kilnamona, all three teams have made the semi-finals and they are joined by Kilmaley, winners of last year’s Junior A hurling championship. Newmarket-on-Fergus were defeated by Scariff in the Clare IHC relegation final meaning they have suffered back-to-back relegations and their second team drops from the second tier to the fourth tier within the space of two seasons.
Banner’s quest to win promotion to the Clare IHC for the first time remains on track but they must overcome Clooney/Quin in the Junior A hurling semi-final. The other side of the draw pits neighbours Ballyea and Clarecastle against each other.
TUS Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals: (to be played on October 4th/5th)
Ruan vs O’Callaghans Mills
Clarecastle vs Whitegate
TUS Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-finals: (to be played on October 4th/5th)
Inagh/Kilnamona vs Ogonnelloe
Smith O’Briens vs Kilmaley
Martin Murphy Building and Civil Contractor Ltd. Junior A Hurling Championship semi-finals: (to be played on October 4th/5th)
Banner vs Clooney/Quin
Ballyea vs Clarecastle
