*Clooney/Quin’s Jack O’Neill.
KEENLY CONTESTED clashes await when the sliotar is thrown in for the U21 hurling championships this weekend
Thirty seven teams will begin the challenge for under 21 hurling success across four grades (A, B, C and D) this weekend, all hoping to be preparing for finals come the end of November.
There are eight teams, divided into two groups of four, in each of the A and B championships.
Twelve teams in three groups of four will compete for the C championship while nine teams, divided into three groups of 3, will battle it out for the D title.
The recommendation from a special meeting last month to remove one round from the original schedule was carried at the November board meeting.
With a strong likelihood that a number of teams will end on the same points, this will lead to score difference being applied to separate sides. If it’s just two teams finishing level on points, the outcome of their meeting will determine placings.
It’s a particularly difficult grade to make fixtures for such is the crossover between club adult teams and college sides. Colleges fixtures are in full swing at this time.
The championships were due to commence two weeks ago but because of numerous requests for clubs for postponements, a special meeting was arranged at which the majority view was for the amended format. This resulted in a new draw to determine the groupings
Last year’s A winners, Scariff/Ogonnelloe, having lost a big number of that squad, are now in the B competition as are the club they beat in the 2024 A final, Feakle/Killanena.
Less than twenty four hours after they do battle for the minor A title on this Saturday, Sixmilebridge and Clarecastle will be in opposition again when they meet in Sixmilebridge in the first round of the A competition.
The other two teams in this group, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Cratloe will do battle on this Friday evening at Gurteen at 8pm.
Neighbours Ballyea and Éire Óg will meet on this Saturday at Ballyea at noon. The other two teams in this group are Inagh/Kilnamona, beaten semi-finalists last year and Clooney/Quin who won the shield title in 2024 and they will meet at Kilnamona on Sunday at noon.
Some well contested games are expected in the B competition where Newmarket-on-Fergus entertain Kilmaley while Scariff/Ogonnelloe will take on their East Clare neighbours Tulla. Those four clubs make up division 1 in the under 21 B grade.
Division 2 in this competition includes Corofin/Ruan who will take on Feakle/Killanena this week while Broadford will face their neighbours, Clonlara.
Twelve teams will compete for the C title, divided into three groups of four. The top team in each group plus the best runner up will go through to the semi-finals.
In the first round Bodyke play Crusheen and Wolfe Tones take on Whitegate in group 1.
In group 2 Ennistymon host Ruan and O’Callaghans Mills take on Tubber while group 3 will see Corofin entertain the Banner with Parteen/Meelick entertaining their South Clare neighbours Smith O’Briens.
The race for the D title is between ‘second teams’ from clubs competing in the A and B competitions.
In group 1 this week St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield entertain Éire Óg with Inagh/Kilnamona having a bye.
Group 2 sees Clooney/Quin at home to Clarecastle with Sixmilebridge having a bye while group 3 will see Clonlara with a bye while Ballyea entertain Scariff/Ogonnelloe.
Management teams for the eight clubs in the A title race are
St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Raymond Power (Manager), Eamonn Corry (coach), Adam Mungovan, Alan O’Neill, Eoin Burke
Cratloe: Shane Gleeson, Cathal McInerney, Enda Boyce, Alan Neville
Ballyea: Derek O’Connor (Manager), Pat Joe Keane, Shane McNamara (S&C)
Éire Óg: Niall O’Connor, David Reidy, Kevin Brennan, Liam Corry, Darren O’Brien, Gerry O’Connor.
Inagh/Kilnamona; Kevin Hehir (Manager), Flan Hegarty, Sean Mahoney, Brian Foudy, Noel Hehir
Clooney/Quin: Pat Markham, Tony McMahon, Trevor Lee, Conor Harrisson, Brian Shally, John Conneally
Sixmilebridge: Martin Conlon (Manager), Kieran Liddane, Declan Murphy, Jamie Keane, Adrian Hogan, David Kennedy Mikey Russell, Ger O’Halloran
Clarecastle: James McMahon (Manager), Pat Healy (coach), Michael O’Donoghue (Selector), Stephen O’Halloran (coach), Trevor Slattery (S&C), Ken Hickey(Stats).
