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*David Fitzgerald is chased by Conor McGrath. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
QUARTER-FINAL action dominates the interest as the race for the Canon Hamilton ramps up a gear in the Clare SHC.
Knockout hurling will result in big blows and heavy falls across Cusack Park this weekend with all four quarter-finals taking pride of place at the home of Clare GAA.
Saturday’s double bill sees Clooney/Quin take on Scariff at 15:00 followed by the meeting of Cratloe and Inagh/Kilnamona at 17:00.
TG4 cameras roll into town on Sunday for the meeting of Clonlara versus Kilmaley at 16:45, that is preceded by the meeting of Éire Óg and Wolfe Tones at 14:45.
Unbeaten in the group stages, Clooney/Quin who reached last year’s final face off with Scariff in a repeat of the 2023 quarter-final. Three years ago, it took extra time to separate the sides when Scariff prevailed 3-19 1-22.
Mark Rodgers suffered a broken hand in the first round but made his return to help inspire Scariff to their first win of the championship, beating Crusheen which sent them through on scoring difference. Patrick Ryan remains a major injury doubt and will be a loss from their attack. Their opponents Clooney/Quin have been led by the young guns of Jerry O’Connor, Jack O’Neill, Evan Maxted, Darragh Keogh and the McNamara twins Seán and Darragh while Peter Duggan’s experience remains invaluable.
2013 All-Ireland winner Fergal Lynch said Clooney/Quin’s run to last year final is of no relevance to their campaign in 2026. “It means nothing. We were in the final in 2017 and we have only three players from that. We have a totally new group here who have under 16 and minor medals and they mean nothing to us. Our goal is to perform to the best of our ability and whatever happens happens after that”.
High-flying Inagh/Kilnamona topped the perceived Group of Death when overcoming St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Ballyea before forcing their way back to draw with Clonlara. They’ll be looking to David Fitzgerald, Seán Rynne, Aidan McCarthy and James Hegarty with their defensive anchors of Shane Woods, Keith White and Conor Rynne to successive semi-final appearances.
Inamona manager Eugene Cullinan said, “I don’t know how beneficial finishing top is as there are no easy teams left in this now. All I know is that it’s a new championship now and it’s whoever wants it the most that’s going to win it”.
Also in the last four last season were Cratloe. The sides last met in the 2021 quarter-finals which ironically was Cullinan’s first season in charge as he led Inagh/Kilnamona to contest the county, in a season where they also topped the then Group of Death.
Relegation worries rest on the minds of Cratloe’s footballers but their hurlers will see Saturday’s quarter-final as a free shot with Alan Neville’s side going in as underdogs. They head in on a high following Cathal Lohan’s last gasp winner over Feakle, with the likes of Diarmuid Ryan, Conor McGrath, Jamie Moylan, Conor Ryan and Daire Neville taking to the field they won’t be shy of causing an upset.
Champions Éire Óg will be expected to account for the challenge of Wolfe Tones in the clash of the only town teams in the top tier. The sides met in the group stages last year when Éire Óg ran out 1-26 1-12 winners.
Gerry O’Connor’s side have been potent in attack with the Cleary brothers Marco and Luca showing their energy while Shane O’Donnell, Danny Russell and David Reidy continue to set the way.
Pending a successful appeal, Aron Shanagher is suspended for the quarter-final and is a monumental loss for the Tones. In his absence, they’ll need Darragh Lohan, Aaron Cunningham, Ben O’Gorman, Rory Hayes, Daithí Lohan and Cian O’Rourke at their best to take down the Ennis side.
Very little is expected to be between Kilmaley and Clonlara in the final tie. They drew in their last championship tie (2021) and only a couple of scores at most will separate them on Sunday evening.
Colm O’Meara’s expected return will be a timely boost to a Clonlara outfit that also contains Diarmuid Stritch, John Conlon, Ian Galvin, Colm Galvin, Dylan McMahon and David Fitzgerald.
Brian Culbert’s Kilmaley have been boosted by the return of Brian McNamara to the fold but dented by the loss of Oisin Looney who has returned to the Middle East. They still have Conor Cleary setting the way with a strong cast of Mikey O’Neill, Daire Keane, Mikey O’Malley, Tommy Barry, Seán Kennedy and Joe Casey keen to kick on.
Dr Daly Park is relegation central with both semi-final play offs down for decision. Crusheen and O’Callaghans Mills square off on Saturday (13:00) while for the second year running Newmarket-on-Fergus and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield meet at this stage, their clash takes place on Sunday (12:30).
Stakes are high in the Clare PIHC where in Group 1 it’s Whitegate versus Corofin in Sixmilebridge and Parteen/Meelick against Tubber in Shannon, both games starting at 13:00 and all four sides can reach the knockout stages.
Meanwhile Group 2 pits Ruan against Clarecastle in Inagh and Bodyke versus Smith O’Briens in Broadford, both games commencing at 15:00. Only Smith O’Briens are out of the race while a Ruan win over the Magpies coupled with a Bodyke victory would knock out Clarecastle.
