*Kilmaley’s Sean Kennedy delivers the ball into attack. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. KILMALEY advance to their first Clare Senior Hurling Championship semi-final in seven years but one wouldn’t have thought it from what seemed a grizzled veteran’s performance.
*Killian O’Connor tries to stop Patrick Finnernan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. It wasn’t a complete dead-rubber as Corofin circled the wagons perfectly for another senior relegation series following a rousing nine point turnaround to snatch a share of the spoils with Group 2 winners Clooney/Quin.
*Evan O’Gorman cleans up in the Wolfe Tones defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. WOLFE TONES consolidated their Clare SHC status in rousing fashion when firing the last eight points in a remarkable final derby twist
*Broadford’s Darren Chaplin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. BEFORE A ball was pucked in this year’s championship, Broadford set out with the target of heading into the final round with a chance of making of the last eight and that is the position they are in.
*Cathal Doohan holds off the challenge of Cratloe’s Tadhg Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. IT WAS a a complete role reversal for Ballyea as this time the 2022 champions turned up the heat in the second half to produce a stirring revival of their own and advance to the last eight of the Clare SHC.
*Cratloe’s Jamie Moylan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CRATLOE AND Ballyea face off in what is arguably the tie of the third round in the Clare SHC this Saturday in Sixmilebridge, a game that has been described as “win or bust” within the Cratloe camp.
*Kilmaley’s Eoin Enright. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. UNBEATEN KILMALEY have very high competition for places on their starting team with players “absolutely mad” to break into the first fifteen while Scariff are determined to roll over despite the end of their championship aspirations.
*Sixmilebridge’s David Kennedy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. DEFEATING CRUSHEEN in round two of the TUS Clare SHC was “one of the biggest wins in four or five years” for Sixmilebridge.
*Crusheen defender, Luke Hayes. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CRUSHEEN still have a chance of making the knockout stages of the Clare SHC but only if they beat a fancied Clonlara by three points or more and Sixmilebridge overcome St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
*Ballyea’s Paul Flanagan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. BALLYEA’s involvement in the Clare SHC is ‘in their own hands’ as they prepare to face Cratloe with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals.