Lissycasey deservedly advanced to a first County Senior Football Championship in seven years after again fending off adversity, this time getting the better of neighbours Kilmihil on Saturday afternoon.
While Cratloe are self-isolating following a difficult week, their senior football championship rivals battle it out in Round 2 for coveted semi-final spots, three by means of the direct route and the remaining place eventually emanating from the dreaded thunderdome that is the losers section writes Eoin Brennan
Less a statement of intent than a professionally clinical assignment for Ballyea who brushed past the disappointing challenge of Clooney-Quin to reach their eighth successive quarter-final in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge on Sunday evening.
Workmanlike is perhaps the best way of describing Sixmilebridge’s safe passage to a fourth successive senior quarter-final in Cusack Park on Saturday evening.
After carving out potential match-winning positions on two previous occasions, Inagh-Kilnamona finally cemented victory at the third attempt in what was a fully merited result in Cusack Park on Friday evening.
Action steps up a gear in the Clare SHC with the second round representing a do or die knockout clash for all senior sides, Eoin Brennan previews what we can expect.
A last gasp Sean Crowley fisted point finally sealed a dramatic victory for Kilmihil in an inch-tight opener with Clondegad in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.
A hugely encouraging 2019 had certainly whetted Kilmihil’s appetite for the new decade ahead. A senior championship quarter-final finish that included coming within four points of eventual champions St Joseph’s Miltown was further bolstered by some much-needed silverware after Shannon Gaels/Kilmihil’s thrilling Under 21A Final victory last November, Kilmihil’s first such honour since 1987.
From the momentum-fuelled peak of contesting a first ever county senior decider three years ago to a rare dalliance with relegation in 2019, Clondegad have definitely experienced both sides of the championship pressure-cooker in recent seasons.
Having reached the pinnacle of a historic County Senior Hurling and Football Championship double in 2014, a feat not realised in 100 years, Cratloe were always going to be scrutinised by that standard ever since.
