*Whitegate’s Ian Fahy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill WHITEGATE and Corofin handed out 28 and 24 point respective beatings in the opening round of the Clare IHC which also saw Inagh/Kilnamona, Smith O’Briens and Sixmilebridge record victories.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill A sharper Broadford who displayed a greater hunger for victory seered the East Clare club to a merited first round senior championship victory where they proved too strong for Clarecastle
*Clonlara’s Colm O’Meara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLONLARA showed no shortage of spirit as they got their senior championship campaign off to a winning start when accounting for Clare Cup winners O’Callaghans Mills in a most entertaining contest on Saturday evening.
*Broadford’s Niall O’Farrell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BROADFORD had four points to spare over Clarecastle when the sides met in last year’s championship, the East Clare club will be targeting back to back wins over the Magpies to get their campaign off to a flying start.
It was another historic day for Lahinch junior boys at Ballybunion Golf Club on Sunday when they won their first ever Fred Daly pennant defeating Killarney 4/1 in the West Munster area final.
*Crusheen’s Jamie Fitzgibbon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FORGING a winning start is vital for all teams beginning their Clare SHC campaign and for Crusheen they’ve turned to a management with history of success to guide their efforts.
*Éire Óg captain, Liam Corry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill A SINGLE POINT separated ÉIRE Óg from Ballyea in last year’s county final and the Townies are one of the hotly tipped sides to claim the Canon Hamilton this season.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill WITH FIVE senior titles in the last decade, Sixmilebridge are the only side to have achieved more success than the three in a row chasing Ballyea but down by the O’Garney River they are determined to obtain more silverware.
*Sean Rynne’s second season at senior level will see him carry additional responsibility. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill INAGH/KILNAMONA may be making their first appearance in the championship this weekend but could potentially knock out reigning champions Ballyea.
*Clarecastle goalkeeper, Cian Broderick. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARECASTLE are closing in on a decade since they reached the knockout stages of the Clare SHC and with growing experience in their ranks they are quietly confident of causing an upset to get back to the quarter-finals.
