*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.
Now in his fourth season in charge, Broadford manager Jimmy Browne says the East Clare outfit is going into this weekend’s senior hurling championship on the “back of a difficult and mixed Clare Cup campaign”.
The vice president of TUS Midwest, the new sponsors of the Clare senior and intermediate hurling and football championships told The Clare Echo that the absence of Diarmuid Moloney and Shane Taylor who have taken time out to travel represents “a big loss to the panel given their experience”.
When appointed to the position Browne, who is from nearby Clonlara, said that one of the aims of the management team was to deepen their panel. Moloney and Taylor have been two of the team’s key players during Browne’s term in charge so it is understandable that he sees their absence as being a big loss to the team.
In the recently concluded senior hurling league, Broadford were in Division 1A. Despite winning two of their last three games, it wasn’t enough to secure their place in the division for next season when they will compete in Division 1B.
The manager believes that “the younger players are making a significant contribution to building the next generation of Broadford hurlers”.
Broadford’s Eoghan Gunning captained Clare to the All-Ireland minor hurling title this year. His outstanding displays resulted in he being one of six players named on the All-Ireland minor team of the season while he picked up the player of the year accolade. Because of the rule which prevents under 17 players from playing at adult level, the East Clare club will have to wait another year before he can line out with the club’s senior side.
Clare’s under 20’s reached the Munster final where they were narrowly beaten by eventual All-Ireland champions Cork and Niall O’Farrell from Broadford was a member of that squad. Paddy Donnellan has been part of the Clare senior panel this past year and both O’Farrell and Donnellan are seen as key members of the senior team which will take on Clarecastle this weekend.
Browne has played a key role in the success enjoyed by TUS (formerly LIT) in third level hurling competitions in recent years when he has also served as a selector at under 20 and senior levels with Clare.
The Chaplins, Craig, Cathal and Darren along with joint captains Eoin Donnellan and Stiofan McMahon, the O’Briens and Oisin Kavanagh are members of the team that will be striving to get their championship campaign off to a winning start on Saturday.
The manager knows that a win over Clarecastle would be a great boost to the team’s hopes of qualifying from the group for the knock out phase of the competition.
While there has been no mention of relegation, most believe that a first round win will go a long way in ensuring that they will not be involved in playing to avoid the drop.
For now, the focus is very much on Saturday’s first round clash with Clarecastle when Broadford followers will be hoping that the work of manager Jimmy Browne and his backroom team to develop a strong panel will be reflected in the team making a winning start.
Broadford
Management: Jimmy Browne (manager), Damian Ryan (coach), Emmett Browne (S&C), Darragh O’Sullivan, Kevin Ryan (selectors), Darragh Kennedy (Physio), Pauric Boland and Ailbhe Browne (analysis)
Joint Captains: Eoin Donnellan and Stiofan McMahon ,
Key Player: Paddy Donnellan
One to Watch: Niall O’Farrell
Fresh Blood: Mark Gunning and Peter O’Farrell
Departure Gate: Diarmuid Moloney, Shane Taylor (both travelling)
Titles won: None
Last season’s run: Failed to get out of their group, got to senior B semi-final
Schedule:
Round 1 v Clarecastle
Round 2 v Éire Óg
Round 3 v Feakle
