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*Jarlath Collins in action with Colm Galvin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SEVERAL LIVELY contests can be expected with the start of the TUS Clare senior hurling championship.
Roscommon senior hurling coach, Kevin McNamara from Kilmaley is forecasting a number of exciting championship ties.
Champions Clonlara have, he believes, strengthened their panel this year with the addition of some young players like county minor Michael Collins and the return of Cathal O’Connell and Kieran Galvin.
Their opponents this week are Ballyea for whom Tony Kelly has returned to his best following injury issues earlier in the year. “They are used to playing having lost experienced players. They have some very good young lads coming through”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, McNamara who is part of the backroom team with the Clare U16 hurlers added, “The clash of Éire Óg and Clooney/Quin is very interesting. Clooney- Quin have a good few players battling injury but Ryan Taylor’s return is a big boost. Éire Óg have had the majority of their panel available to them for the season which is a big help. They haven’t won a first round game in a while”, according to Kevin who tipped Clonlara and Ballyea to qualify from the group before adding “whatever two come out of the group here will take beating”.
Turning to Group 2 he observed, “Feakle had a good run last year. They had three involved with Clare’s All-Ireland team which is a huge achievement for a small club. Cratloe are now getting the burst of youth that they have been waiting for. Kilmaley had an up and down league campaign and Michael O’Neill is a big loss but they have a good number of young players coming through. They perform best when they are underdogs. They are facing a dangerous opponent in Corofin who will be trying to consolidate senior status after winning the intermediate title last year”, according to Kevin who tips Feakle and Kilmaley to make it through from the group.
The meeting of neighbours Broadford and O’Callaghans Mills “will bring a big crowd to Clonlara and there will be big battles throughout the field. Since the Mills contested the county final a few years ago they have disappointed but with the likes of Pat Donnellan and the Cooneys they might have a bit more know how in this one”.
The other game in this group sees Scariff and Inagh/Kilnamona clash “and they are the two favourites to emerge from the group. “With Mark Rodgers, Patrick Crotty and Paddy Ryan they went to town on teams last year but forewarned is forearmed. Inagh-Kilnamona are under new management this year and they have serious ambitions. I fancy Scariff and Inagh/Kilnamona to qualify from this group”.
Group 4 is “the hardest one to call,” he outlined. “Newmarket won the Clare cup but the winners of the cup haven’t come out of their group since 2016. Crusheen had a big win over Newmarket last year so Newmarket will be keen to avenge that result. Can Crusheen prove that last year’s result wasn’t a flash in the pan?
“Sixmilebridge have a lot of experience and they take on St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who are in their second year back at senior level. They have really good structures in place and they are coming off minor success. They are a club going in the right direction but the ‘Bridge might have too much know how this week”, he said before predicting St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Newmarket-on-Fergus to qualify from the group.
Overall he feels defending champions Clonlara, along with Ballyea and Inagh/Kilnamona are the main contenders for this year’s title “but if Éire Óg emerge from the group they will take stopping.
