Club championship draws put intriguing ties on the horizon in Clare

*Clonlara’s David Fitzgerald in action against Darren O’Brien and Dara Walsh of Éire Óg. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

CLUB teams across Clare have discovered who they will be facing in this year’s championships.

TUS’ Ennis campus on Bindon Street was the location for Tuesday evening’s draw officiated by Clare GAA Chairman, Kieran Keating.

While teams have been competing in the various leagues, the scent of championship is edging closer with training set to go up a notch as opponents became known at the draw.

In each group, the first placed team will take on the second drawn team in round one with the third and fourth drawn sides doing battle. The second round pits, team one versus team three and team two against team four. In the final round, the first drawn club is against the fourth drawn side with team two meeting team three.

Reigning Clare SHC champions Clonlara have been paired in an almighty tough group which includes Ballyea, Éire Óg and Clooney/Quin, all four teams capable of lifting the Canon Hamilton.

Intermediate winners Corofin have been drawn against Feakle, Cratloe and Kilmaley in a very even group.

Inagh/Kilnamona who are emerging as one of the favourites to lift the Canon will expect to top group three with the East Clare trio of Scariff, O’Callaghans Mills and Broadford battling it out for the final spot.

There will be a repeat of last year’s quarter-final in the first round of Group 4 when 2023 finalists Crusheen renew rivalries with Newmarket-on-Fergus, the group is completed by Sixmilebridge and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.

Darren O’Neill prepares to take on Daniel Walsh. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

To kick off the Clare SFC, Éire Óg and Kilmurry Ibrickane will lock horns in Group 1, they are joined by the newly promoted Kilmihil and Lissycasey who are under the stewardship of championship winning Kilmurry Ibrickane captain and manager, Aiden Moloney.

Beaten senior finalists St Breckan’s are joined in Group 2 by St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Kildysart and Corofin.

Current title holders Cratloe and St Joseph’s Miltown are joined in Group 3 by Ennistymon and Doonbeg, three of the four teams here will advance to the quarter-finals while the remaining quarter-final spot will be claimed by the winner of a play-off between the teams which finish third in group 1 and group 2.

As per the master fixtures plan, the Clare SFC and IFC are scheduled to start on July 20th/21st with the Clare SHC and IHC due to commence on July 27th/28th. These dates will change if Clare’s senior hurlers reach the All-Ireland final.