*Kilmaley’s Conor Cleary. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Since the draw was made and the fixtures quickly deciphered, the opening round derby between back-to-back holders Ballyea and then Clare Cup champions Kilmaley easily stood out from the pack as the tie of the first weekend.
Subsequent fixture alterations to allow the majority of Clare’s flagship hurling squad an extended recuperation following their All-Ireland Semi-Final exit a fortnight ago has only bolstered that headline act appeal in Cusack Park this Saturday evening (6.30pm).
However, for Kilmaley, the difficulty of challenges in a five team group are arguably surpassed by a need to concentrate on their own development and mindset.
After all, there’s no doubting their depth of talent as proven their Clare Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2022 along with coming within a whisker of reaching the final in 2018 but that is offset by disappointing exit at last year’s group stages accelerated by a 14 point reverse to Clooney-Quin.
“Look, we’ll know exactly where we’re at in less than a fortnight’s time,” admitted Conor McMahon, the stalwart former player who has stepped up to the backroom team for 2023. “We’ve two games in the space of a week against the senior and intermediate champions and then we’ve a four week break after that so this Saturday we just have to hit the ground running.
“Ballyea have been so strong, they’re so experienced and they know how to get out of tight situations so that presents a huge challenge for us, especially coming from where we’re coming from. I think we’ve a decent blend of experienced lads coming into their late 20’s and a few new lads coming in this year and last year but there has also been a fair turnover of players over the last few years with lads traveling etc as well.
“I think that the players are sensing the fact that it’s a short enough career so they train hard, mind themselves on and off the pitch and are really motivated to try and put in performances consistently. They’ve always been able to put in good performances on a given day but it’s getting that consistency that we’ve struggled a little bit with over the last four or five years”.
Especially when embroiled in a five team group, maintaining high standards is almost a prerequisite.
“The group is tough and there’s no easy game in it but then you look at all the groups and there’s actually no easy game in the whole championship. The senior championship is so well balanced that every team can take a scalp off another on a given day so you just have to be at your best every day you go out. To be honest, I’m happy enough to be in the group of five because there’s an extra game so with four matches, if you do manage to get out of the group, you do so on merit”.
With their absentee list extending to double figures, their squad will certainly be tested to its optimum against then holders but far from wallowing in self-pity, McMahon feels that his players will savor a crack at their three-in-a-row chasing neighbours.
“We have a few injuries. Brian Mc [Namara] is a huge loss to us after getting hurt last week, Gearoid O’Grady is carrying a knock and I think we’ve seven traveling at the moment that played championship last year. So it will have a huge impact but I think a lot of clubs are experiencing the same thing. Lads are traveling more now on the back of a couple of years that they couldn’t travel with COVID and you’re seeing a lot more people in the mid-20’s traveling whereas previously you wouldn’t have.
“That said, we’ve planned without those guys and overall we still feel that we’ve a good panel of lads that have worked extremely hard over the last number of months and are really motivated. Obviously facing the county champions on Saturday is a tough assignment but it is one you relish at the same time.
“I mean if you do have aspirations within the county championship, you want to be testing yourself against the best and over the last few years, there’s no question that Ballyea are the best team in the county.”
Kilmaley
Management: Brian Culbert (Manager); Conor McMahon, Padraig McGough, Eoin O’ Malley, Martin Bennett (Coaches/Selectors); Eva Moynan (Physio), Liam Buckley (Stats)
Captain: Daire Keane
Key Player: Conor Cleary
One to Watch: Colm Killeen
Fresh Blood: Sean Crowley, James Fitzpatrick, Colm Killeen, Oisin Looney, Thomas McGuire, Cian Neylon, Jack Warren
Departure Gate: Cathal Darcy, Eoin Enright, Aidan Griffey, Bradley Higgins, Eanna McMahon, Aaron Moloney, Sean O’Loughlin, Peter Ronan (abroad); Brian McNamara, Gearoid O’Grady, Sean Ronan, Sean Ryan (Injured)
Titles Won: 2
Last season’s run: Group Stages
Schedule
Round 1 – v Ballyea at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 6.30pm
Round 2 – v St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at Clarecastle (Saturday, July 29th), 3.45pm
Round 3 – A bye (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)
Round 4 – v Inagh/Kilnamona (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)
Round 5 – v Scariff (Weekend of September 8/9/10th)
