*Gearoid Cahill. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
FOR THE first time since 2010, Corofin are back in the top tier of the Clare senior hurling championship.
Winners of last year’s intermediate title, Corofin make their bow at senior against Kilmaley in Clarecastle on Saturday.
“It’s a big challenge and a new experience for us and we are well aware of the gap between intermediate and senior”, team manager Joe Cahill told The Clare Echo this week.
Having led the club to the intermediate crown last year, he must plan this year without a number of the players who were key members of that panel
Damien Ryan has retired while Jamie Malone, Fionn Clancy, Michael Kelly, Fergus Killeen, Shay Malone and David Corbett have all emigrated.
“We have lost massive leadership. In a dual-club injuries will happen and last year we had some cover in such situations but the loss of the players mentioned means we have lost huge experience. We are now chasing a new group of leaders”, the manager explained.
Cahill continued, “the first game is key. How are we going to adapt to the step up. We have to go after a performance. Against Kilmaley we are facing a wealth of experience much of which they have gained from playing in the Clare Cup”. Corofin were in the same competition but they were in Division 1B while Kilmaley were in 1A. Corofin won five of their nine games and finished in mid table.
As a dual club, upwards on ten players will be in the starting fifteen for both codes and managing that scenario isn’t easy. “As I said we had some cover last year but that’s not the case now with so many away. Look, that’s the joys of being a dual senior club. It’s a busy schedule for those involved and it’s about managing the workload of the players”, he added.
Corofin go into this campaign in high spirits because of Clare’s All-Ireland win and, in particular, because of the huge part played by their player, Conor Leen. Over the past two years the Clare defender who is hotly tipped for an All Star award because of his many outstanding performances this season, miss many of his club’s games due to injury. Thankfully they all cleared up and allowed him to play such a major part in Clare’s thrilling All-Ireland win. His availability is a huge boost to Corofin as they head into the senior championship.
Captained by Damien O’Loughlin, Corofin will also be looking to Killian O’Connor, Cillian McGroary, Gearoid Kelly, Gearoid and Diarmuid Cahill, and Liam Corbett to lead the way.
Diarmuid Cahill, one of the team’s key forwards has been struggling to shake off a quad injury which has seen him missed a lot of the club’s hurling and football league games this season and all are keeping their fingers crossed that he will manage to get through both championships.
Management: Joe Cahill (Manager), John Fitzgerald, Pat Curtis, Cyril
Killeen (S&C), Joe Killeen (logistics) Kevin Kelleher, Fionn Reidy,
Donal O’Loughlin (equipment); Darren Malone, Tomas Whelan, Eoin
Leen (stats); Geraldine Cahill (first aid)
Captain: Damien O’Loughlin
Key Player: Conor Leen
One to watch: Marc O’Loughlin
Fresh Blood: Eoin Carroll, Jack Crowe, Oisin Cahill;
Departures Gate; Jamie Malone, Fionn Clancy, Michael Kelly, Fergus Killeen, Shay Malone, David Corbett (all emigrated), Damien Ryan (retired).
Treatment table: Diarmuid Cahill (Quad)
Last season’s run: Won intermediate title
Titles Won: None
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Kilmaley on Saturday August 10th in Clarecastle at 14:00
Round 2 v Cratloe on August 24th/25th
Round 3 v Feakle on September 7th/8th
