*Rian Considine. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CRATLOE’S character has stood to them as they put the finishing touches on their preparation for a third Clare SFC semi-final in as many years.
The Clare Echo’s online coverage of the Clare SFC is with thanks to The Shannon Springs Hotel.
Six weeks on from overcoming St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield in the third round by a single point, Cratloe are back up against the same opponents but this time instead of a place in the knockout stages the reward is now qualification for the county final.
Injuries are a slight barrier for the 2023 champions. David Collins is a major doubt with a foot injury which kept him out of the quarter-final win over Ennistymon. Conor Ryan (knee), Eoin Carey (groin) and Tommy Rooney (hamstring) all missed out the last day while Conal O’Hanlon had a restricted role.
On the field, the duo of Jamie Moylan and Cathal McInerney were effectively strapped together, playing on one leg but remarkably having starring roles in their one point victory.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cratloe manager Colm Collins admitted it was “a gamble” not to play two of their injured cohort against Ennistymon. “We have injuries but you’ve got to handle that because every team will have injuries, we took a gamble and didn’t play two of them, it worked when it came through, hopefully they will be fit for the semi-final which will strengthen our hand a bit”.
He was very satisfied with how they battled to overcome Ennistymon after extra time. “We’re still standing, massive credit to a great bunch of players, they have dug us out of holes many times and this was a tough one because whatever team lost was going to be very sore because there was nothing between the two teams, we’re glad we got over the line”.
After falling 1-3 0-0 behind in the quarter-final, Collins is anxious that Cratloe deliver a better start in the semi-final. “We need to start a bit better, Ennistymon started like a train and got some great scores, sometimes you don’t get a chance to come back from that so it is something we need to tidy up and start much faster. Credit to Corofin because the pitch was beautiful, absolutely perfect, the weather that has happened it is a credit to them to have the pitch in such incredible condition. We’re very proud of the lads, my heart goes out to Ennistymon, the game could have gone either way and we could have had no complaints if we got beaten”.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s tie with St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, he remarked, “We’re back with Donagh now! I always felt that the group was very strong, I even felt Kildysart who ended up in relegation, I thought they were strong, the only misleading factor was that three teams were coming out of it, it was a very strong group with good teams in it, Tom Curran is back so they have another bit of artillery up front”.
For the past month the focus in Cratloe has been exclusively football after the hurlers failed to emerge beyond the group stages. “It is good, we’ve always managed it pretty well but it is lovely to have them full-time, it is a luxury that we’re enjoying at the moment but we work the other way too,” he said of the sole football focus.
The last time they had such a long stint dedicated to the one sport, they were crowned Clare SFC champions in 2023. “We’ve a bit to improve to get there but we will give it a go,” the ex Clare manager replied to this observation.
