*Cratloe’s Shane Neville. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CRATLOE AND KILMIHIL are on the road this weekend in the Munster club quarter-finals.
Colm Collins’ Cratloe compete in the Munster club for the first time since 2014 when they make the trip to Castlehaven on Sunday. The game commences at 1:30pm with Limerick referee Jonathan Hayes in charge of the contest.
Their last involvement in the Munster club football championship saw them pipped by The Nire of Waterford following extra time in 2014 while in the same year they reached the provincial hurling final, losing out to the Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin managed Kilmallock.
In 2013, Cratloe overcame Ballinacourty in the Munster semi-final to set up a final showdown with Dr Crokes of Kerry where they suffered a one point defeat in the Gaelic Grounds.
That 2013 campaign was the last time Castlehaven competed in the Munster club. They won the Cork championship for the first time in ten years when they defeated defending champions Nemo Rangers 0-11 0-9 at the end of October.
Managed by James McCarthy, the West Cork side includes Brian Hurley along with the Cahalane brothers, Damien, Conor and Jack.
Cathal McInerney, Liam Markham, Conor Ryan, Enda Boyce, Padraigh Chaplin and the Collins brothers Sean, Podge and David are among those with previous experience of lining out in the Munster club while Kevin Harnett, Diarmuid Ryan, Rian Considine and Mike Brennan will all play key roles for Cratloe.
Paul Reidy’s Kilmihil head for the village of Kilnamartyra which is located between Killarney and Macroom. Coached by John Evans, they claimed the Cork intermediate title when defeating Bantry Blues 3-11 2-13.
Kilmihil’s main aim was to return to the top tier of the Clare football ranks and now find themselves in bonus territory but they will be hopeful of making a mark in the provincial series.
Three points separate Kilmihil from Limerick outfit St Senan’s when they contested the 2017 Munster club intermediate semi-final as they went down on a score of 2-11 2-8.
Ciaran Downes’ form has been a huge plus for Kilmihil who will also be counting on David Lernihan, Martin O’Leary, Gearoid O’Grady and Dan Keating to give them a chance of potentially facing off with David Clifford’s Fossa.
