*Cian Mahony and Paraic Aherne battling off. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. 

KNOCKOUT PAIRINGS HAVE BEEN confirmed for the Clare intermediate and junior football championships while the relegation draws were held for senior and intermediate.

Eighteen time senior champions Doonbeg will face St Joseph’s Miltown the winners in 2018 and 2019, the victor in this tie will retain their senior status while the loser faces off with Kilmihil to determine who drops down to the intermediate ranks for 2023.

Questions were raised at Monday’s draw by Ennistymon intermediate manager, Brendan Rouine as to how an open draw would be used to pick the fourth seeded team for the Clare IFC quarter-final draw while scoring difference was utilised when it came to deciding that Naomh Eoin and Shannon Gaels entered the knockout stages while The Banner missed out.

In response to this, Clare GAA Chairman, Kieran Keating said the specified criteria had been outlined in advance and he detailed that he spoke at length with Ennistymon’s chairman, Shane Talty on the matter on Monday morning.

Ennistymon had the best scoring difference of the second placed teams compared with Kilrush Shamrocks and O’Currys but at Monday’s draw, the men from the Loop Head Peninsula were pulled out as the seeded team.

O’Currys will face Kilrush Shamrocks in the last eight while an in-form Wolfe Tones meet Ennistymon’s second string, Cooraclare relegated from the senior ranks meet Naomh Eoin while it’s a Shannon Estuary derby with last year’s beaten finalists Kildysart renewing their rivalry with Shannon Gaels.

Kilfenora and Coolmeen will battle it out in the relegation play-off of the intermediate championship, the winner is safe while the loser meets Michael Cusacks to see who drops down to the Junior A grade.

Quarter-final clashes in the Junior A pit Lissycasey against Liscannor, Killimer square off with Clondegad, St Senan’s Kilkee meet Éire Óg and St Breckan’s get set for Kilmurry Ibrickane.

Clare SFC Relegation Play-Off (To be played on weekend of September 17/18th)
Doonbeg v St Joseph’s Miltown
Kilmihil bye

Clare IFC Quarter-Finals (to be played on weekend of Sept 17th/18th)
O’Curry’s v Kilrush Shamrocks
Wolfe Tones v Ennistymon
Kildysart v Shannon Gaels
Cooraclare v Naomh Eoin

Clare IFC Relegation Play-Off (To be played on weekend of September 17/18th)
Kilfenora v Coolmeen
Michael Cusacks bye

Junior A Football Championship Quarter-Finals (to be played on weekend of September 17/18th)
Lissycasey v Liscannor
Killimer v Clondegad
St Senan’s Kilkee v Éire Óg
St Breckan’s v Kilmurry Ibrickane