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HAVING come close in recent seasons to a breakthrough at senior ranks, Éire Óg will feel a certain degree of pressure to ensure this materialises on the hurling field this year.
With just two wins from nine outings in the recently concluded senior hurling league (division 1 B) Éire Óg were relegated and will play in division 2 next season.
A quick glance at that stat might suggest that their chances of success in the championship are slim but, in fairness to the Ennis club it must be stressed that of all the clubs in the county they were most severely hampered for the league because of the absence of so many key players due to their involvement with Clare teams.
Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy, Aaron Fitzgerald, Darren O’Brien were part of the Clare senior hurling squad while Ciaran Russell and Gavin Cooney were with the senior football panel along with Kilfenora’s Cian O’Dea who, earlier this year, received clearance to assist Éire Óg’s hurlers this season.
The availability of those seven alone will strengthen the squad in a huge way and will give their supporters every reason to be confident that their favourites can progress further than the semi-final where their season ended last year, going down to Inagh/Kilnamona.
They also reached the semi-final a year earlier where they lost out narrowly to Sixmilebridge.
It’s now thirty two years since Éire Óg last captured the Canon Hamilton trophy and all involved with the club are keen to end that wait.
Matt Shannon, a native of nearby Corofin, is in charge for a fourth season and his selection committee of Gerry O’Connor, Ronan Cooney and Barry Nugent is unchanged from 2021.
Twelve months ago Shane O’Donnell was dogged with injury concerns but during the recent inter county season he was back to his brilliant best and on that form he will post serious problems for all opponents.
Coping with a high number of dual players may be taxing but throughout last year’s campaign the respective managers, Matt Shannon and Paul Madden worked well together.
Eire Og will go into the football championship in two weeks time as defending champions so another busy and long campaign is likely.
Being without so many key players in the league didn’t help results wise but it did give the management an opportunity to give game time to quite a number of up and coming players which is sure to prove beneficial going forward.
Over the years there has been a keen rivalry between themselves and neighbours Kilmaley. No doubt the town outfit would love to come out on top in this one particularly in view of the fact that Kilmaley go into the game as league champions following their Clare Cup success.
Management: Matt Shannon (manager); Gerry O’Connor, Ronan Cooney, Barry Nugent
Captain: Liam Corry
Key Player: Shane O’Donnell
One to Watch: Oran Cahill
Fresh Blood: Cian O’Dea, Michael Heneghan
Departures Gate: N/A
Titles won: 6. Prior to the formation of Eire Og titles were won by Faugha, Ennis, Ennis Dals and Ennis/Clarecastle
Last season’s run: Finished second in group and went on to reach semi-final where they lost out to Inagh-Kilnamona
Schedule:
Round 1 v Kilmaley
Round 2 v Scariff
Round 3 v Clooney/Quin
