*Feakle’s Shane McGrath. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
BEATEN semi-finalists twelve months ago, it won’t come as any surprise that followers of Feakle hurling want to see their side take the extra two steps this year and bridge a thirty six year gap to the last time that the Canon Hamilton trophy spent the winter in the East Clare parish.
That was back in 1988 when they won the last of their six titles with a side that included double All-Ireland winning manager, Ger Loughnane.
Fresh from making history by providing three members to Clare’s All-Ireland winning senior panel just three weeks ago (Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan and Conn Smyth), the first time that Feakle players were part of a Clare senior All-Ireland winning squad, the focus is now very much on the club championship.
However, as they put the final touches to their plans for this weekend’s clash with Cratloe they do so in the knowledge that they will be without Gary Guilfoyle and Stephen Conway, both of whom have been regular first team players in recent years.
Guilfoyle will be out of action for the foreseeable future having suffered a neck injury early in the season while Conway who had surgery on his knee recently won’t be available for a few weeks. Oisin O’Connor is battling an ankle injury but may be ready for the weekend’s game.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, manager Ger Conway said “the first round is massive. If you win momentum is with you facing into the second round whereas if you lose the opening game, relegation thoughts come into play. The first round is very important, it always was and always will be”. Conway is in his second year as manager.
With inter county stars, goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan and defender Adam Hogan, both of whom played key roles in Clare’s All-Ireland win to call on along with county panelist Conn Smyth, the availability of all three provides the East Clare club with an experienced defence. Experience is something which manager Conway believes will play a big part in the championship.
In addition to their three inter county panelists, Feakle have experienced players in Evan McMahon, Eoin Tuohy, Oisin Donnellan who is the team captain, Martin Daly the vice captain and their scorer in chief Shane McGrath.
Despite being short the inter county contingent, Feakle had a good league campaign, narrowly missing out on a place in the play offs due mainly to the fact that they only managed one league point from their closing three games in the competition
Their opponents in Saturday’s first round at Sixmilebridge have a lot of experience with Cathal McInerney, the Collins brothers, Sean, Podge and David, Enda Boyce, team captain Cathal McInerney and the Ryan brothers Diarmuid and Conor key men in the Cratloe line up. Cratloe were in division 1 B in the league when they managed to get to the semi-final where they lost out to eventual winners Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Feakle did use the league to give game time to a number of young players and included in this were Owen McGann and Partick Daly who are just out of minor. They impressed and it won’t be any surprise of both of these players see action this week.
Management: Ger Conway (manager), Ciaran Callinan (coach), Dermot Gleeson (coach), Stephen Moloney, Donal O’Grady, John Punch
Captain: Oisin Donnellan;
Key Player: Shane McGrath;
One to watch: Ronan O’Connor
Fresh Blood: Owen McGann, Patrick Daly, Tommy Walsh
Departures Gate: None
Treatment table: Gary Guilfoyle; Stephen Conway (knee), Oisin O’Connor (ankle)
Last season’s run: Lost in semi-final to Clonlara who won the title.
Titles Won: 6 (1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1988)
Schedule:
Round 1 v Cratloe on Saturday August 10th in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge at 13:00
Round 2 v Kilmaley on August 24th/25th
Round 3 v Corofin on September 7th/8th
