*Feakle’s Shane McGrath. Photograph: Mark Hayes
Two East Clare clubs have expressed an interest in joining forces at senior level.
Feakle and Killanena have pooled resources for over a decade at various underage grades within the county and are now seeking to bring this to the top tier of the club hurling championship.
Winners of the 2018 Clare IHC, Feakle reached the quarter-finals of the Clare SHC last year going out on extra time to Inagh/Kilnamona. In 2016, they were defeated in the semi-finals by eventual champions, Ballyea.
Killanena reached the quarter-finals of the Clare IHC in 2019. They last won the intermediate championship in 2011. They relegated Clonlara to Junior A in 2018 and contested the relegation semi-finals in 2017 and 2015.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the County Board, secretary Pat Fitzgerald read aloud a letter from Killanena which stated their desire to enter into an amalgamation with Feakle “at either senior or intermediate level for 2021”. The letter noted that a motion was passed at their AGM seeking such consent be obtained from Clare GAA
A representative of Killanena told club delegates at Hotel Woodstock that their amalgamation with Feakle had been “going on for a number of years”. Of bringing this to adult level, he stated, “We want an idea on where we go from here. We are having a serious issue with numbers. What will it take for this to happen”. They would like to have individual club teams as well as competing as an amalgamation.
Chairman of the County Board, Joe Cooney suggested that for the next Board meeting, a joint letter from both Feakle and Killanena be signed and submitted. He confirmed that both clubs could meet the CCC before the next meeting takes place.
