*Niall Gilligan in action in the 2017 Clare SHC Final. Photograph: Martin Connolly
Forty two year old Niall Gilligan will continue to line out with his club Sixmilebridge in 2019.
Corner forward on the Clare senior hurling team that won the county’s third ever All-Ireland championship in 1997, twenty two years on Gilligan has committed to another year with his club but with their second string.
At the February meeting of the Clare county board which took place in Clareabbey on Tuesday, it was confirmed that the 1999 All Star had successfully been regraded to the intermediate ranks for 2019.
A holder of six Clare senior hurling championship medals, Niall featured in his 23rd senior campaign for The Bridge last year. Their campaign ended at the hands of neighbours, Cratloe in the quarter-finals who went on to subsequently contest the county final.
Sixmilebridge’s intermediate team also made the last eight stage in 2018, they were defeated in a replay to Scariff who were coached by new Tipperary trainer, Darragh Egan. The club’s second string also secured promotion to Division 1B of the Clare Cup, which is the second tier of the county league.
In January, a reconvened AGM of the Sixmilebridge club announced the appointment of current Wexford manager Davy Fitzgerald as coach of their senior outfit. Former Clare selector Tim Crowe will manage the side with club chairman Paddy Meehan as selector and ex Irish 400m runner Timmy Crowe their fitness coach. Further additions are expected to be made in the coming weeks.
