*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior hurlers have been relegated from Division 1A of the Allianz National Hurling League.
Kilkenny’s 0-29 0-20 win over Limerick on Saturday evening confirmed that both Clare and Wexford will drop down to Division 1B of the National Hurling League for 2025.
In their five outings to date, Clare have just one win and four losses, beating Limerick in TUS Gaelic Grounds while losing in Cusack Park to Kilkenny, Wexford and Cork plus an away defeat in Pearse Stadium to Galway.
2009 was the last year when Clare were relegated to the second tier of the National Hurling League, there have been different formats applied since then including the top tier getting split in two groups but it is fifteen since years since the county suffered relegation from the top grade.
Reigning All-Ireland and league champions Clare have shown mixed form to date in 2025 but started their campaign under-strength and have not yet been able to pull from a full deck for any competitive fixture this year.
Brian Lohan’s side face Tipperary in the final round of the league on Saturday in FBD Semple Stadium, Liam Cahill’s men are already through to the final where they will be joined by the winner of Cork and Galway.
Although the Tipperary game may be perceived as a ‘dead-rubber’, the game-time could prove invaluable for players recovering from injury while management are still some bit off knowing what their strongest hand is for April 20th when the Munster championship begins and need to work towards finalising their strongest lineup.
