*Clarecastle’s Lee Brack. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

CLARECASTLE FIND THEMSELVES back in “make or break territory” with a relegation battle looming for the Magpies.

It’s sink or swim now for Eric Flynn’s charges as three defeats on the bounce to Broadford, Feakle and Éire Óg leave them fighting for their senior status.

They face Clare Cup champions O’Callaghans Mills with the winner consolidating their status while the loser drops down to intermediate for 2024.

Speaking to The Clare Echo following their eleven point loss to Éire Óg, Eric noted, “We’re obviously disappointed to have not only lost but also be in the relegation play-offs. We knew that Éire Óg were a serious opposition but we had hoped to get off to a good start but they actually got the start that we needed”.

He continued, “They got a run on us then and used their experience to capitalise as much as possible. That Éire Óg team are around a while and are clearly used to playing together over a long period of time. We are a bit off that as we are currently in a rebuilding process but while it would have been easily to down tools after conceding three first half goals, I thought we showed a bit of spirit and were a bit better in the second half”.

A member of the last Clarecastle side to win a senior championship, Eric believed there was positives to pick from their loss. “When we ran with the ball, we moved it well and quickened things up and got some good scores. We ended up with 13 or 14 points from play and actually won the second half which is a further improvement from the last day so there are positives to take from what was a disappointing result”.

However a third relegation battle in as many seasons awaits the Magpies, a now familiar battle but one they are determined to prevail in. “We just have to dust ourselves down and go again now. We’ve four weeks to get ourselves right so let’s see where that takes us as it’s now make-or-break territory”.

Related News

0.9
€6.6m for transformation of Tuam Station House to enterprise hub
matchmaker bar lisdoonvarna 1
Samaritans to support revellers at Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival
aer lingus shannon 1
Aer Lingus increasing Shannon to Boston service to ten weekly flights
cloister monks society 1-2
€6.9m allocated to transform Cloister into community space
Latest News
cork v clare camogie 21-06-25 clare hehir 1
Hehir nominated for camogie All Star
matchmaker bar lisdoonvarna 1
Samaritans to support revellers at Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival
aer lingus shannon 1
Aer Lingus increasing Shannon to Boston service to ten weekly flights
scariff ogonnelloe v feakle killanena 14-12-24 patrick crotty gearoid sheedy 1
Draws made for U21 hurling and football championships
cloister monks society 1-2
€6.9m allocated to transform Cloister into community space
Premium
Dublin man accused of harassing ex Clare hurler Páidí Fitzpatrick over nine month period
Madden finalises Clare football management
PLAYER RATINGS: Flangan's match-winning Ballyea performance
'If you keep taking stuff you will keep getting it' - Fahy reflects on dubious refereeing decisions of Munster U20 final
Newmarket-on-Fergus resident charged with giving false & misleading evidence in personal injuries action

Advertisement

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.