Online Club Hurling Championship coverage brought to you by the Temple Gate Hotel—home to Chapter 24 Gastropub and Gate 96 Restaurant.
*Daithí Lohan is a central player at midfield for Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
REACHING THE quarter-finals of the TUS Clare SHC is “a big step” for Wolfe Tones.
Intermediate champions in 2024, Wolfe Tones have consolidated their status for two successive seasons and are preparing for a first quarter-final in the top tier since 2022.
Striving for consistency has been a big focus for Barry Keane and his management who are in their third season at the helm. “We want to be more consistent, for years we have been up, down. We weren’t allowed play well today but to be in the quarter final is another big step for this group, there are a few younger lads that wouldn’t be used to that level”.
He told The Clare Echo, “We are really looking forward to the quarter final, its where we want to be and we will have a right go at it”.
Champions Éire Óg await Wolfe Tones in the last eight, as it stands they will be without All-Ireland winner Aron Shanagher who received a straight red card during their third round defeat to neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus. “Aron was a key loss, he has been outstanding for us all year, he’s distraught in the dressing room. Niall Malone is an excellent referee. We will have a look at it and see but if Niall Malone saw it, he is an excellent referee, there will be no complaints from our side”.
Reflecting on their latest showdown with Newmarket-on-Fergus where they came from seven points to two points down within a matter of minutes to take the quarter-final berth from the Blues and send them into relegation, Barry stated, “it was a typical Clare championship game, it went right down to the wire. In the last six or minutes we were in big trouble and in fairness to Newmarket we would have had no complaints if the result had gone their way, they were very good, their young hurlers, Power, Arthur did well. Look its bittersweet to lose. Newmarket were better than us but to be in the quarter final is a big thing”.
Aaron Cunningham’s goal for Wolfe Tones in the crucial moments was “a crucial score” in saving their season, Keane acknowledged. “I was talking to Adam Enright (Newmarket-on-Fergus goalkeeper) and he said he should have dealt with it. In fairness to him he had a good game. They are the moments that change games, without that goal we were in big trouble. We were thrilled to get it and we were still looking for more scores”.
