*Tadhg Lysaght of Kilrush Shamrocks in action with St Breckans’ Mark O’Donnell. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography.
LEAGUE promotion was the main aim for St Breckan’s and Kilrush Shamrocks when they commenced their Garry Cup campaigns, that objective has been achieved and it’s bonus territory to be vying for silverware this weekend.
That’s according to their respective managers Patrick O’Neill and Dermot Coughlan.
That’s not to say that they won’t be going all out to win the title when they meet in the final on this Friday evening at Cooraclare (19:30), home club of the late Michael Garry whose memorial trophy will go to the winning team.
Kilrush Shamrocks go into this final with maximum points having won all of their games which ensured promotion and direct entry to the final.
St. Breckans finished in second place having lost just once, that being their round robin game against Kilrush. Second spot at the end of the league section ensured a home semi-final and here they proved too strong for Clondegad.
For most of their campaign, the North Clare side were without inter county senior panellists Jamie Stack and Tristan O’Callaghan and they will again be absent this week as they are in the U.S. Another absentee this week will be full back Conor Burke who is currently on honeymoon while his brother Cian remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
However they welcome back Alan Sweeney for this one and his availability is a huge boost to the side. Liam Tierney has been battling injury all season and St Breckans fans are keeping their fingers crossed that he may get to play a part in Friday’s final.
“Our main aim at the start of the season was to win promotion and that box is ticked now. Kilrush have been very strong throughout this league. The more competitive games we can get at this time of the year the better as we move closer to the championship”, commented St. Breckans manager Patrick O’Neill.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman Coughlan who is in the first year of a second stint as Kilrush manager outlined, “The important thing for any team is to play at the highest level possible and we have achieved that for next year’s league when the team will be back in the Cusack Cup. It’s been over a decade since Kilrush last won this title”.
James Blunnie, a minor last year, is a doubtful starter for Kilrush due to injury. Otherwise they will have a full strength squad from which to select their starting fifteen. Their followers will be looking to the experienced Stephen Ryan and Geaorid O’Brien to lead the way against a St Breckans side that will look to Padraig Kelly, Maccon Byrne, Rowan Danaher and Colm O’Brien to lead their charge.
A tight contest is expected with unbeaten Kilrush given the nod to maintain their winning run.
