*Aidan Quilligan puts Niall Bolton under pressure. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SIXMILEBRIDGE’S intermediate side has always been competitive but their progression to a final at the grade for the first time since 2008 has been driven by their seniors failing to make the knockout stages.
Youth and experience make up The Bridge side with full-back Aidan Quilligan among those to have been around the block for the South-East Clare club.
Speaking this week ahead of Saturday’s final, Quilligan said “since our seniors went out of the championship, a lot of the younger players have stepped up in a major way and I am delighted to be part of a great group”.
Quilligan won three Clare SHC medals and captained his club to win the 2013 decider against Newmarket-on-Fergus. Shortly after that success he went to London for three years before returning and resuming his hurling. “On returning I played a bit of a role with the seniors but I am delighted to be part of the current intermediate set up and involved in this great run. I am enjoying hurling at the moment. We are going into Saturday’s final as massive underdogs. Corofin are a major team and they’re hot favourites. No one expected to see us in this final but we are enjoying being there and looking forward to taking on the challenge”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Aidan said “the love of the game” is what drives on all players in Sixmilebridge where the club has four adult teams at present. “Everyone takes their hurling seriously, we want to be competing at the highest level, people are proud to put on jersey, and for us it’s a bit more important this year, when our seniors are not in the shake up”.
Playing at this level is “a stepping stone to seniors, most definitely. The fact the seniors went out early this year has put a bit of limelight on the intermediate, it has made the players step up and it’s great to be part of it and really enjoyable. Players have to take responsibility”, commented Aidan.
He continued, “we have a really good set up, we trained with the seniors and the training was great but the results didn’t come the way. The training benefitted all in the intermediate and they have done a great job since then”.
Concluding the experienced defender said “Corofin are a top club looking to get to senior level and all the pundits will predict that. We have 20 to 25 who will do their best to put the Bridge back on the big stage”.
