*Patrick Crotty will be a key part of the Scariff/Ogonnelloe attack. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Twenty six teams will set out this weekend in search of under 21 hurling championship honours.
The competition is divided into four divisions with ten teams in each of the A and B grades while the C championship is divided into two groups of six with second teams from six clubs competing for the C 2 title.
Participating teams will have a second chance as first round losers will be in action again in two weeks time challenging for a place in the play offs.
In recent times there has been much debate in relation to age grades. At inter county level, the competition has been changed to under 20. Earlier this year Clare clubs opted for an under 19 competition but many clubs then withdrew because of demands on their players from their adult club teams and from their college teams while the proximity of second and third level exams also had a big bearing on the withdrawal of many teams.
Not everybody is happy with the timing of this competition but the demand
was strong and while there are sure to be teething difficulties over the coming weeks due to clashes with football and college competitions, the expectation is for some lively contests.
In the minor A final of 2019, Corofin/Ruan defeated Clarecastle and they renew rivalry this Sunday in the opening round. Four players who were key to their minor success of the amalagamation will be absent this week due to injury, Killian O’Connor, Conor Leen, Marc O’Loughlin and Shane Punch.
Clarecastle will also be missing a key player in Cian Galvin who is ruled out due to injury. They will be looking to Oisin Casey, James Doherty, Darragh Healy and Rory O’Connell to lead their challenge in a tie that will be played at Ruan.
Another of the fancied sides, Scariff/Ogonnelloe travel to Tubber this Saturday to take on the Crusheen/Tubber combination. Senior inter county panellists Mark Rodgers and Patrick Crotty will be in the East Clare side’s line up along with Patrick Ryan and Keelan Hartigan and they will carry the favourites tag against the home side who will be looking to Senan Dunford, Pappy Taaffe and Oisin O’Donnell to lead their challenge.
Last year’s beaten finalists Newmarket-on-Fergus will have home advantage against their neighbours the quietly fancied Clooney/Quin, recently crowned under 17 A champions and this game is expected to attract a big attendance to Fr. Murphy Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
Sixmilebridge will enjoy home advantage at O’Garney Park on Saturday for their meeting with St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who are expected to include some of the panel which helped them to win the intermediate title last week.
Another team that many believe will be challenging strongly for this title is Clonlara who will have Dylan McMahon, Aidan Moriarty, Seimi Gully and Colm O’Meara available. They face Inagh/Kilnamona on Friday evening next under lights at Shannon and the mid Clare outfit will have Josh and Keelan Guyler, Sean Rynne and Conner Hegarty in their line up.
The clash of Wolfe Tones and Broadford at Shannon on this Thursday evening gets the B title race underway. East Clare neighbours Bodyke and Feakle/Killanena will meet at Bodyke on Saturday and on the same afternoon Ballyea will enjoy home advantage against Tulla. Neighbours Éire Óg and Kilmaley will meet under lights on Wednesday evening while Crusheen will travel to Killaloe to take on Smith O’Briens on Bank holiday Monday.
Inagh/Kilnamona, Corofin/Ruan, Sixmilebridge, Éire Óg, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Scariff/Ogonnelloe all have second teams competing and they will battle it our for the C 2 title.
