*Keelan Hartigan of Scariff. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
AFTER an impressive run which saw them reach the semi-final last year, Scariff go into this season’s senior championship hoping that the experience they gained will benefit the club as they seek to end a seventy one year wait for senior honours.
Their opponents on Sunday are Inagh/Kilnamona and the sides did battle in the group stage last year when Scariff had seven points to spare (4-18 to 0-23).
Speaking this week ahead of their meeting in this season’s opening round, Scariff manager Mark McKenna said “they will want to reverse that on Saturday. I know it’s a cliche but we are definitely not looking past the first round. It’s a tough opener”.
McKenna has retained the same management as in in 2023 for the East Clare side, among them former Clare joint manager Donal Moloney.
Clare’s All-Ireland winning star Mark Rodgers continues as team captain of a side that hasn’t lost anyone from last year’s squad. As regards injuries, “we have the usual few niggles but all should be ready for the opening game,” he told The Clare Echo.
In this season’s Clare Cup, Scariff finished in mid table with four wins and five losses. In their final group game their opponents were Inagh/Kilnamona and here Scariff emerged with a one point win, 1-19 to 1-18.
While both sides are likely to have a number of changes from that occasion, that result is sure to provide confidence to the East Clare men this week.
Mark explained, “we are keeping things very grounded after a super run last year. There are huge battles ahead but for now the focus is fully on Saturday”.
Like all parishes across the county, there have been great celebrations during the past week because of Clare’s All-Ireland win and adding to these celebrations for Scariff is the involvement of two of their club members, both of whom will be hoping to bring that form to Saturday’s game.
Team captain Mark Rodgers has been outstanding in Clare’s march to glory while Patrick Crotty was introduced in the quarter-final win over Wexford. Both are expected to fill attacking roles this week and followers of the team will also be looking to Scott Cairns, Michael Scanlan, All-Ireland winning handballer Diarmaid Nash, Shane Kavanagh and Patrick Ryan to mention some.
The other two teams in Scariff’s group are neighbouring East Clare sides, Broadford and O’Callaghans Mills.
After a number of years when East Clare sides were struggling to survive, things have taken a big turn in the past couple of years. Many of the clubs in the area now have three adult teams competing for honours across the grades and this has led to keen competition for places at senior level.
The teams in this group agree that it will take a big effort to qualify for the play off stage of the championship. A win in the opening round will ease worries a little while not guaranteeing anything whereas a loss this week will leave teams with a lot to do.
The meeting of Scariff and Inagh/Kilnamona is seen as one of the ‘big’ first round clashes with followers of both sides keeping their fingers crossed that their side will make a winning start. It’s expected to be very close with no more than a point or two in it while a draw will not surprise many.
Management: Mark McKenna (manager); Michael Long, Jim Minogue, Ger Rodgers, Donal Moloney, Michelle McNamara, Adrian Whelan.
Captain: Mark Rodgers
Key Player: Mark Rodgers
One to watch: Liam Crotty
Fresh Blood: Colin O’Grady, Ben Sweeney, Cathal McCaul
Departures Gate: None
Treatment table: A few niggles
Last season’s run: Lost in semi-final to Crusheen
Titles Won: 5 (1907, 1917, 1946, 1952, 1953)
Schedule:
Round 1 v Inagh/Kilnamona on Saturday August 10th in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge at 15:00
Round 2 v Broadford on August 24th/25th
Round 3 v O’Callaghans Mills on September 7th/8th
