*Liam Crotty. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SCARIFF are hopeful their first round win can propel them into successive victories and a place in the knockout stages of the TUS Clare SHC.
Semi-finalists in 2023, Scariff for the second year running got the better of Inagh/Kilnamona. They kickstarted their campaign with a 0-24 0-20 win against a fancied Inamona outfit.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Scariff manager, Mark McKenna heralded their opening round win as “a great start”. He stated, “We are delighted to get over the line because we never looked any further than this match. Now I know lots of managers say that but it was completely all about the first round for us because when we came up first, we lost the opening game two years in a row and it made life awful difficult after that. But the difference last year when we won our first round against Doora/Barefield got us going immediately so to win again in round one is a great start.
McKenna continued, “As much as we targeted a good start to the group, we also focused on starting the game well so we were very happy with how we played from the outset and were still in front by the break. Now they [Inagh-Kilnamona] had their periods of dominance as well and we probably left a good few scores behind us but then again we still won, we clocked up a high amount of points and we didn’t concede a goal either and it means that we’ve something to work on”.
Broadford await in Dr Daly Park, Tulla for the first of a double header on Saturday afternoon. It’s their first East Clare derby in Group 3 and a stern test is expected by Kenna. “We’ve Broadford in two weeks now who also won their first round so that’s enough to keep anyone on their toes. We have to focus on over the next two weeks and get ready for what we know will be a huge battle”.
