*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
WITH FIVE senior titles in the last decade, Sixmilebridge are the only side to have achieved more success than the three in a row chasing Ballyea but down by the O’Garney River they are determined to obtain more silverware.
Since they made the breakthrough to win their first Clare senior title in 1977 Sixmilebridge have been shortlisted almost every year for honours.
Managed for the second successive season by Sean Stack, one of the stars of their successes in the late seventies and in the eighties, the former club captain is adamant that they cannot afford to look past their opening round clash with Crusheen.
“We are just looking at the first game, it is so vital. Our sole target is to get over Crusheen, otherwise the mindset changes”, one of hurling’s outstanding centre backs told The Clare Echo. “Crusheen have a good crop of players and are never easy opposition”, he added.
“The first round takes on a life of its own, some fellas take good form into it. Look, you never know what to expect in the first round. We are just hoping that all of the work we have done comes to fruition and that we can keep all of our players healthy”, according to the experienced coach who has steered Na Piarsaigh in Limerick and Toomevara in Tipperary to championship successes in their own counties.
Continuing he said, “a lot of luck goes into keeping vital players healthy. We ran into serious bad luck last year losing top players including Alex Morey and Cathal Malone and we are hoping that won’t happen this year”.
The Morey clan continue to fill key roles for Sixmilebridge and Caimin, Alex and Seadna will be hoping to cause plenty of problems for Crusheen this week. The aforementioned Cathal Malone along with Páidí Fitzpatrick and Shane Golden are others will a lot of experience having represented Clare at senior level in recent years. Goalkeeper Derek Fahy has been the team’s regular netminder for a number of years while another experienced member of the side is this year’s captain Noel Purcell.
The manager acknowledges that Sixmilebridge “have a lot playing hurling with four adult teams who are respectable in their divisions but we haven’t won a 21 or a minor title in a number of seasons. We are back on track in that area now with under 15 success last year and this year but it will be four or five years before they will be in the running to win championships at adult level”.
The Sixmilebrtidge panel looks to have a good mix of youth and experience which is vital for success. A number of the key players have been part of five senior championship winning squads which should be a big help in the upcoming campaign.
Despite missing a lot of experienced players at different times this season, Sixmilebridge got to the semi-final of the Clare Cup and in the process they managed to give valuable game time to a number of players at senior level and that is sure to stand to them as they begin the chase for a sixteenth Canon Hamilton title win.
Sixmilebridge
Management: Sean Stack (manager); Jim Fitzgerald, Michael O’Halloran Adrian Chaplin, (selectors) Shane Hassett (S&C); Rachel Kelly (Physio), Kevin Wallace (Stats), Dr. Conor Moloney (Medic)
Captain: Noel Purcell
Key Player: Seadna Morey
One to Watch: Luke O’Halloran
Fresh Blood: Seamus O’Connell, Oisin Breen, Fionn Hayes, Dylan Downes, Adam Murray, Darragh Fitzgerald, Adam Breen, Fiachra O’Broin
Departure Gate: Pa Mulready (Australia) Christy Carey (long term injury), Cathal Lynch (emigrating) while Jamie Shanahan is currently not involved due to a long term injury
Titles won: 15
Last season’s run: Lost in semi-final to Éire Óg after extra time.
Schedule:
Round 1 v Crusheen
Round 2 v Clonlara
Round 3 v O’Callaghans Mills
