*Clonlara and Ballyea will be facing off again in the group stages.
GAA focus has been on the inter-county scene but anticipation for the start of the club championships has gone up a notch for the club championships following the draws for senior, intermediate and junior a grades on Tuesday evening.
In less than three months time, the club championships will kick into gear while across the county preparations continue with leagues ongoing. Some excellent contests lie ahead in the respective campaigns following confirmation of the respective pairings.
As Clare GAA TV were about to go live with the championship draws, a tripped switch led to a power cut and a delay in proceedings. Power returned at 19:09 with Clare GAA referee administrator Rory Hickey who is an electrician by day brought in to help restore electricity to headquarters.
Soon sparks will fly on the club scene with a host of exciting ties to follow over the summer months.
Éire Óg’s defence of the Canon Hamilton in the Clare SHC sees them drawn against Crusheen, Scariff and Broadford. Group 1 will claim a major casualty as one of last year’s quarter-finalists will fall at the group stage, Ballyea, Inagh/Kilnamona and Clonlara are joined by a youthful St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
Unlucky not to be in a county final last season, Kilmaley are paired in Group 4 where Brian Culbert will come up against his native Sixmilebridge plus Newmarket-on-Fergus and Wolfe Tones. Clooney/Quin are the seeded team in Group 3 and they are joined with Cratloe, Feakle and O’Callaghans Mills.
For Éire Óg’s bid to win a fifth Clare SFC in six seasons, they are in Group 1 along with Cratloe, St Joseph’s Miltown and Doonbeg. Three of the four teams will progress to the knockout stages.
Beaten finalists in 2025, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield are competing with Kildysart in championship for the second year running and they are joined in Group 2 by Ennistymon and Kilmihil meaning Declan Downes will be going up against his native club for the second year running.
Adding to the competitive Clare SFC is Group 3 which has Lissycasey, Corofin, Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Breckans.
TUS Clare Senior Hurling Championship:
Group 1:
Ballyea
Inagh/Kilnamona
Clonlara
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
Group 2:
Éire Óg
Crusheen
Scariff
Broadford
Group 3:
Clooney/Quin
Cratloe
Feakle
O’Callaghans mills
Group 4:
Kilmaley
Newmarket-on-Fergus
Wolfe Tones
Sixmilebridge
TUS Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship:
Group 1:
Whitegate
Corofin
Parteen/Meelick
Tubber
Sixmilebridge
Group 2:
Clarecastle
Ruan
Bodyke
Smith O’Briens
Tulla
TUS Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship:
Group 1:
Killanena
Inagh/Kilnamona
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
Broadford
Banner
Group 2:
Kilmaley
Ogonnelloe
O’Callaghans Mills
Scariff
Éire Óg
Martin Murphy Building & Civil Contractor Junior A Hurling Championship:
Group 1:
Newmarket-on-Fergus
Ballyea
Clonlara
Cratloe
Ennistymon
Group 2:
Clarecastle
Clooney/Quin
Wolfe Tones
Inagh/Kilnamona
Crusheen
TUS Clare Senior Football Championship:
Group 1:
Cratloe
Éire Óg
St Joseph’s Miltown
Doonbeg
Group 2:
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
Ennistymon
Kildysart
Kilmihil
Group 3:
Lissycasey
Corofin
Kilmurry Ibrickane
St Breckan’s
TUS Clare Intermediate Football Championship:
Group 1:
Clondegad
Wolfe Tones
Liscannor
Shannon Gaels
Group 2:
Banner
Naomh Eoin
Coolmeen
Kilrush Shamrocks
Group 3:
Cooraclare
Michael Cusacks
Ennistymon
Killimer
Martin Murphy Building & Civil Contractor Junior A Football Championship:
Group 1:
O’Currys
Clarecastle
St Senan’s Kilkee
Éire Óg
Group 2:
Lissycasey
Parteen/Meelick
St Breckans
Clondegad
Group 3:
Kilmurry Ibrickane
Ballyvaughan
Cooraclare
Wolfe Tones
Group 4:
Kilfenora
Clooney/Quin
Cratloe
Corofin
