*Anthony Daly and James McMahon. Photograph: Ruth Griffin JOY was evident on the face of all Magpies in Dr Daly Park when the Clarecastle senior hurlers got their reprieve to keep their place in the top flight.
*Clarecastle goalkeeper, Cian Broderick. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARECASTLE LED by heroic goalkeeper Cian Broderick fought off the challenge of Whitegate to consolidate their senior status for 2023 and relegate Whitegate to the intermediate ranks.
Clarecastle’s Cian Galvin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Persistence was essential for Broadford to finally garner their first championship victory in two years and send Clarecastle into the relegation mix in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.
*Gary Cooney and David Tuohy in action. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARECASTLE AND O’CALLAGHANS MILLS finished all square in the keenly contested Clare SHC Group B clash.
*Rory O’Connell comes into the championship off the back of a strong league for Clarecastle. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Clarecastle go into this season’s championship determined to show that they have benefited from the experience gained last year.
*Clarecastle’s Killian McDermott. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Ten-time Clare SHC champions Clarecastle have been relegated from the senior ranks for the first time in their history while Crusheen one of the top teams in the county in the past decade have also dropped to the intermediate grade.
*Sean Cotter gets his strike away. Photograph: Ruth Griffin The race to determine the two teams that will lose their senior hurling championship status will go down to the final two games which are scheduled for Saturday next.
*Peter Duggan was to the fore in getting Clooney/Quin over the line. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill An exciting opening outing in the relegation play-off went the way of Clooney/Quin who fired the final five points of the contest to edge out Clarecastle.
*Stephen O’Halloran celebrates after hitting the back of the net. Photograph: Joe Buckley A last gasp rally secured a first championship victory for Clarecastle but wouldn’t be sufficient to get them out of relegation danger as score difference ironically elevated Wolfe Tones into the quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon.
*Cian Broderick will be between the posts for Clarecastle. Photograph: Chris Copley Clarecastle are determined to be more competitive in the senior ranks and the eleven time champions are hopeful their young guns will make a mark in the 2021 championship.
