*Jamie Malone bursts through the Smith O’Briens defence. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. A heavy defeat for Whitegate, a narrow loss for Bodyke and an expected if hard earned, win for Corofin were the big talking points after the weekend’s intermediate hurling championship quarter finals, two of which were played in very difficult conditions on Sunday.
*Labhaoise O’Donnell finished with a hat-trick for Scariff/Ogonnelloe. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ENTERING THE FINAL round of the Clare Credit Unions senior camogie championship, title holders Scariff/Ogonnelloe and Feakle/Killanena are among the sides to have booked their place in the knockout stages.
*High flying Clonlara will meet Éire Óg in the quarter-finals. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ONE OF THE favourites to lift the Canon Hamilton will be eliminated at the quarter-final stage.
*Conor Whelan finished as Whitegate’s top scorer. Photograph: Ruth Griffin BODYKE finished the group stages of the Clare IHC unbeaten while Ruan and Whitegate ended their last game of the round with a draw to ensure they all advanced to the knockout stages.
*Photograph: Ruth Griffin SIX GAMES were played across the weekend and midweek in the fourth round of the Clare intermediate hurling championship.
*Corofin’s Gearoid Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill The race for the intermediate hurling championship title is heating up and an exciting battle is developing for the quarter final places.
*Keith Stritch. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Smith O’Briens, Corofin and Whitegate have edged closer to the play-offs in the intermediate hurling championship following round two victories over Tubber, Ruan and O’Callaghans Mills while Parteen/Meelick and Bodyke got their challenge for honours off to a winning start with victories over fancied Sixmilebridge and Tulla sides.
*All clubs pictured at the championship launch on Monday evening. Photograph: Aidan Ryan FRESH FROM Clare’s All-Ireland triumph in the Premier Junior Camogie Championship, attention swiftly moves to the club scene with the race beginning in earnest for the local championships.
*Ronan Monahan weaves through the Smith O’Briens defence of Evan Connolly, Cian Nolan and Mark Stritch. Photograph: Ruth Griffin TWO MORE teams will be relegated from the senior ranks this season so the opportunity to jump from the intermediate grade to the top tier is all the greater for the fifteen teams in action.
*Photograph: Mark Hayes Corofin recorded a comfortable victory over Bodyke in the final of the RealPrint Division 2 Hurling League final on Friday evening.