*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.
*Photograph: Ruth Griffin. CHAMPIONSHIP pairings are to be made this Tuesday evening for the Clare senior, intermediate and junior competitions in hurling and football.
*Corofin’s Jamie Malone. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ABU DHABI based Jamie Malone clocked up the miles to help his native Corofin seal their return to the Clare SFC.
*Gearoid Cahill and Seán O’Brien celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. COROFIN are more than capable of competing in the top tier of Clare football having sealed their return to the senior championship for 2025.
*Cooraclare goalkeeper Harry O’Gorman. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. GETTING TO experience an intermediate county final will stand to a youthful Cooraclare side, manager Martin Daly maintained.
*Corofin captain Gearoid Cahill leads the celebrations. Photograph: Ruth Griffin MEETING, training and going to the trenches with the guys you have grown up alongside in Corofin makes playing GAA with the club ‘one of the best feelings’ for Gearoid Cahill.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. COROFIN will return to the top flight of the Clare football next season after winning the intermediate championship final against Cooraclare.
*Cooraclare manager, Martin Daly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. MANAGING is “ten times more stressful” than playing according to one of Clare’s greatest forwards Martin Daly.
*Corofin intermediate football manager, Peadar O’Brien. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. “INVOLUNTARILY” appointed Corofin manager two seasons ago, Peadar O’Brien is hoping to steer the North Clare club’s return to senior football.
*Brian McNamara reacts to a breaking ball. Photograph: James Downes. COORACLARE want to be ready for senior football when they earn their promotion and Brian McNamara is hopeful that time will arrive this weekend.