Tones keeping tight-lipped ahead of senior return
*Rory Hayes. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. WOLFE TONES make their return to the top tier this weekend where they face title holders Feakle.
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Cratloe need to be resilient against early revenge missions
*Cratloe’s Conor McGrath. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. HAVING come within a whisker of reaching last year’s decider, Cratloe will be hoping to redress the balance this time around.
Éire Óg get off the Marco with decisive nine point derby triumph
*Marco Cleary catches the sliotar above Mark Delaney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. FIRST blood was decisively inflicted by a rampant Éire Óg who despite being rescued to 14 late on, overpowered Newmarket-on-Fergus to get an early head of steam in Clarecastle.
Collins & O’Connell help Clonlara step past Sixmilebridge
*Michael Collins. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Cathal O’Connell’s point from a 60m free in the fourth minute of added time after Brian Carey had been penalised for over-carrying sealed victory for Clonlara over Sixmilebridge in the opening round of the TUS Clare SHC.
Scariff’s velvet revolution is tested by its evolution
*Mark Rodgers. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. SCARIFF’s continuous upward development graph has been a prime example of the benefits of a strong underage conveyor belt.
Keeping senior status the main aim for Corofin
*Corofin’s Damien O’Loughlin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill HAVING kept their senior status by relegating O’Callaghans Mills, the primary focus for Corofin is ensuring they retain their place in the top tier.
Stepping up to the mark a priority for new-look Doora/Barefield
*Michael Nash of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. FOR AN emerging St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield side looking to climb the rungs of the senior hurling championship ladder in what is only their third season back in the top flight, they don’t have to look very far for championship winning experience.
Last year’s final is water under the ‘Bridge
*Seadna Morey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. HAVING steered their native club to the brink of a Canon Hamilton reunion last October, Sixmilebridge’s managerial duo Tommy Liddy and Stiofan Fitzpatrick are determined to avoid any second season syndrome in this year’s senior championship.
Broadford must bring battling qualities to cause upsets
*Broadford’s Cian Mulqueen. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. BROADFORD are not looking beyond their first round tie with Clooney/Quin but they have an ambition to do better than last season which means they want to qualify for the knockout stages.
The Water Break: Every club believes they are capable of lifting the Canon Hamilton
*Ballyea and Kilmaley face off in one of the ties of the round. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. SIXTEEN teams enter the championship arena this weekend as the sliotar gets thrown in for the eagerly awaited TUS Clare senior and premier intermediate hurling championships.