*Ryan Taylor comes into the Clooney/Quin side off the back of a fine championship campaign for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Finalists two years ago, Clooney/Quin will face into the 2022 competition with a much changed set up.
*Broadford will be counting on Paddy Donnellan to deliver. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Broadford manager Jimmy Browne sees the challenge facing him and his backroom team as two fold, to deepen their panel and to get a consistency of performance.
*A dejected John Conlon at the final whistle in Sixmilebridge on Saturday. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLONLARA MANAGER, Donal Madden refused to be drawn on reports that they dropped key players for their Clare SHC opening round due to disciplinary reasons.
*The experienced Cian Dillon will be at the heart of the Crusheen defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Having experienced the heartbreak and deflation of being relegated before an eleventh hour provincial reprieve, if there ever was a kick in Crusheen, it has to come in the next two months.
*Crowds attending the 2021 Clare SHC final between Ballyea and Inagh/Kilnamona. Photograph: Natasha Barton While the dust settles on another incredible hurling championship, we take stock on Limerick’s dominance and what next year may hold.
*Oisin Clune lined out at midfield. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Raymond Bane emerged as the Feakle hero at Sixmilebridge this Saturday evening as he fired over the winning point with the second last puck of the game to give his side victory by the minimum margin over Clonlara.
*Pearse Lillis raided for the first goal for Ballyea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Ballyea flexed their muscles to compete a comfortable first round defence of the Canon Hamilton trophy as they brushed aside the disappointing challenge of O’Callaghan’s Mills in Cusack Park.
*Sixmilebridge defender, Barry Fitzpatrick. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill First blood to Sixmilebridge as a powerful second half display ensured the opening derby spoils over Newmarket-on-Fergus in Cusack Park this afternoon.
*Jack Browne will form a key pillar of the Ballyea defence at centre back. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill With the race for the Canon Hamilton trophy set to get under way this Saturday, there is, understandably, much speculation among followers as to who will take home the trophy come the end of the campaign.
*Action begins this weekend in the Clare SHC with four games down for decision on Saturday. It may be argued that the GAA is more political than political organisations themselves, off-the-field antics can certainly strengthen this theory across multiple aspects of the Association.
