*The Newmarket-on-Fergus senior hurlers. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill A blistering finish ensured that Newmarket-on-Fergus completed their group campaign in the best possible fashion to effectively seal a quarter-final place in Cusack Park, Ennis on Friday evening.
*Conner Hegarty is the Clare U20 captain. Photograph: Chris Copley The meeting of Clare and their great rivals Limerick in the opening round of the Munster U20 hurling championship at the TUS Gaelic grounds in Limerick next Wednesday starts a very busy period of provincial championship action for Banner county underage sides.
*Scariff duo Patrick Crotty & Keelan Hartigan. SCARIFF’S Patrick Crotty captained the UL Fresher Hurlers to All-Ireland glory on Wednesday night.
*Clonlara’s Colm O’Meara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ACTION commenced in the U21 hurling championships at the weekend with the four semi-finals in the A competition now known while six teams remain in the race for B honours.
*Kilmaley coach Colin Lynch speaking to his charges. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography A storming finish from Clonlara, their second in successive rounds, wasn’t enough to keep them in the race for the Clare SHC title as they bowed out to Kilmaley on score difference.
*Clare’s Diarmuid Cahill. Limerick justified favouritism and qualified for the Munster U20 hurling final when they proved too strong for Clare in the provincial semi-final at the LIT Gaelic Grounds this Monday evening.
With just over a week to go to the opening round of the Munster U20 hurling championship, Clare have been dealt a huge blow with the news that both Mark Rodgers and Shane Meehan will miss the campaign.
*Oisin O’Brien. Photograph: Sport Action Photography Ask any of the current Clonlara squad about the key early influencers in their hurling careers and outside of their parents, they are more than likely to reference national school teachers Eddie Horgan and PJ Fitzpatrick at the top of their lists.
*Michael Stritch attempts to clear his lines. Photograph: John Mangan Clonlara were not deterred by the concession of two first half goals as they overcame St Josephs Doora/Barefield to progress to the semi-finals of the Clare U21 A hurling championship.
*Diarmaid Cahill is due to start at corner forward for the Clare minors. Photograph: Martin Connolly Fergal Lynch has named his first fifteen for Sunday’s Munster Minor Hurling Final against Limerick whose captain Michael Keane is ruled out with injury.
