*S&C coach Derek Morris and coach Podge Collins. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. SAYING no to a request from Ger O’Connell to become part of his Clare minor management was something Podge Collins found difficult and now they’re sixty minutes from guiding the county to a third All-Ireland title at the grade.
*Graham Ball is the Clare minor hurling captain. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CHAMPIONSHIP commences for Clare’s minor hurlers this Saturday, they are without one of seven survivors from last year’s panel with promising forward Paul Rodgers missing out.
*Rian Considine takes on Keelan Sexton. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CRATLOE’s reign as Clare senior football champions was ended by a sharper Kilmurry Ibrickane in Saturday’s semi-final with long-serving manager Colm Colllins left lamenting how they gave away possession cheaply for the concession of three goals.
*Daryn Callinan and Keelan Sexton celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. KILMURRY IBRICKANE are back in the TUS Clare SFC final for the first time since 2021 after ending Cratloe’s reign as county champions.
*Jamie Moylan gets away from Niall Kelly, Cian Meaney and Michael Kelly. Photograph: Ruth Griffin WHEN the need was greatest, it was champions Cratloe that stepped up to grind out an eighth consecutive victory en route to the semi-finals in Cusack Park.
*Podge Collins. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CRATLOE are bringing a “never say die attitude” to the table and despite going massively under the radar they remain in the hunt for honours in both codes of the senior championship.
*Conor McGrath was the hero for Cratloe. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill The final weekend of group action finished in memorable fashion when Conor McGrath’s last gasp point from the left touchline inch Cratloe into the last Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final berth.
*Cratloe’s Conor Ryan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill RETURNING to the knockout stages has always been the primary focus for county champions Cratloe.
*Enda Boyce. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FRESH from starting the defence of their title as senior football champions with a win, Cratloe’s senior hurlers will be bidding to have a winning first outing.
*Cratloe’s Cathal McInerney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ON SIX occasions in the past twenty years, the Clare senior football title has been retained by the previous year’s winners.
