*Gavin O’Brien wins the ball in defence for Crusheen. Photograph: Ruth Griffin EXPERIENCE’s value was highlighted as Crusheen got their Clare SHC campaign off to a winning start defeating St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield by five points.
*Shane McGrath was in outstanding form for Feakle. Photograph: Ruth Griffin. Feakle will contest back-to-back Clare Senior Hurling Semi-Finals for the first time in 35 years after out-Crusheening Crusheen in Cusack Park.
*Lorcan Fitzpatrick gets away from Tadhg Dean and Ross Hayes. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill SUCCESSIVE VICTORIES HAVE MOVED SIXMILEBRIDGE to top spot in Group 4 of the TUS Clare SHC.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. ELEVEN changes have been made to the Clare senior hurling team for Saturday’s final round robin tie in the Allianz National Hurling League.
*Gearoid Sheedy is among the players to have made the panel. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE’s senior hurling panel has been finalised ahead of the Allianz National Hurling League.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLONLARA have claimed the Canon Hamilton producing a superior performance to hold off Crusheen.
*Gearoid O’Donnell. TOP SCORER when Crusheen last won a senior county final, Gearoid O’Donnell still feels the itch to play but has to be a content with a role among the club’s management.
*Michael Browne. HONEST AND HARD-WORKING were among the key traits of the Crusheen side which won back to back titles in 2010 and 2011, those same characteristics have come back to the surface again this year and it’s no coincidence that Michael Browne is back at the helm.
*Kilmaley defender Noel Casey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Having won their opening four games in this season’s Clare Cup (Division 1A) hurling league, Kilmaley played three games in seven days and managed to pick up just one out of a possible six points losing to Feakle and Newmarket-on-Fergus while sharing the spoils with Crusheen.
*Daithí O’Connell scored a vital goal in the final moments of normal time. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Crusheen’s hopes of making it to the play off stage in this year’s senior hurling championship are hanging in the balance after they suffered a second successive defeat, while Wolfe Tones are within touching distance of the knockout stages.