*Clarecastle’s James Doherty in possession. Photograph: Chris Copley
The first ever Premier intermediate hurling championship in Clare gets underway on this Thursday evening when last year’s beaten finalists Tubber take on Tulla.
Ten teams will battle for the title, divided into two groups of five and the view emanating from all camps is that this promises to be one of the most hotly contested competitions of the season.
The general opinion is that all teams are in with a serious shout of claiming ultimate honours.
Clarecastle, O’Callaghans Mills and Tulla have been in the latter stages of the senior title race in modern times before suffering relegation.
Understandably they want to return to the top division and they are the leading favourites to lift the Paddy Browne Cup.
Tulla go into the campaign without inter county man David McInerney who is overseas and won’t be available to the club for this campaign and this represents a huge blow to their hopes
O’Callaghans Mills will challenge for honours without two of the players who have been central to the team for many years. Clare’s All-Ireland winning captain from 2013, Pat Donnellan has regraded to the club’s second team which will compete in the regular intermediate championship. Another of the club stars for many years, Bryan Donnellan will also be available to the club’s second team. Gary Cooney’s return from Australia is a huge addition to the Fireballs.
Last year’s beaten semi-finalists Killanena will begin their campaign without Keith Smyth, Ian Macnamara and Cathal Noonan who are all overseas at present while Ronan Keane is injured. The absence of these players is a huge blow to their hopes of victory in this week’s opening game.
Tubber will be without the injured Domhnall McMahon for the opening round but they welcome Padraig Kelly back to the club.
Killian McDermot has transferred from Clarecastle to Midleton in Cork. Colm Rice and Piaras O’Shea (both emigrated) and Tom O’Halloran (long term injury) will be absent from the Ruan line up.
After many years as a key member of their senior team, Caimin Morey will captain Sixmilebridge in the intermediate title race this season.
There is no shortage of talking points as the race for the Paddy Browne memorial cup gets underway. It remains to be seen where the trophy will spend the winter months but the popular view is that O’Callaghans Mills and Clarecastle remain the front runners.
Group 1
Tulla
Management: Brian Quinn (manager), Barry Corbett (coach), Fintan Leamy (selector), Karl Quinn (selector), Brian Lynch (selector), Bryan McInerney (S&C).
Captain: Padraic Mulconry
Key player: Daragh Corry
One to watch: Emmett Mulcahy
Fresh blood: Cathal Culloo, Ryan Hayes
Departure Gate; Dara Ryan (travelling), David McInerney (travelling)
Last year’s run; Failed to qualify from the group for the play offs
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Tubber on Thursday July 24th in Clarecastle at 19:30
Round 2 v Parteen/Meelick on Sunday August 10th in Glenomra Park, Broadford at 14:00
Round 3 v O’Callaghans Mills on Friday August 22nd in Clonlara at 19:00
Round 4 v Killanena on Sunday August 31st in Crusheen at 14:00
Round 5 a bye
Championship power ranking; 8
“We set out at the start of the season to win promotion in the league and we achieved that. In the championship we are in a very tough group and we face a very tough opener against last year’s finalists Tubber. We will be taking it game by game and we are not looking past Tubber at his stage”, Brian Quinn, manager.
Tubber
Management: Patrick Taaffe (manager), Gavin Keary (coach), Pascal Lee (selector), Mike Coen (selector), Michael O’Connor (selector), Ronan Taaffe & Powerhouse Gym (S&C).
Captain: Patrick O’Connor
Key player: Patrick O’Connor;
One to watch: Oscar Dunford
Fresh blood: MacCauley Brennan, Padraic Kelly
Departure Gate: None
Last year’s run; Beaten finalists;
Schedule of games;
Round 1 v Tulla on Thursday July 24th in Clarecastle at 19:30
Round 2 v O’Callaghans Mills on Sunday August 10th in Clarecastle at 12:00
Round 3 a bye
Round 4 v Parteen/Meelick on Friday August 29th in Gurteen at 18:45
Round 5 v Killanena on Saturday September 6th in Gaelic Park, Ruan at 14:00
Championship power ranking: 8
“The championship is different to any league or challenge game. We were beaten in the first round last year. We are not looking past the first round and our meeting with Tulla. They have not been beaten yet this year and they have just won promotion in the league. They are always a good championship team. Last year is gone now and there is no turning back. All our focus is on the first round,” Pat Taaffe, manager.
O’Callaghans Mills
Management: Seán Doyle (manager/coach), Robbie Madden (selector), Joe Cooney (selector), Patsy O’Donnell (selector)
Captain: Aidan O’Gorman
Key player: Aidan O’Gorman
One to watch: Seanie Boyce
Fresh blood; Gary Cooney,
Departure Gate; Pat and Bryan Donnellan (Re-graded)
Last year’s run; Relegated from senior
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Killanena on Friday July 25th in Scariff at 19:00
Round 2 v Tubber on Sunday August 10th in Clarecastle at 12:00
Round 3 v Tulla on Friday August 22nd in Clonlara at 19:00
Round 4 a bye
Round 5 v Parteen/Meelick on Saturday September 6th in Páirc Michael Uí Heithir, Cratloe at 17:00
Championship ranking; 9
“There are no easy games in this championship and we are not looking past our opening game against Killanena. Since the start of the season we have been working on building a panel. We have closed our ears to all the comments saying we can win the title. We will be taking it game by game and hoping to qualify from the group”, Robbie Madden, selector.
Killanena
Management: Jason O’Brien (manager/coach), Enda Collins (selector), Fintan McNamara (selector), John O’Meara (selector), Conor Moloney (S&C).
Captain: Donal Moloney
Key player: Keith Smyth
One to Watch: Ronan Keane
Fresh blood: Aaron Moloney, Ronan Bowes,
Departure Gate: Darren Keane, Dara McNamara (both emigrated)
Last year’s run: Semi-finalists, lost to Tubber
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v O’Callaghans Mills on Friday July 25th in Scariff at 19:00
Round 2 a bye
Round 3 v Parteen/Meelick on Sunday August 24th in The Evicted Field, Bodyke at 15:00
Round 4 v Tulla on Sunday August 31st in Crusheen at 14:00
Round 5 v Tubber on Saturday September 6th in Gaelic Park, Ruan at 14:00
Championship power ranking; 7
“We have a very tough opening round game but we then have a break of four weeks as we have the bye in round two and this will give us a chance to get some players back from injury and from overseas. That said we then face three games in thirteen days which is a tough schedule. At this point we really don’t know who we will have for the opening round. Keith Smyth and Ian Macnamara are both in the U.S, Cathal Noonan is also overseas while Ronan Keane is on the injured list and these are players we really can’t afford to be without. We are not looking past this week’s first round”, Jason O’Brien Manager/Coach
Parteen/Meelick
Management: Noel Ryan (manager/coach), Roddy McDermott (selector), Keith Howard (selector), Ken Barrett (selector), Martin Reale (S&C).
Captain: Nathan Fox
Key player: Jack Kirwan
One to watch: Andrew Cleary
Fresh blood: Eoin Barrett, Mark McDermott, Ruaidhri Nolan, Andrew Cleary, Jack Meaney, Mikey Cahill
Departure Gate: Alan Murnane (transferred)
Last year’ss run; Quarter finalists, lost to eventual winners Wolfe Tones.
Schedule of games:
Round 1 a bye
Round 2 v Tulla on Sunday August 10th in Glenomra Park, Broadford at 14:00
Round 3 v Killanena on Sunday August 24th in The Evicted Field, Bodyke at 15:00
Round 4 v Tubber on Friday August 29th in Gurteen at 18:45
Round 5 v O’Callaghans Mills on Saturday September 6th in Páirc Michael Uí Heithir, Cratloe at 17:00
Championship power ranking; 8
“The new format will make the championship more challenging. We lost out last year to the eventual winners in a game we could and should have won. We have a strong ambition to win the championship,” Kieran O’Halloran, club secretary.
Group 2
Clarecastle
Management: Ger O’Loughlin (manager), Martin Sheedy (selectors), Donagh Murphy (selectors), Trevor Slattery (S&C).
Captain: TBC
Key player: Stephen O’Halloran
One to watch: Conor Ralph
Fresh blood: Conor Ralph, Paul O’Connell, Harry Doherty, Evan Price, Evan O’Connell,
Departure Gate: Killian McDermott (transferred); Oisin Casey (emigrated)
Last year’s run; Beaten by Tubber in the quarter final.
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Whitegate on Saturday July 26th in The Evicted Field, Bodyke at 18:00
Round 2 v Bodyke on Saturday August 9th in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge at 19:00
Round 3 v Ruan on Friday August 22nd in Gurteen at 19:00
Round 4 v Sixmilebrige on Friday August 29th in Shannon at 18:45
Round 5 a bye
Championship power ranking: 9
“This promises to be a very competitive championship. The Mills, Tulla, Whitegate and ourselves are all trying to get back up to senior. The approach will be game by game and one can’t look past the first round. We have a very young team and it takes time to build a side and get settled. The lads are showing a great appetite for the game and we are delighted to see that. Young players are the way forward and they will get a chance to impress in this competition,” Ger O’Loughlin, manager
Whitegate
Management: Niall Hayes (manager), Cathal O’Byrne (coach), Dermot Hayes (selector), Derek Morris (S&C),
Captain: Ian Fahy
Key player: Conor McDermott
One to watch: Mikey Bogenberger
Fresh blood: None
Departure Gate; None
Last years run: Lost in the quarter final to Killanena
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Clarecastle on Saturday July 26th in The Evicted Field, Bodyke at 18:00
Round 2 v Ruan on Friday August 8th in Dr Daly Park, Tulla at 19:00
Round 3 a bye
Round 4 v Bodyke on Friday August 29th in Scariff at 18:45
Round 5 v Sixmilebridge on Thursday September 4th in Dr Daly Park, Tulla at 18:30
Championship power ranking; 7.
“We have been drawn in a very tough group and we have a particularly difficult first round fixture but if we are going to progress we must play these teams. I expect it will be a very competitive championship as all of the ten teams will fancy their chances of progressing to the latter stages”, Niall Hayes, manager.
Ruan
Management: Leon Quirke (manager), Pakie Roughan (coach), Michael Daffy (coach), Martin Moynihan (coach), Pat Meaney (selector), Gearoid Roughan (selector), Jamie Fitzgibbon (S&C), Mike Weaving (physio).
Captain: Killian Ryan
Key player: Robin Mounsey
One to watch; James Cullinan
Fresh blood; James Cullinan, Daniel Guinnane, Jamie Ryan, Daniel McInerney, Oisin Punch
Departure Gate; Colm Rice (emigrated), Piaras O’Shea (overseas), Tom O’Halloran (long term injury);
Last year’s run; Semi-finalists, lost to eventual winners, Wolfe Tones.
Schedule of games:
Round 1 v Sixmilebridge on Sunday July 27th in Páirc Michael Uí Heithir, Cratloe at 13:00
Round 2 v Whitegate on Friday August 8th in Dr Daly Park, Tulla at 19:00
Round 3 Clarecastle on Friday August 22nd in Gurteen at 19:00
Round 4 a bye
Round 5 v Bodyke on Friday 5th September in Clooney at 17:00
Championship power ranking; 7
“Our sole focus is on the first round against Sixmilebridge who have been in the concluding stages in recent years. They always pose a strong challenge. We are in a very competitive group and we will take it game by game and at this stage we are not looking past the Bridge”, Gearoid Roughan, selector.
Sixmilebridge
Management: Pat Keane (manager), Jim Fitzgerald (coach), Eamonn Healy (selector), Seamus Cusack (selector).
Captain: Caimin Morey
Key player: Caimin Morey
One to watch: Adam Murray
Fresh blood; John Deasy, Mark Mullins, Killian Murphy, Neil Forde, Cathal Lynch, Caimin Morey, Sean McNamara, Paul Corry
Departure Gate; Alan Mulready, Matthew O’Halloran (promoted to senior), Christopher Carey (emigrated)
Last year’s run; Beaten semi-finalists
Schedule of games;
Round 1 v Ruan on Sunday July 27th in Páirc Michael Uí Heithir, Cratloe at 13:00
Round 2 a bye
Round 3 v Bodyke on Friday August 22nd in Glenomra Park, Broadford at 19:00
Round 4 v Clarecastle on Friday August 29th in Shannon at 18:45
Round 5 v Whitegate on Thursday September 4th in Dr Daly Park, Tulla at 18:30
Championship power ranking; 8
“At the moment our focus is on Ruan and hopefully we can go on and get out of the group. It has got harder this year as the so-called weaker teams are all gone. This is a tough group and there are no easy teams. We can’t pick our team until after the seniors play as we don’t know who will be called up if there are injuries. In fairness we have no issue working with the seniors management,” Pat Keane, manager
Bodyke
Management: Colin Molloy (manager), Michael Sheedy (coach/selector), Oisin Molloy (selector), Johnnie Healy (selector), Keith Hogan (selector)
Captain: Eanna Doyle
Key player: Michael O’Brien
One to watch: Tommy Wiley
Fresh blood: Sean Og Kilkeny, Ronan Fitzmaurice,
Departure Gate: Sean Wiley (transferred);
Last year’s run; Didn’t qualify from the group,
Schedule of games:
Round 1 a bye
Round 2 v Clarecastle on Saturday August 9th in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge at 19:00
Round 3 v Sixmilebridge on Friday August 22nd in Glenomra Park, Broadford at 19:00
Round 4 v Whitegate on Friday August 29th in Scariff at 18:45
Round 5 v Ruan on Friday 5th September in Clooney at 17:00
Championship power ranking; 5
“We can’t look past the first game. Last year didn’t go too well for us. We are regrouping and aiming to take a positive step forward this year. Our aim is to retain our place in the premier intermediate competition It’s a new competition and it will be tough surviving with a young team”, Colin Molloy, manager.
