Senior hurling championship round 3 preview

After a busy few weeks on the inter county scene, the club championship comes alive again this weekend with action in the third round of the senior hurling championship. In all eight games will take place over the weekend with the action getting underway on Friday evening when Ballyea and Crusheen do battle.

Group 1
Kilmaley v Clooney-Quin

Kilmaley and Clooney/Quin will face up to each other at Cusack Park on Saturday at 7 pm. In recent years Kilmaley have proved to be a bogey team for Clooney/Quin since their return to the senior ranks in 2007. Once again Clooney/Quin are in a good position of qualifying for the knockout stages and they will value a victory over Kilmaley as good progression. That said this Kilmaley side are not what they used to be, the loss of Colin Lynch has been a major blow for them and despite their minor victory last year it will take a while for the heroes of that side settle in with the older members of the team. The likes of Conor Clancy, Alan Markham, Diarmuid and Conor McMahon are all crucial players for them having featured in their last championship success in 2004 while younger players such as Noel Casey, Colin McGuane, Shane Darcy and Daire Keane are the future. They badly need a win here if they are to keep their championship hopes on track after their two draws thus far. One feels that if Clooney/Quin are to get into the business end of the championship they will have to defeat their bogey team. They have been boosted by the return of Brian Shally from abroad but as of yet Pa Reynolds is still out through injury. Fergal Lynch has been impressive in their two outings to date and he has received good support from Martin Duggan, Cathal Egan and Derek Ryan while at the back Conor Harrison, Adrian Fleming and Cillian Duggan will be entrusted to keep the scores at the minimum. If Clooney-Quin are to win this then it would represent a undefeated record facing into a final round clash with Clarecastle and more importantly would see them progress to the knockout stages.

Verdict: Clooney-Quin

Clarecastle v Broadford

Clarecastle are unbeaten in their last five competitive games but will be looking for better accuracy in front of the goal posts this time. Last time out against Kilmaley they hit eighteen wides but thankfully for the Magpies their goalie John Casey split the posts with a last minute free to earn the spoils. They go into this tie with a number of injury worries after their most recent and concluding Clare Cup outing against Tulla, definitely out is Conor Plunkett (broken hand) while doubts remain over the fitness of Derek Quinn and Mark McNamara both of whom are nursing ankle injuries. Another player not expected to be in their side this weekend is Patrick Kelly, he spent the last few months in the USA and under the sixty day rule will not be eligible for this one. They will however boast a strong side with Tyrone Kearse, Jonathan Clancy, Jamie O'Connor, Eric Flynn, Aaron Considine, John Casey and Clare minor Stephen O'Halloran at their disposal. The absence of the four Clarecastle players would certainly strengthen Broadford's chances of causing an upset. The East Clare side will want to forget about their championship opener when Clooney-Quin had nine points to spare over them. Up until then they were flying it and were looking good for a semi-final spot in the league having been undefeated. Their 100% league campaign was upset by defeats by Scariff and Corofin but a final round victory over Ballyea secured their place in the last four of the league. They will hope to get their championship back on track here and despite being underdogs they will fancy their chances. It will be a bit of an upset if they are to defeat the Magpies. Key players for Broadford are Cathal and Craig Chaplin, James Gunning, Padraig Hickey, Aonghus and Aidan O'Brien, Padraig Taylor and Kieran Corcoran. Despite Clarecastle's injury worries they should scrape through and record their first victory of the campaign.

Verdict: Clarecastle

Group 2

The opening clash in Group 2, sees the meeting of near neighbours Cratloe and Wolfe Tones at Cusack Park on Sunday at 4 pm. Last years meeting between these sides was entertaining, two minutes into injury time and Cratloe ahead by one up stepped Wolfe Tones' forward Gareth McPhillips whose rasper of a free came back off the crossbar and thus ended the Shannon sides senor campaign for 2010. If his shot had found the net then it may have been Wolfe Tones who would have went through and not Cratloe, it just goes to show you the narrow line between failure and success. Last time out Cratloe drew with Sixmilebridge and indeed they had enough chances to win the game. While, Wolfe Tones were defeated by Inagh-Kilnamona is a game that saw five goals being scored over the hour. The Shannon men will be pleased to have been promoted back to the top tier of the Clare Cup. They will see this as another step on the ladder and will be hoping to transfer their league form to championship warfare. They will look to Bobby McPhillips, John Coen, Frank Lohan, the O'Connell brothers - Brian, Daithi and Gary, Barry Loughnane and teenager Aaron Cunningham to lead the way. Cratloe meanwhile suffered relegation last weekend but will look to injuries and inter county commitments as the main reason that occurred. The recent form of Conor McGrath will buoy them as he has been in excellent form for both Cratloe and the Clare U21's and he is crucial to their cause. In addition to McGrath they will look to the likes of Sean Collins, Michael Hawes, Damien Browne, David Ryan, Sean Chaplin, Martin "Ogie" Murphy and Liam Markham to fire them to victory. It has all the ingredients of an exciting tie, Wolfe Tones will be eager to atone for last years defeat but Cratloe are a fast, young, free flowing side who are difficult to hold and should win here.

Verdict: Cratloe

Sixmilebridge v Tubber

A similar sort of game to two years ago when these sides last met in the championship. Back in 2008 Sixmilebridge were expected to build on their semi-final appearance the previous year and make up for their round 2 loss to St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield with a victory over Tubber. The North Clare side had other ideas however and they went on to record a famous victory before securing another notable scalp with a defeat of St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield. Tubber were unlucky not to make the knockout stages that year while Sixmilebridge failed to emerge from the group with a further loss to Cratloe denting their slim hopes. In terms of league form, Tubber narrowly missed out on promotion to division 1 from a tightly contested division 2 A. Meanwhile, Sixmilebridge topped division 1 and go through to the last four. Both sides have had one outing in the championship so far. In round 1 Tubber lost out to Wolfe Tones before having a bye in round 2. The Clare/Galway border club are likely to again be without the injured Blaine Earley for this one but can call on the services of Eammon and Ronan Taaffe, Patrick O'Connor, Clive and Mark Earley, David O'Donnoghue and the returning Tommy Lee to lead their charge. Their opponents had a bye in round 1 before drawing with neighbours Cratloe in round 2. Last time out Niall Gilligan was the standout player as his last minute free secured a draw for the Bridge against Cratloe. More help in the scoring department will have to be given to Gilligan this week if they are to see off Tubber. Other players they will be looking to lead the way are Tadgh Keogh, Aidan Quilligan, Caimin Morey, Robert Conlon, Cyril Crowe and youngsters Paidi Fitzpatrick and Shane Golden. Overall, Sixmilebridge seem to be the better-balanced side and they should pick up their first win.

Verdict: Sixmilebridge

Group 3

O'Callaghan's Mills v Tulla

It is expected that the meeting of these two will provide one of the games of Round 3 of the senior championship, with both teams still awaiting their first victory in the 2010 championship. Obtaining the two points will be vital to each team's chances of making it through to the quarter-finals. The Mills were very unlucky not to have taken at least a point against Newmarket last time around while Tulla were defeated by Smith O'Brien's in Round 1 on a day when their opponents deserved the victory. In terms of league form, the Mills performed well in Division 2A despite missing out on promotion while Tulla ended their league campaign with some good results to maintain their Division 1 status and the 2007 county champions will enter this game with plenty of determination. On a positive note for the Mills, Pat Donnellan returned to their team last weekend after being injured on Clare duty and will be one of the side's key players for this game, where they will hope to put the disappointment of defeat to Newmarket behind them. Other players central to the Mills' cause are the Cooney brothers (John, Conor and Gerry), team captain Bryan Donnellan, Adrian Flaherty, Alan Duggan and Diarmuid Hehir while Adrian Donovan is out injured. The spine of the Tulla team consists of the Quinn brothers (Andrew, Mark and veteran Brian), Aidan and Paul Lynch, Philip Brennan, Mike Murphy and Sean Torpey. While Tulla know what it takes to win a county championship, the Mills have shown from their Round 2 display that they are an up-and-coming side and they should claim the spoils here.

Verdict: O'Callaghan's Mills

Newmarket-on-Fergus v Smith O'Brien's

Newmarket will take on Smith O'Brien's in the other Group 3 game this Bank Holiday weekend. The Blues are once again among the favourites to win the Canon Hamilton trophy and thus far have a 100% record, although their form has been patchy in comparison to recent years. However they fought off a stern Whitegate side who have shown that they are well able to compete at senior level and they also showed great character against O'Callaghan's Mills to grind out a win. They have been without regular centre-back James McInerney through injury in these two matches, but in his absence they are still top of their championship group and into the Clare Cup semi-finals. Smith O'Brien's will also be in the last four of that competition after winning Division 2B. The Killaloe side had an impressive march to the semi-finals and upset the much-fancied Tulla in Round 1 of the championship, although last time out they suffered defeat to Whitegate. Key operators for the Keith Wood-trained side are John Cusack, Trevor Howard, Ian O'Halloran, Clare Under-21 player Pat Vaughan, Liam Walsh, Mark McInerney, Seamus Gleeson and Shane O'Brien. In McInerney's absence, Newmarket will look to solid full-back Stephen Kelly, Paudie Collins, Clare senior duo Colin Ryan and David Barrett, Bernard Gaffney, Enda Barrett, dual player Shane O'Brien and of course Eoin Hayes, who stood out for Clare in the Munster Under-21 final this week with 0-4 from play. All in all it is hard to see anything other than a Newmarket victory and they should keep up their undefeated start here.

Verdict: Newmarket-on-Fergus

Group 4

Clonlara v Corofin

Clonlara face into this game against Corofin on Saturday having gone undefeated in the championship so far, but their form is nowhere near last year's standards. Despite their relegation from Division 1 of the Clare Cup, they undoubtedly have some of the best hurling talent in the county and they will expect to come through this game with a win. Corofin suffered two losses by 18 points and even with their talisman Gerry Quinn back they are right up against it in this group to date, although they recorded a good victory over Broadford in their previous league outing and they will need to rediscover their form of 2007, when they reached the quarter-finals, if they want to get anything from this game. A number of the Clonlara team tasted senior action with Clare this year, such as Darach Honan, John Conlon, Nicky O'Connell and Domhnall and Cormac O'Donovan. Add in the likes of captain Tomas O'Donovan, Donal Madden and the exciting county minor Colin Galvin and you have a side capable of going the whole way to the final. Corofin will need big performances from Quinn, Clare Under-21 duo Kevin Heagney and Luke O'Loughlin, Dara Clancy, Darragh Shannon (if fit), Oliver O'Loughlin, Stephen Heagney and Neil Killeen. Shannon missed their recent league games and Corofin supporters will hope he can feature in this match. The north Clare side will put it up to Clonlara but, all things considered, the most likely result is a win for the 2008 county champions.

Verdict: Clonlara

Crusheen v Ballyea

Crusheen got off to a winning start in the 2010 championship with a facile victory over Corofin in May while Ballyea went down against Clonlara. Both sides failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Clare Cup. Ballyea are a young team and could count themselves unlucky not to have got something from their game with Clonlara. They were without Clare minor duo Paul Flanagan and Tony Kelly for that match, although Cathal Doohan did play. It remains to be seen whether Flanagan and Kelly will line out this weekend. All three players provide the youthful thrust of this side, which is nicely complemented by the experience of Shane O'Neill, Tony Griffin, Donal Chambers and the likes of Niall Keane and Francie O'Reilly from their Under-21 side of 2009 which won the Under-21 B county title. That makes for an ideal blend and they are sure to cause a few problems for Crusheen this weekend. Meanwhile, Crusheen will be seeking match-winning performances from Gerry O'Grady, Ciaran O'Doherty, Paddy and Joe Meaney, the Dillon contingent (Cronan, Cathal and Cian) and Donal Tuohy. They could be without Pat Vaughan, whose match fitness is in doubt after picking up an injury in Clare's defeat to Dublin at Croke Park three weeks ago. It is expected to be a well-contested game of hurling, with the greater experience and ability of Crusheen to swing the result in their favour.

Verdict: Crusheen