First off I must commend the county board for the deal whereby allowing admission to the 4 senior hurling matches at the weekend all for ?25. I have no doubt that if this sort of promotion continues we will have much better attendences at all matches.
Newmarket v Cratloe was an excellent match and Cratloe were very unlucky to lose by the minimum. As the game wore on Newmarket were getting stronger and probably just about deserved the win.
Kilmaley were just terrible against Clonlara and were lucky to just lose by a point. Colin Lynch was a huge loss to them and they never matched Clonlara for hunger for whome Nicky Hogan was excellant.
Doora-Barefield had a surprisingly easy win over a fancied Inagh-Kilnamona. Greg Lyons was outstanding and big Seanie Mac showed some magic moments operating at the edge of the square.
In the playoff Clarecastle were deserving winners over Clooney-quin. Johnathan Clancy gave an exibition on the day..

As regards the overall winners, I reckon it'll be down to Crusheen or Newmarket. But in saying that, Clarecastle & Doora-Barefield looked very impressive and it's hard to rule out either of these. For Clonlara, who knows -I never thought Tulla could have won last year and clonlara have a great momentum at the moment so you never know.
Either ways, it's been quite a good championship

Not so sure Kilmaley being poor was the reason they lost! They got a goal in the very last puck of the game to put a gloss on things. Both sides were under par with a lot of the Clon players underperforming - Honan was quiet but every time he got possession Kilmaley panicked and fouled him. His first touch was nearly buried into the net.

The game suited kilmaley better being a tight scrappy battle with scores at a premium. Clon like to play pretty but here they had to play ugly and won. They are young and play the last 5 minutes like the first 5 tiredness not really a factor.
They are also physically very strong and have some real quality especially in the forward line.

Would be concerned about their strength and depth in the panel but if they can stay injury free and the sun keeps shining they could well cause a major shock!!

Roashter
County: Clare
Posts: 16

110122 First off I must commend the county board for the deal whereby allowing admission to the 4 senior hurling matches at the weekend all for ?25. I have no doubt that if this sort of promotion continues we will have much better attendences at all matches.
Newmarket v Cratloe was an excellent match and Cratloe were very unlucky to lose by the minimum. As the game wore on Newmarket were getting stronger and probably just about deserved the win.
Kilmaley were just terrible against Clonlara and were lucky to just lose by a point. Colin Lynch was a huge loss to them and they never matched Clonlara for hunger for whome Nicky Hogan was excellant.
Doora-Barefield had a surprisingly easy win over a fancied Inagh-Kilnamona. Greg Lyons was outstanding and big Seanie Mac showed some magic moments operating at the edge of the square.
In the playoff Clarecastle were deserving winners over Clooney-quin. Johnathan Clancy gave an exibition on the day..

As regards the overall winners, I reckon it’ll be down to Crusheen or Newmarket. But in saying that, Clarecastle & Doora-Barefield looked very impressive and it’s hard to rule out either of these. For Clonlara, who knows -I never thought Tulla could have won last year and clonlara have a great momentum at the moment so you never know.
Either ways, it’s been quite a good championship


Was only able to attent the match in Shannon Clarecastle had sharper forwards bar B Shalley and to a lesser extend C Egan Clooney struggled they are left to rue two great chances of making the 1/4 finals. Clarecastle will be dangerous now. I thought that the ref might have given a free just before the Clooney goal but boy did he make up for it he gave 6 frees in a row to Clarecastle 1/2 at least were dubious I thought that after he was surrounded by Clarecastle players he got intimidated.

Dalcassain, I agree that Clonlara were much better. I probably over emphasised on Kilmaley being poor rather than giving Clonlara just credit. No doubt Clonlara will be big underdogs no matter who they draw in the semi-final and I wouldn't be at all surprised if they make the final.
Clooney, no doubt the referee gave Clarecastle some soft frees after Clooney scored the goal when he probably should have given Clancy his free. To be fair though I thought Clarecastle were deserving winners, they had a good all-round team performance and they just got their scores much easier. Most of Clooney-Quinn scores came from frees and they just didn't threaten enough from play.
From a county point of view, it was worrying to see how Diarmuid McMahon and to a lesser extent Fergal Lynch played so badly at the weekend.

In response to raoster..iv been to a number of games this championship and the majority of intercounty player would go unnoticed as a normal average senior club hurler. It is worrying when some of our star players can in some cases not touch the ball (playing at midfield) for up to 20minutes!