Clare GAA discussion thread

Senior hurling championship round 2
25 May 2011


Following the opening round games two weeks ago, the race for the Canon Hamilton gathers momentum this coming weekend as eight round 2 games take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday

Group 3

Sixmilebridge v Wolfe Tones @ Cusack Pk 7-00 PM

Pre championship favourites Sixmilebridge were lucky to see of Clarecastle last time out and will look for a better performance in this game. They will face a battling Wolfe Tones who although they have decimated by emigration still contain a number of experienced players. The "Bridge" will be expected to clinch the win here with players like Caimin Morey, Tony Carmody, Niall Gilligan, Shane Golden, Paudie Fitzpatrick and Tagdh Keogh in their side. Wolfe Tones will look to the experienced quartet of Declan O'Rourke, Barry Loughnane and Gareth and Bobby McPhillips along with Mark Regan and Aaron Cunningham to upset the odds.

Verdict: Sixmilebridge

Saturday

Group 2
Whitegate v Tubber @ Shannon 2-00 PM

After disposing of Cratloe in round 1 Tubber will hope they can supplement that victory with another one here on Saturday against Whitegate. Their East Clare opponents impressed last year but so far this year have failed to replicate that form and lost out to Inagh/Kilnamona in round 1. Tubber look to be the form team and with players such as Mark, Conor and Clive Earley, Ronan and Eamonn Taaffe, and Pat O'Connor amongst their ranks they should maintain their 100% championship record. Whitegate will be hoping that Clare senior Brendan and John Bugler, George Waterstone, the Fahy twins (Ian and Andrew), and Trevor Kelly can get them off the mark.
Verdict: Tubber
Group 3

Tulla v Clarecastle @ Shannon 3-30 PM
Tulla will hope to build on their first round win over the "Mills" with Clarecastle hoping to pick up their first points of the campaign. The "Magpies" were unlucky not to have got a result from their game with Sixmilebridge and will hope to bounce back to winning ways in this one. Key to their cause will be Pat Kelly, Stephen O'Halloran, Tyrone Kierse, Jonathan Clancy, Ollie Plunkett and Seanie Moloney. As for Tulla they will hope to record a second win on the trot with the likes of Philip Brennan, Mark and Andrew Quinn, David McInerney, Paul and Aidan Lynch, and David McInerney expected to be in their starting fifteen. It is a hard one to call with little between the sides.
Verdict: Draw

Group 4

Newmarket v Kilmaley @ Cusack Pk 6-45 PM

Another good tie is in prospect here with Newmarket hoping to keep up their 100% record and draw specialist Kilmaley looking to pick up the two points. Last time out Newmarket easily beat Ballyea and Kilmaley shared the spoils with Crusheen. In what is sure to a tight affair Newmarket should have too much for Kilmaley in the end. Key to the "Blues" cause are Colin Ryan, James McInerney, Stephen Kelly, David and Enda Barrett, and Sean O'Connor. Kilmaley have experience in the form of Diarmuid and Conor McMahon, Alan Markham and Colin Lynch along with youngsters Daire Keane and Colin McGuane.

Verdict: Newmarket

Sunday

Group 1

Killanena v St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield @ Sixmilebridge 12-00 noon
Newcomers Killanena showed great fighting spirit last time out against Smith O'Brien's where they shared the spoils. It was a similar case for Joseph's who had Clonlara on the rack for most of the game before the 2008 champions levelled matters in the last few minutes of the game to record a draw. Josephs will be expected to see off the 2010 intermediate champions here with the likes of Ken and Damien Kennedy, Ivor Whyte, Kevin Dilleen, Enda Lyons and Marty O'Regan in their ranks. Once again Killanena will look to main man Mark Flaherty to keep the scoreboard ticking and hope that players of the calibre of Enda Collins, Noel Sheedy, Mikey Noone, Alan and Fintan McNamara, produce the goods if they are to upset the odds.
Verdict: St. Josephs



Group 2

Cratloe v Scariff @ Sixmilebridge 1-30 PM

The 2010 champions, Cratloe, will hope to bounce back from their opening loss to Tubber when they face a Scariff side that will be making their entrance to the title race this Sunday. Cratloe will seek a better performance than last time around and should account for the East Clare side that will hope to cause an upset here. Players such as Sean Collins, Conor McGrath, Cathal McInerney, Liam Markham, Sean Chaplin and Barry Duggan will lead the Cratloe charge. Scariff will look to Barry Murphy, Ross Horan, Cathal and Diarmuid Nash, Michael Scanlan and Conor McNamara to produce the goods if they are to cause an upset.

Verdict: Cratloe

Group 1

Clonlara v Broadford @ Cusack Pk 5-45 PM

This clash of near neighbours is sure to be tightly contested but one would expect that Clonlara would have enough firepower to see off Broadford. In round 1 Clonlara drew with St. Joseph's while Broadford had a bye in that round so they will be eager to hit the ground running in this one. Clonlara will seek a better performance this time out with likes of John Conlon, Nicky O'Connell, Darrach Honan, Cormac and Domhnall O'Donnovan, and Paul Nihill in the side. For a Broadford side hoping to recapture their form of 2009 they will have James Gunning, the Chaplin brothers Craig and Cathal, the O'Brien's- Aonghus and Aidan, and Padraig Hickey in their team.

Verdict: Clonlara

Group 4

Crusheen v Clooney-Quin @ Cusack Pk 7-15 PM

The defending champions drew with Kilmaley in their first outing while Clooney-Quin will be making their championship entry in this game. In what has been described as the toughest group a win for either side would be the perfect tonic before round 3. Crusheen can call on Paddy Vaughan, Cian and Cathal Dillon, Joseph Meaney, Gerry O'Grady and Fergus Kennedy to lead the charge of the "Blood and Bandages" as they defend their crown. This Clooney-Quin side contains key operators in the shape of Conor Harrisson, Derek Ryan, Fergal Lynch, Cillian and Martin Duggan, and Cathal Egan. It is expected to be a tight affair with Crusheen getting the nod.

Verdict: Crusheen