Minor Hurling Championship Rolls Into Action

The 2011 Clare minor hurling championship finally gets underway this Friday evening with a number of fixtures down for decision in the A and B grades. A few weeks ago the first round was postponed due to the fact that the county minors were contesting the Munster final. Of course this fixture change proved to be an inspired choice as the minors won a second title on the trot last Sunday when overcoming Waterford. Below are the previews for all of these round 2 games.

Minor A - Round 2

Eire Og v Ballyea @ Eire Og, Ennis

The Eire Og club grounds will be the venue for this clash between the Ennis side and near neighbours Ballyea. Eire Óg are going through a transition at the moment and will look to Clare and St. Flannans's player Shane O'Donnell to lead the way. A number of both sides' are schoolmates having represented St. Flannan's over the past few seasons and will be more than familiar with one another. In addition to Shane O'Donnell others players expected to be in the Townies starting line up are Paul Moynihan, David Reidy, James Sweeney, Martin Melican, Joel Hanna and Bryan Nestor. In the view of many people Ballyea are one of the teams to beat in this year's competition. Recent years have seen great strides made by the Mid Clare outfit accumulating A titles at underage grades. Such is the talent available to Ballyea that they also have four county representatives in the shape of Clare captain Tony Kelly, Jack Browne, Gearoid O'Connell and Niall Deasy amongst their side. Indeed, all four featured heavily in their U21 B success back in April where they beat O'Callaghan's Mills in the final. Furthermore, Ballyea will again have assistance from a few isolated players including Kilmihil trio Martin O'Leary, Stan Lineen and Allyn Dalton who are also crucial to their hopes. Overall it is hard to see Ballyea being beat as they look to be the better-balanced side.

Verdict: Ballyea

       Clare minor captain Tony Kelly will be in action for Ballyea against Eire Óg

Newmarket v Clarecastle @ Newmarket-on-Fergus

Defending champions Newmarket will have home advantage in this local derby with Clarecastle. Last year the "Blues" surprised Sixmilebridge in the final and still possess a number of that side. They have been dealt a blow before a ball is pucked as county minor Shane Liddy is out injured while doubts remain over the fitness of fellow county man Frank Melody who in recent weeks has been sidelined with a shoulder complaint. In addition the Newmarket men have two other county minor men in their team namely in Niall O'Connor and Shane Kelleher while other players they will hope to lead the way will be Evan Keogh, Sean Gleeson and James Warren. In 2010 Clarecastle blooded a number of U16's and having contested the U16 final back in October they will be confident to qualify for the last four. Clarecastle will include Conor O'Gorman, a member of the Magpies senior side, in their ranks along with Jamie Coughlan and a number of those who played in the 2010 U16 final against Sixmilebridge such as Conor Clancy, Gearoid Ryan, Stephen Ward, Aidan McGuane and Bobby Duggan. It has the makings of a good game of hurling with the greater experience of this Newmarket team expected to push them over the line in what should be a tightly contested affair.

Verdict: Newmarket

Clonlara v Sixmilebridge @ Clonlara

This tie is a clash of the 2009 U16 B champions and the U16 A champions of the same year. In recent years both clubs have had their fair share of success at underage level and will both hope to be in the shake up for this title. Clonlara have key players in the shape of Colm Galvin and Cathal "Tots" O'Connell who both played important roles in last Sunday's county side that regained the Munster title. They also contain two other panellists in brothers Oisin and Shane O'Brien while they will also be looking for big performances from Ryan Morris, Eoin Meehan and David Begley. Earlier this year the "Bridge" clinched the U21 A title with names such as Jamie Shanahan, Seadna Morey and Brian Carey featuring prominently in that success. All three are Clare minors along with Alan Mulready with all four expected to man the central positions while their side will hope others such as Evan McInerney, Mark Hehir and Sean Lynch hit form. They have won the last four U16 A championships and have a conveyor of talent coming through. Add in that they have also lost the last three minor finals so they will want to atone for that this year. It is being touted as the game of the round and should be a close one but come the full time whistle Sixmilebridge should be ahead.

Verdict: Sixmilebridge

 

          Seadhna Morey will be in the Sixmilebridge team this Friday

Clooney-Quin v St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield @ Clooney

This is another local derby with Clooney-Quin playing host to St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield this weekend. Clooney-Quin have impressed at this grade in recent years and each year are improving having contested the quarter final in 2010. They contain a well-balanced side and will be hoping to get through to the semi finals as it is well within their reach. Their man light will be the skilful Peter Duggan who played his part in Clare's recent Munster success at this grade. Duggan is deadly from placed balls and will be joined by Dave Barry, Keith Hogan (both of whom are also Clare panellists), Jason Ryan, Brian Clune, John Reynolds and Niall Hehir in the Clooney starting line out. Doora/Barefield seem to be in a period of transition at the moment but none the less they will be hoping to get off to a winning start. The "Parish" can call on Clare minor duo Jarlath Colleran and Alan O'Neill who are also regulars on their senior side. These two are their key players while they will also seek good performances from other players such as the likes of Donal O'Halloran, Kevin Maloney, Fiachra Tuohy, David Conroy and Aaron Landy. Overall Clooney-Quin appear to be the better balanced side and should get their campaign off to a winning start in this one.

Verdict: Clooney-Quin

Minor B - Round 2

Group 1

Inagh/Kilnamona v Broadford @ Inagh or Kilnamona

It was not that long ago that Inagh/Kilnamona won the A championship but this year they will compete in the second tier. Last year they had three county minor representatives and fielded a young side in the championship with a number of these players expected to fill central roles this year. Key players for the Mid Clare outfit are Patrick Healy, Gerry Coote, Cathal McConigley, Ciaran Devitt, James Keating and Joseph Gallagher. Their East Clare opponents Broadford will fancy their chances of doing well at this level and will also field a youthful side most of whom will be underage next year. Clare minor panellist Donie Whelan is sure to be their man score getter with the likes of Damien Keniry, Craig Shanahan, Brian Taylor, Micheal McInerney and Danny Reddan also expected to be in their line up. It is sure to be an entertaining game with Inagh/Kilnamona expected to justify favouritism.

Verdict: Inagh/Kilnamona

Kilmaley v Scariff/Ogonnelloe/Whitegate @ Kilmaley

Minor A champions as recent as 2009 Kilmaley will face a stiff test from this Inis Cealtra combination. Kilmaley can still call on a few of that minor winning side and will look to Clare minor Eoin Enright, Cillian McNamara, Paul Kennedy, James Maloney and Miltown duo Conor Cleary and Aidan McGuane to show the way. The amalgamation will seek good performances from county minor panellist Rory Skelly and his Ogonnelloe club mate Peter English, Eoin Quirke, Paul O'Rourke (both Whitegate) and Scariff duo Barry Nash and Enda Nugent. It is a hard one to predict but giving Kilmaley's experience of playing at A level this might swing it their way.

Verdict: Kilmaley

Parteen v Meelick @ Parteen

A local derby between two clubs that in times past played under the same banner and in more recent times amalgamated to great effect. It is a pity that they have not joined forces to compete in the top tier as there is a good bunch of players between both sides. Parteen will have Clare minor Martin Moroney in their team along with Noel Bridgeman, David Small, Eoghan Kelly, Gavin Higgins and Cian McCarthy. Meelick will call on two county minors of their own in Oisin Hickey and Damien Moloney while Colin Ryan and the Ryan triplets Gavin, Evan and Darren are other players they will be looking to show the way. In a local derby anything can happen but Meelcik with Hickey and Moloney might sneak it.

Verdict: Meelick

Group 2

Feakle/Killanena v O'Callaghan's Mills @ Feakle or Killanena

In this East Clare clash Feakle/Killanena will be fancied to overcome O'Callaghan's Mills. Both sides contain a number of players that featured in their respective ill-fated U21 county finals earlier this year with the "Mills" losing out in the B decider and their opponents losing out in the C. Feakle/Killanena can call on Clare minor and Feakle duo Eibhear Quilligan and Shane McGrath along with Colin McNamara, Martin Glynn, Eoin McMahon and Padraig Brady from Killanena. O'Callaghan's Mills will hope Clare minor panellist Sean O'Gorman, his brother Aidan, Kevin O'Callaghan, Jamie Lynch, Eoin McInerney and Darren Cooney are on form. Another tight contest is expected with the amalgamation getting the nod.

Verdict: Feakle/Killanena

Wolfe Tones v Crusheen/Tubber @ Shannon (W/O to Crusheen/Tubber)

This game is down for decision but by all accounts the Shannon town club of Wolfe Tones has pulled their team from the competition due to small numbers. This is a shame to see and means that those players interested in hurling will have to play junior or senior for the remainder of the year. Last Sunday saw Wolfe Tones very own Aaron Cunningham play his part in the minor’s Munster success, it is a pity he and those that were due to play won’t see action at this grade in 2011. As a result Crusheen/Tubber are set to get the walk over but they will have preferred to claim the points on the field of play. It is a shame as players such as Cunningham, Eoin Collins, William Flynn, Darragh Downes and Sean Reidy (Wolfe Tones) along with Jamie Fitzgibbon, Rory Halpin, Sean Weir, Gerry Rosengrave (Crusheen) and Tubber duo Paddy O'Connor and Kevin Fawle would have featured in this tie.

Corofin v Smith O'Briens @ Corofin

The last fixture in this group sees Corofin take on Smith O'Briens. The Killaloe and Bridgetown men will be hoping to go all the way this year and certainly they contain some players amongst their ranks that are capable of going all the way. They will face a stiff test from Corofin who will look to Manus and Jamie Malone, Gearoid Kelly, Liam Corbett, Luke Conroy and St. Breckan's club man Declan Stack to show the way. Smith O'Brien's have a Clare minor panellist in the shape of the speedy Michael Ryan while other players they will be hoping to hit form are Mark Stritch, Mark O'Halloran, Noel McInerney, Jason and Christopher Monahan. Expect Smith O'Brien's to win this one.

Verdict: Smith O'Briens

Clare and Galway – The Banner versus the Tribesmen

“Win or bust” is basically the mantra for these two great rivals as they go in search of the crucial victory that would ignite their championship flame for 2011. Both are coming into this game with a heavy burden of expectation harrowing over them. Of course, the form of each one is different, in Clare the reputation of this young team is glowing after the fight they put up against Tipperary after being wrote off. In that said tie Clare out hurled the All-Ireland champions for the first twenty minutes but alas when did hurling for just that short period of time ever win a game? If the Banner men can sustain that level of performance for the full seventy then they will win but they do face a wounded animal in the shape of near neighbours Gallimh. The Galweigans were poor against Dublin and save for a goal from Joe Gantley the scoreline would have been greater. Approaching that game three former starts were outspoken on the current team which failed to initiate a response from the hurlers in the Leinster semi final. Much of Galway’s hope lies on the shoulders of 22-year-old Joseph Canning from Portumna, against the Metropolitans he did not enjoy his greatest day in the Maroon gansai. True, he notched 1-3 with the goal coming after a slip by full back Tomas Brady that as it transpired curtailed Brady’s involvement in the match and the points coming from placed balls. In addition, he also hit at least 7-8 wides but remember he has had his fair share of injury problems so far this year. However, one of the games most promising talents certainly wont have an off day like that again and come this Saturday evening you can be sure he will be rearing for road. Galway have Canning, Clare have Honan. Again, Darach Honan was suffering from injury coming into the Clare versus Tipperary game and he did not endure his best day but again when Honan is fully fit and on fire he is unmarkable. He won't be able line out in this one due to injury but there is another forward in Clare making a name for himself. 

Conor McGrath will be in action this Saturday evening when Clare meet Galway

That forward being Conor McGrath who has been unearthed as their most potent forward after hitting 1-6 against Tipperary, 1-2 from play and what a way to start your career with an excellent individual goal less than a minute in. The nippy Cratloe youngster is still 19 years of age but is well able to hurl, indeed he is also an accurate free taker which is crucial to Clare after the retirement of Niall Gilligan in 2009 and before that Jamesie O’Connor. Both Gilligan and O’Connor were key forwards for the Banner and excellent free takers. It is expected McGrath will be watched today by David Collins and that will certainly be the duel to watch. Another interesting duel will be Conor Cooney versus Joe Canning, old LIT team mates they will know each other fairly well and have marked each other in the past when WIT and LIT faced off in the Fitzgibbon Cup most notably in 2008 but also in 2007 and 2009 when they met in the group stages. When both counties clashed in 2009 James McInerney earned the plaudits for a good hours defending against Canning and both LIT boys could be in direct opposition at some stage come 7 pm in Pearse Stadium. Galway boss John McIntyre has made five changes from the Dublin game the most talked about one being the axing of captain Damien Joyce while Clare guru Ger “Sparrow” O’Loughlin has one enforced change with the injured Honan being replaced by Sixmilebridge clubman Caimin Morey. As for the preditction? Well, it’s like this if Clare can replicate the opening twenty minutes against Tipperary and keep it going for at least another thirty then they will win. Still, it’s hard to call as Galway with home advantage and all this criticism being levelled at them are bound to come out with all guns blazing. They have six forwards that on paper can cause damage but when did six Galway forwards ever click? Save the 2005 clash with Kilkenny, they never really do, will that change this weekend? The experience of Galway might just shade it but really it's hard to call. The man target for the Tribesmen is Canning while Clare’s main man on Saturday will be McGrath, big expectations for two young and talented hurlers. Let’s hope it’s good and more importantly that the result be in Clare's favour. Up the Banner!