U21 Hurling Championship Preview
THE RACE for the respective county under 21 hurling championships gets underway this St. Patrick’s weekend with a festival of fixtures down for decision. In the premier grade there are two mouth watering ties to get the championship into full swing with the pairings of Cratloe and Clonlara and of course last years winners Sixmilebridge against an Inagh-Kilnamona side strengthened by the addition of Ennistymon players. The B grade has its game of the round in the Clooney-Quin and O’Callaghan’s Mills fixture. Finally the C championship will see favourites Feakle/Killanena take on fellow neighbouring combination Scariff-Ogonnelloe with bragging rights at stake.
U21 A
Friday 16th March
Cratloe v Clonlara
@ Sixmilebridge
In 2010 Clonlara managed to sneak past Cratloe with a last minute goal in what was an exciting match that had all the thrills and frills of a good championship tie. Another tight game is in prospect this Friday with Cratloe, last year’s defeated finalists to Sixmilebridge, entering the game as favourites. They will call on the likes of Clare senior duo Conor McGrath and Cathal McInerney along with other survivors from last year Conor Ryan, Podge Collins and Enda Boyce. Clonlara, who will feature a few of their Munster winning Junior B panel, can call on the likes of Clare senior Colm Galvin, Cathal O’Connell, Cillian Fennessy and the O’Brien brothers – Oisin and Shane. It promises to be tight tussle, Cratloe appear to have match winners in McGrath and McInerney but Clonlara on paper look the better balanced. It’s hard to see McGrath being curtailed though.
Verdict: Cratloe
Saturday 17th March
Sixmilebridge (holders) v Inagh-Kilnamona @ Clarecastle
The 2011 champions Sixmilebridge will be hoping to repeat that success again this year but they face a stiff test from Inagh/Kilnamona. Most people will look back to their semi-final encounter last year where the ‘Bridge prevailed after a tight contest. This year the Combo have the added presence of nine Ennistymon players. The 2010 U21 C champions were having trouble getting numbers for their own team and so joined forces with their neighbours. The ‘Bridge have a number of last years side available including Clare seniors Seadna Morey and Shane Golden along with Jamie Shanahan, Trevor Purcell and Pa Sheehan. Inagh/Kilnamona will look to Niall Arthur, Damien Lafferty, Brian Hehir, Haulie Vaughan and Ennistymon’s Cathal Malone. In what should be the tie of the round, the ‘Bridge should have enough to advance.
Verdict: Sixmilebridge
Ballyea v Éire Óg
@ Clareabbey
Clareabbey hosts this battle of last years U21 B champions Ballyea and Éire Óg, Ennis. Ballyea, who also reached the minor final last year, have made great progress over the past number of years and will be hoping to do well at their first year competing at this grade. Tony Kelly is their main player while the likes of Paul Flanagan, who was on the Clare panel earlier this year, Niall Deasy, Cathal Doohan and Gearoid O’Connell also expected to be in the starting fifteen. Éire Óg will want to get back to a final again, having won their last one in 2010, and can call on the likes of David O’Halloran, Shane O’Donnell, Ciaran Russell, David Reidy and Aidan McGrath. It should be an exciting game but Ballyea should have too much come the final whistle.
Verdict: Ballyea
Kilmaley v Newmarket
@ Gurteen
The 2009 Minor champions and the 2010 Minor champions will both hope to come of age in this quarter-final clash at Gurteen. Kilmaley have reached U21 B finals in the past few years with a number of their current side part of those campaigns. They will fancy their chances having won the Minor title three years ago and will look to Clare senior Daire Keane, Mikey O’Neill, Martin O’Connor, Enda Finnucane and Eoin Enright to show the way. Newmarket will have the O’Connor brothers – Sean and Niall, Shane Liddy, Tommy Griffin and Darren O’Connor in their team and will be hoping to prevail. Again, a tight affair is expected but if Daire Keane is on form the Kilmaley men should win.
Verdict: Kilmaley
U-21 B Championship
Saturday 17th March
Crusheen v Corofin
@ Ruan
In 2007 and 2008 Crusheen won this respective title before contesting the A final in 2009. They are now back in the B grade and will be hopeful of doing well. Key players for the Crusheen side are their senior panellists Jamie Fitzgibbon, Padraic O’Malley, Rory Halpin and Briain Dillon. Corofin, who always perform well at this grade, will look to Stephen Heagney, Manus Malone, Fionn Clancy and Darren Malone to inspire them. It is a hard one to call but don’t be surprised if Corofin advance.
Verdict: Corofin
Broadford v Clarecastle
@ Newmarket
Last year O’Callaghan’s Mills/Broadford scored a dramatic late win over the Magpies. This year the East Clare amalgamation is no more with Broadford flying solo. Clarecastle will hope to exact revenge and it certainly has all the ingredients of a good contest. Broadford will look to the likes of Niall Moloney, Kieran O’Connell, Mark Moloney and Donie Whelan. Meanwhile, Clarecastle will have Clare senior Stephen O’Halloran amongst their ranks while other such as Conor O’Gorman and Gearoid Ryan are expected to be in their side. Another very important player for them would be Aaron Considine but it remains to be seen whether he will be fit to line out in this one as he recovers from injury. A young Clarecastle team get the nod here and they will be one of the favourites for the title.
Verdict: Clarecastle
Clooney-Quin v O’Callaghan’s Mills
@ Tulla
This clash of near neighbours Clooney-Quin and O’Callaghan’s Mills is set to being a good crowd to Tulla. Last years finalists The Mills will start as slight favourites but their opponents do have the advantage of having playing mostly A grade hurling at underage. Clooney-Quin will call on Clare senior panellist Peter Duggan, Brian McInerney, Joe Clune and Ryan O’Neill to show the way. On the other hand O'Callaghan's Mills will be hoping for big performances from James McMahon, Jamie Lynch, Sean O’Gorman and Kevin O’Callaghan. It could be the game of the round in the B grade and if The Mills can keep Duggan quiet and limit the frees then they should advance to the next round.
Verdict: O’Callaghan’s Mills
Sunday 18th March
Wolfe Tones v Parteen/Meelick
@ Kilkishen
After the disappointment of not fielding a minor team in 2011, Wolfe Tones will be hell bent on producing a winning performance when they clash with Parteen/Meelick. Despite Parteen winning the C in 2011 they did not go up to the B grade and instead will join up, a combination that has proved fruitful over the years at underage level.Wolfe Tones have Clare senior Aaron Cunningham as their leading light while Wolfe Tones 2011 senior panelists Sean Reidy, Kevin McCafferty and John Guilfoyle will also be in their side. Parteen/Meelick will call on Parteen duo Martin Moroney and Noel Bridgeman along with Meelick’s Oisin Hickey and Sean O’Connor to show the way. To give a prediction, the South-East Clare combo appear to be the better side and should advance.
Verdict: Parteen/Meelick
U-21 C Championship
Saturday 17th March
Meelick v Newmarket (2)
@ Clooney
This will be the second game in as many games for the Meelick hurlers as they take on Newmarket’s second string. On paper Meelick look to be stronger with the likes of Sean O’Connor and 2011 Clare minors Oisin Hickey and Damien Maloney. Newmarket have the disadvantage of not knowing how many players they could lose to their A team the day before and will look to players such as James Warren, Oisin Pender and Sean Quinlivan. To conclude, the South East Clare club should advance.
Verdict: Meelick.
Feakle/Killanena v Scariff/Ogonnelloe
@ Whitegate
This neighbouring clash of two combinations will see Scariff/Ogonnelloe enter the tie as underdogs. Feakle/Killanena, defeated finalists in 2011, are being tipped as one of the favourites and they can call on the likes of Feakle duo Gary Guilfoyle and Shane McGrath along with Killanena’s Colin McNamara. Their opponents will hope Cathal Madden (Scariff), Rory Skelly and Peter English (Ogonnelloe) are on form to cause a surprise. However, with a number of the Feakle/Killanena team having featured at some grade for Clare this greater experience should see them one step closer to getting back to the final.
Verdict: Feakle/Killanena
Sunday 18th March
Whitegate v Éire Óg (2)
@ Bodyke
Whitegate will fancy their chances in this one against the Townies second team. Players like Michael Dooley, Eoin Quirke and Tomas McNamara have all hurled senior for the East Clare team and should have enough here. Éire Óg won’t know their full team until after their A team have played but may call on the likes of Brian Nestor, Paul Moynihan and Joel Hanna. It should be Whitegate that advance to the next round with the win here.
Verdict: Whitegate
Monday 19th March
Pateen v Tubber
@ Ballyea
Having won last years U21 C championship Parteen have made the decision not to go up to the B grade, instead joining up with Meelick for the B. They will have lost a few of last years team but still posses a formidable team with the likes of Martin Moroney, Noel Bridgeman and Alan Small. Tubber meanwhile will be looking to Clare senior Patrick O’Connor to show the way along with the likes of Ronan Taaffe and Evan O’Donnoghue. The North Clare club played at B grade for the past few years and that should stand to them here.
Verdict: Tubber
Ruan v Sixmilebridge (2)
@ Clarecastle
Ruan will be hopeful of doing well this year at C level, having featured at B grade for the past few years. Clare U21 Killian Ryan back bones the side along with Eoin Hanrahan and Brendan Lyons while they could also have a few of The Banner players in their side as they have no U21 team of their own. Sixmilebridge will be equally hopeful of causing an upset here with their young side, they got to the final in 2010 and to the semi final last year with the likes of Eoin Hogan, Sean Lynch and Evan McInerney prominent. Again, just like the other second strings it remains to be seem whether or not they will lose players to their A side. If so, the older and more experienced Ruan might just edge it.
Verdict: Ruan
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