The senior championship reaches the penulimate stage of the round robin series this weekend with big-name teams like Tulla, Clarecastle, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Sixmilebridge fighting for survival, writes Eoin Brennan as he looks ahead to all eight games.

Group 1
Ballyea v Inagh/Kilnamona
@ Clareabbey, Friday

As anticipated, it’s far from clear-cut in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with two rounds remaining. Take these two contrasting sides as a prime example.
Inagh/Kilnamona have a perfect record from their two outings so far, accounting for the county champions of the past two years while Ballyea have lost both their ties and are in need of some inspiration.
Yet if Ballyea were to upset the odds to beat the Combo and Wolfe Tones in their remaining games and other results go their way, they could still force a play-off in the group.
Although possible, this eventuality is extremely unlikely though as Inagh/Kilnamona surely won’t undo all their early work by faltering at this stage and the fact that a victory here would secure a quarter-final spot, they will be determined to finish the job with a game to spare.

Paddy O’Connell’s return will inspire Ballyea but the Combo have shown against Tulla and Wolfe Tones that their young side can mix it and the confidence built up from those two impressive displays should see them through on this occasion.
Verdict: Inagh/Kilnamona

Tulla v Newmarket-on-Fergus
@ Cusack Park, Saturday

“Two man enter, one man leave.” The incessant chant of obscure 80s film Mad Max 3 movie as two competitors entered the ‘Thunderdome’, knowing that only one survivor could prevail. The venue may be different and despite the shortage of referees, Tina Turner is unlikely to officiate this time but the consequences and repercussions are the same for Tulla and Newmarket-on-Fergus this weekend.
Put simply, a quarter-final place is a prerequisite for both sides but barring a shock from Ballyea in their remaining games, one of these heavyweights has to fall here.
The county champions though have the edge after two tough encounters in the last fortnight that have hinted a return to last year’s form. Newmarket meanwhile have yet to test their mettle since they went down tamely to Wolfe Tones in early June and after their win against Ballyea last week, appear to have a few more creases to iron out yet.
The roles were reversed last year when they met in the quarter-finals. Newmarket approached that game full of confidence after topping their group but were torn apart by a determined Tulla team. That result shaped Tulla’s season and from that point on, they never looked back. While a draw could be acceptable to the Blues this time, a win is the only option available to Tulla and they will have to be in similar ‘Thunderdome’ mode this time as well if they are to hold on to their throne.
Verdict: Tulla


Group 2
Sixmilebridge v Cratloe
@ Cusack Park, Friday

Back in early June, Sixmilebridge and Cratloe looked to be in enviable positions. Both had just won their first round ties against Corofin and Tubber respectively and were also the front-runners in the Clare Cup and at that stage, this bragging rights derby was anticipated to be the group decider.
Three months on and the picture has completely modified. The Bridge still remain in the last four of the league but off the back of two successive defeats in eight days, their championship hopes lay in disarray. Cratloe’s situation is not as perilous but another defeat would practically leave them with a mountain to climb.
As a result, this fierce local derby takes on an added significance this weekend. The sides may not have met at senior championship level too many times but there has never been so much at stake and Cratloe will never get a better opportunity to emerge from the shadow of their dominant neighbour.
A Cratloe win would also represent a changing of the guard and provide a massive boost for their young side’s challenge.
Sixmilebridge though have always seemed to be able to produce when backed into a corner and despite their seemingly fragile current state, they certainly have the experience to hold off their neighbours.
The Bridge need to rediscover their hunger but even a win here would not ensure their survival. Other results will determine that but at the very least, they have to give themselves the chance.
Verdict: Sixmilebridge

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield v Corofin
@ Éire Og, Saturday

Only eclipsed by rookies Inagh/Kilnamona, St Joseph’s have certainly raised eyebrows in the championship so far.
Seemingly in an interminable state of transition in recent years, they shocked group favourites Sixmilebridge in their first outing and maintained that form against Cratloe a week later to vault into the driving seat in the group.
However, their biggest evaluation could come here.
Almost one year ago to the day, St Joseph’s championship hopes were derailed by the same opposition as Corofin emerged 2-14 to 2-12 victors on their way to the quarter-finals.
Corofin have also recovered well from their narrow opening defeat to Sixmilebridge by beating Tubber last time out and refreshed from a bye in round three, Corofin will see this as their chance to join Doora/Barefield at the top of the group.
Their championship football interests are now over aside from relegation issues and Corofin won’t want to have to depend on their final game against Cratloe to salvage something from their season.
St Joseph’s are on a roll though and while revenge should be motivation enough here, the added carrot of a quarter-final place should give them extra impetus and should be enough to get them over the line.
Verdict: St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield

Group 3
O’Callaghan’s Mills v Kilmaley
@ Shannon, Friday

Controversy over their dual players aside, this has been a thoroughly disappointing year for the Mills who have failed to live up to early expectations and now require a minor miracle just to force a play-off. They will need to win this one as well as their final game against Éire Óg and hope that Clooney-Quin can do them a major favour by winning their two remaining games.
Leaders Kilmaley don’t appear to be in a generous mood this year however as they look to continue their perfect start after already accounting for Clarecastle and Éire Óg. There is a ruthlessness to their play this year that hasn’t been seen since the championship winning side of 2004 and they appear to have found the personell to complement their already strong spine.
Two losses for the Mills means  they cannot afford another slip-up and even if they fail to get out of the group, they need to restore some pride after failing to beat 14 man Clooney-Quin last time out.
Nevertheless, Kilmaley hold all the aces here and with one more victory ensuring a place in the last eight, expect the group leaders to finish the job here, thus avoiding a nervy last round deicder against Clooney-Quin.
Verdict: Kilmaley

Clarecastle v Clooney-Quin
@ Cusack Park, Saturday

Last chance saloon for Clarecastle who have continually failed to impress in this year’s championship. Despite a bright start to the year, the Magpies huffed and puffed their way through the remainder of the Clare Cup and carried that inconsistent form into the championship. They presumed that a gritty win over O’Callaghan’s Mills had stopped the rot but a second half collapse against neighbours Éire Óg left their championship hopes hanging by a thread and nothing but a win will do here if they are to remain in the running.
Clooney-Quin on the other hand have had no such problems. They handed out a beating to the Townies in round one to record their first senior championship win in twenty years and more impressively, despite being reduced to 14 men after Fergal Lynch received a straight red against the Mills last time out, they still prevailed by seven.
Their destiny is firmly in their owns hands but considering their final two opponents (Clarecastle and Kilmaley), they will need to get something out of one of these games to secure their passage into the last eight and this game appears to be their best opportunity.
Injuries haven’t helped the Magpies championship charge but they should have almost a full squad to pick from for the first time this season while Clooney-Quin will have to do without county senior Fergal Lynch and on those factors alone, necessity for the Magpies should see them shade it.
Verdict: Clarecastle

Group 4
Crusheen v Ogonnelloe
@ Sixmilebridge, Saturday

If ever a performance signaled intent, Crusheen’s display against group rivals Clonlara demonstrated that last year’s championship hangover is complete and they are determined to go one step further this year and claim the coveted Canon Hamilton. They always had a solid back seven but their problems lay further up the field and finding the right blend has been a constant dilemma in recent years. That problem seems to be solved though as Pat Vaughan has taken the mantle as chief scorer with ease and the final piece of the jigsaw came against Clonlara when Alan Brigdale was switched to full-forward and the former county panelist replied with a match winning performance.
That win cemented Crusheen’s place in the latter stages but while this game will probably be used to test out their large squad, they will want to maintain their winning run.
For Ogonnelloe, facing last year’s finalists couldn’t have come at a worse time. The dismissal of county panelist Peter O’Brien against Scariff means that Ogonnelloe will enter this must win game without their biggest asset but they welcome Colm Forder back after suspension. But add in the fact that they lost their Clare Cup play-off to Corofin at the weekend that denied them promotion to division 2A and it appears to be a mountain to climb for Ogonnelloe here. Fourteen points separated the sides last year at the same stage but on that occasion, they possessed a full squad so even bringing that deficit down this time would be deemed as progression.
Verdict: Crusheen

Scariff v Smith O’Briens
@ Whitegate, Saturday

Another east Clare battle to see who will challenge Clonlara for the final qualification place from the group. Scariff, Smith O’Briens and Ogonnelloe still remain in the running but while Scariff are in the best position after their win over neighbours Ogonnelloe last time out, this is Smith O’Briens and Ogonnelloe’s last chance to stake a claim for a play-off.
Smith O’Briens have had another disappointing start to the championship so far, falling to Crusheen and Clonlara in their two outings. They might have not expected to overcome group favourites Crusheen but they will be bitterly disappointed that they didn’t put up more of a show against newcomers Clonlara in round two and now have to beat Scariff and Ogonnelloe in their remaining fixtures to stay in the hunt for the last eight.
Scariff meanwhile have impressed in the championship so far after a disasterous Clare Cup campaign that saw them relegated from Division 2A. They should have claimed something out of their encounter with Crusheen after a battling display but were edged out by an injury time ’65 from Ciaran O’Doherty. However, they put that right against Ogonnelloe last time out without having to hit top gear.
They will be the favourites here also and had eleven points to spare against the same opposition last year. They have lost a few players since but another win would set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Clonlara in the last round and the lure of that grandstand finish should be enough to give them all two points here.
Verdict: Scariff

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