Sports - Gaelic Games

Thursday, 02 September 2010 07:47

Written by claregaasupporter

It is quarter-final time in the Clare Senior football championship this weekend with three of the four games down for decision.

Eire Og and Cooraclare @ Lissycasey, Saturday 3 pm

A close match is expected here when Eire Og and Cooraclare go into battle on Saturday at 3 in Lissycasey. The Townies have turned their season around with an impressive championship campaign that has yielded victories over Wolfe Tones, Kilmihil and Shannon Gaels. Of course in recent weeks the return of Stephen Hickey, Brendan Manning and Dean Ryan has boosted their panel.

A good few of their panel has already tasted success at senior level with their last championship coming in 2006. The Townies have key players in the likes of Alan Malone, Stephen Hickey, Shane O’Connell, Dean Ryan, Darren O’Neill, Nicky Hogan and Eoin Glynn. Cooraclare last won a senior championship in 1997 when Joe Considine was a key figure.

Indeed this will be their first joust with the Townies at senior level since this very same stage of the 1999 senior championship when it took two games of football to separate the two sides. Cooraclare qualified as runners up in their group having defeated O’Curry’s and Kilrush but losing out to Doonbeg. They possess key men in the form of Mark Tubridy, Joe Considine, Rory Donnelly, John O’Looney, Declan McMahon, David Hedigan and Thomas Donnellan

Liscannor and St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield @ Kilmihil, Saturday 4:30 pm

A clash of the old guard against the new kids on the block comes into being this Saturday in Kilmihil. Liscannor have been around a good few years since their rise to senior ranks in 2001. They qualified for this stage despite losing to both Kilmurry Ibrickane and St. Senan’s Kilkee. However the all-important victory came in round 1 against Joseph’s Miltown as by virtue of a better score difference the north Clare side go through at the expense of Miltown and Kilkee.

The 2008 county finalists have vastly experienced players in the form of Niall, Johnny and Brian Considine, Ronan Slattery, Dara Blake, Alan Clohessy and Noel Kilmartin. Their opponents contain a nice blend of youth and experience with the older brigade starting to mix well with the 2008 U21 A winners. Their path to this stage has been impressive with victories of a good Cratloe side and Lissycasey with a draw in round 2 against Ennistymon.

The experience of the James Hanrahan managed side is provided by the likes of former Kerry net minder Declan O’Keeffe, Cathal O’Sullivan, Colm Mullen and Kevin Dilleen while the youth is there in the form of Niall White and, Greg and Enda Lyons. This game could go either way with little between the teams. However if St. Joseph’s can play to what they are capable of then they might come through.

Verdict: St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield

Doonbeg v Shannon Gaels @ Kilmihil, Saturday 6 pm

This game is possibly the game of the weekend with the O’Gorman cup winners taking on the Cusack Cup runners up. Doonbeg are seen as the team to challenge Kilmurry Ibrickane this year and having gone so close last year they will hope to go one better this year. Their path to this stage has been impressive with victories over O’Curry’s, Cooraclare and Kilrush.

Success has already been achieved for them this year with the acquisition of the O’Gorman cup but they have their eyes firmly set on capturing the Jack Daly cup for the first time since 2001.

In David Tubridy they have the counties best forward, other important players include Padraig Gallagher, Enda Doyle, Conor Whelan, captain Colm Dillon, Frank O’Dea and Shane Ryan. Shannon Gaels have also impressed this year in both the league and championship. They contested the league final where they narrowly lost out to St. Joseph’s Miltown. In the championship they recorded victories over Kilmihil and Wolfe Tones before losing out to Eire Og in the top of the t ble clash. Former Armagh forward Barry Toner has proven to be an excellent addition this year, add in the likes of Noel Kennedy, John Paul O’Neill, Brian Bermingham, Keith Ryan, Bryan Cunningham and David Neylon, and you have a formidable side.

It has all the ingredients of a good game with Doonbeg carrying the favourites tag. They should justify that favouritism and record a similar victory to that of round 8 of the league (1-10 to 0-10) when these two sides last clashed.

Verdict: Doonbeg