THERE WILL BE new senior hurling champions in Clare this season after three-in-a-row chasing Ballyea were knocked out at the group stage this evening.
The club of Clare star Tony Kelly were not in action in Group A having already completed their four games in the five-team section, but the draw between Kilmaley and Scarriff resulted in both those teams progressing to the quarter-finals.
Ballyea needed Kilmaley to lose out to advance, yet the game finished in a draw – Kilmaley 0-21 Scarriff 1-18. It means Scarriff top the group with Kilmaley in second place as they both look forward to Monday’s quarter-final draw.
With Sixmilebridge also having exited from Group B, it marks a fresh chapter in Clare club hurling. The last eight Clare senior hurling titles have been carved up by the pair with Ballyea and Sixmilebridge both winning four apiece, Cratloe in 2014 were the last club outside of those two powerhouses to lift the Canon Hamilton Cup.
Sixmilebridge brought a case to the Munster Council midweek in relation to their finishing position in the final standings of the round-robin series, but were unsuccessful.
They do have the option of taking their case to the DRA but as of now the teams in next Monday’s quarter-final draw are:
Clare senior hurling championship
- Group winners: Scarriff, Clonlara, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Feakle.
- Runners-Up: Kilmaley, Crusheen, Clooney-Quin, Éire Óg Ennis.
In Dublin last year’s senior finalists Na Fianna were also knocked out at the group stage, losing 1-16 to 0-18 this afternoon in Parnell Park.
Na Fianna only needed a draw to advance but Shane O’Leary was the St Vincent’s hero as his late point proved the match-winner.
That result saw St Vincent’s advance from Group 4 in second place with table-toppers St Judes beating Whitehall Colmcille 1-12 to 1-9 today to preserve their perfect record.
All-Ireland club champions Kilmacud Crokes held off Skerries Harps, 1-17 to 0-17, to progress at the top of Group 2, while Castleknock joined them as they beat St Sylvester’s 1-12 to 1-10.
And in Offaly, the 2022 kingpins Rhode lost out at the semi-final stage after extra-time this evening against Ferbane, 0-20 to 1-14.
Tullamore play Edenderry in the second semi-final tomorrow afternoon at 4pm.
He is absolutely right. For far too long the mentality is and this even goes to the our nick name the ” wee county ” that we are a small county so we dont expect to do well. If we beat a Kildare or a Meath the year is a success which is not acceptable. We have a bigger population than most. Louth does have a large choice to pick from. Look at the counties that surround Louth. Dublin, Meath, Monaghan, Armagh and Down have all enjoyed success in All Ireland competition were Louth is left behind. The question has to be asked, why? Cause the mentality is not right, we shoukd be expecting to beat the teams I just mentioned except for Dublin who are a professional team in everything but name. Dublin are showing the future of GAA and fair play to them.
what would you describe as success would it be winning Leinster?
Winning a Leinster Championship would absolutely be a success for Louth as it has not happened for a long long time. Its all about making baby steps forward to an ultimate target. Why cant they get to the knock out stages of the All Ireland series and build from there year on year. Ciaran Byrne a superb talent whi recently joined Carlton in the AFL even said it himself in an Irish Independent interview “we are a small county so we dont really have a chance in winning a Leinster or All Ireland” so if a mentality like that is in a young star at that stage its definetly an issue and it shouldnt be. 2 of the biggest towns in the country in our county. Some people forget this. We have been perennial underachievers in my opinion.
Winning a Leinster Championship would absolutely be a success for Louth as it has not happened for a long long time. Its all about making baby steps forward to an ultimate target. Why cant they get to the knock out stages of the All Ireland series and build from there year on year. Ciaran Byrne a superb talent whi recently joined Carlton in the AFL even said it himself in an Irish Independent interview “we are a small county so we dont really have a chance in winning a Leinster or All Ireland” so if a mentality like that is in a young star at that stage its definetly an issue and it shouldnt be. 2 of the biggest towns in the country in our county. Some people forget this. We have been perennial underachievers in my opinion.
improvement in the league might be more realistic over the next couple of years as this dublin squad and management have a fixation on winning and that includes Leinster titles and I agree as a dub I would love to see Louth challenge for leinsters
Louth have a bigger population than Kilkenny…so it’s not about population.
Patrick you say you should be expecting to beat teams except Dublin that’s great mentality way better so getting to a Leinster final and its against Dublin do you reckon there’s any point in heading up to croke park
infairness Robbie he is been realistic
Baby steps Robbie, baby steps!!!
Baby steps for life I’m afraid !