*Crusheen’s Conor O’Donnell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill DESPITE picking up a first round win in the TUS Clare SHC, Crusheen still head into the second round with “a little bit of nervousness,” manager Michael Browne remarked.
*Joe McGann. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Four green flags were the difference between the sides as St. Breckan’s got their Clare SFC bid back on track.
*David McNamara is fouled by Ryan Taylor and Trevor Lee. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BACK FOR a second stint as manager of the Éire Óg senior hurlers, Gerry O’Connor was very pleased as his side began their championship bid with a one point win over Clooney/Quin.
*James Murphy carries the ball out of defence. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA are determined to bounce back following an eight point opening round loss to Clonlara.
*Michael Collins made his Clare SHC debut for Clonlara. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLONLARA’s quest to win back to back Clare SHC titles for the first time began in emphatic fashion when overcoming Ballyea by eight points.
*Jack O’Neill. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill NO GAME is easy in the Clare SHC, this is certainly the case in Group 1 as Clooney/Quin will attest to after coming up just short in their first outing against Éire Óg.
*Clonlara’s Diarmuid Stritch gets away from Cillian Gavin of Ballyea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FOCUS is now completely on the club scene with the race underway for the TUS Clare senior hurling championship.
*Marco Cleary gets away from Evan Maxted. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill IN one of the tightest contests of the Clare SHC opening round, Éire Óg edged out Clooney/Quin for victory.
*Clonlara’s Colm Galvin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Holders Clonlara had an impressive performance in the first game of this year’s chase for the Canon Hamilton Cup, when they totally outclassed a Tony Kelly led Ballyea by eight points at the whistle.
CRUSHEEN edged this one with a strong start and a stout finish. Newmarket will have to count the positives instead of the points with just the puck of a ball between them.
