Fifteen teams chasing eight senior hurling quarter-final places

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*David Fitzgerald and Inagh/Kilnamona can only advance if they defeat Broadford. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

HEADING into the final round of group games in the TUS Clare senior and intermediate hurling championships this weekend its highly likely that score difference will come into play in determining the qualifiers from, at least, some of the groups.

In the Clare SHC the only one of the sixteen teams that cannot progress is O’Callaghans Mills.

The final two games in Group 4 take place this Friday evening and this group is particularly tight as a point either way could change things.

Sixmilebridge currently lead with two wins from two outings. Should they lose to Newmarket-on-Fergus and Crusheen beat St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, all three will be on 4 points with score difference needed to determine placings .

In the event of Newmarket-on-Fergus losing to their neighbours and Doora/Barefield overcoming Crusheen then Newmarket-on-Fergus, Doora/Barefield and Crusheen will each have 2 points and, here again, it will come down to score difference to determine which of the three would join Sixmilebridge in the last eight.

It’s a similar situation in Group 1 where Éire Óg lead at present with two wins from two outings. They play Ballyea in their final game on this Saturday.

Victory for Ballyea allied to a win for Clonlara over Clooney/Quin will leave Ballyea, Clonlara and Éire Óg level on 4 points each leading to score difference to separate them.

Should Clooney/Quin overcome Clonlara and Éire Óg account for Ballyea then Ballyea, Clonlara and Clooney/Quin will be on two points each and here again, it will require score difference to separate them.

The same scenario applies in Group 2 where Kilmaley currently lead with 4 points from their two outings. They play Cratloe in their final game on Sunday and a win for Cratloe allied to Feakle beating Corofin will leave Kilmaley, Cratloe and Feakle level on two wins each resulting in score difference being needed to determine finishing positions

Similarly, should Corofin defeat Feakle and Kilmaley account for Cratloe it will leave Corofin, Feakle and Cratloe on one win each and again score difference will be required to determine the final order.

In Group 3 Inagh/Kilnamona must beat Broadford on Sunday to progress to the quarter finals. Any other result will see them out of the race and leave Broadford and Scariff through.

In the intermediate championship all sixteen teams are still in the race for quarter final places but pointless St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Ogonnelloe, Broadford and Tulla will need to win this week and hope other results go in their favour if they are to remain in the race.

At the outset Tulla would have been one of the favourites to reach the quarter finals but losses to Parteen/Meelick who currently top the group and Whitegate have left them bottom of the group. They must beat Inagh/Kilnamona this week and hope that Parteen/Meelick account for Whitegate. Should this happen then score difference will determine who will progress between Tulla, Inagh/Kilnamona and Whitegate.

It’s a similar situation in the other groups where St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Ogonnelloe and Broadford all must win to have any chance of remaining in the race for the title.