*Joe Mullins. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLONLARA’s Joe Mullins will take charge of his first Clare SHC final this weekend.
Feakle and Sixmilebridge will meet in the county final for the first time and the Galway native has been handed the task of refereeing the tie.
It will be the third game that Mullins takes charge of in this year’s championship having refereed the first round meeting between Broadford and O’Callaghans Mills in the familiar surrounds of Clonlara and the second round clash between Newmarket-on-Fergus and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
A member of the interprovincial referees panel, Joe took charge of his first Munster MHC game in May 2018 and has since taken charge of provincial semi-finals at the grade. In 2019, he was appointed to ref the Clare IHC decider when Broadford overcame St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
Sixmilebridge are looking to win their sixteenth title in what will be their first final appearance since 2020 while the wait is longer for Feakle who were last crowned champions in 1988 and have not featured in the big day since then.
Gus Callaghan of Feakle will be the referee for Saturday’s intermediate final between Tubber and Wolfe Tones.
