Senior hurling championship to have four groups

The race for the Clare SHC in 2022 will commence on the weekend of July 9 and 10, a week earlier than recommended in the masters fixtures schedule. 

In the schedule presented to delegates, the first round was scheduled for the weekend of July 16/17 on the basis that the format would see three groups of six teams battle it out for places in the knockout stage. In all there will be eighteen teams competing in the senior hurling championship in 2022.

However clubs rejected that format at the February meeting of the county board on Tuesday night and, instead, opted for four groups, two of five and two of four.

This will require an additional round for the groups of five because each team will have to have a bye and hence the move to bring the start date forward by a week. In the plan presented July 9/10 is listed for the first round of the senior football championship for teams in the one group of five that will be required for this competition which will have thirteen teams divided into 1 group of 5 and two groups of 4.

If there is no dual player involvement in the two football games that will be scheduled for that weekend, those two games will also be played.

A request from Naomh Eoin, O’Currys and St. Senans, Kilkee to join forces to compete in the senior championship was before Tuesday’s meeting. They will also compete in their own at intermediate and junior A levels

The only other change from the schedule proposed by rthe masters fixtures committee of Colm Browne, Padraic Boland, Tom Duggan, Martin Hehir, David O’Brien and Tony O’Donnell will see the race for the league titles (Clare cup etc.) commence on March 12/13, a week earlier than originally suggested.

When the matter came up for discussion at this week’s board meeting, a number of delegates voiced their opposition to the 3 x 6 proposal for the Canon Hamilton cup race. These included Sean Brogan (Scariff), Flan Mullane (Clonlara), Kevin Browne (Cratloe) and Emmet Pyne (Kilmaley) while Robert Frost (O’Callaghans Mills) and Freddie McInerney (Newmarket) were off the view that if the 3 x 6 proposal was adopted, all teams in a group would have to be allowed to play each other which would lead to five rounds.

When Colm Browne of the Masters fixtures committee suggested bringing the start date for the hurling forward by a week to facilitate the four group format, the meeting unanimously adopted the plan.

In the event of Clare being involved in the All-Ireland championship in either hurling or football at that time, the proposed dates will be reviewed.