Battle of the Blues.
There are possibly too many fixtures to choose a ‘must see’ tie in what was billed as the group of death in the County Senior Hurling Championship, but as Cratloe and Newmarket on Fergus renew rivalry in Shannon this coming Friday night in Round 2, we will surely witness one of them.
Cratloe, having had a bye in the opening round, have still a lot of pundits to win over after an indifferent opening to the Clare Cup. Amongst two defeats and two wins was an implosion against a Clarecastle outfit who have already faltered to Tubber in championship fare. Two earlier impressive wins did dilute the disappointment of opening rounds against Sixmilebridge and Inagh Kilnamona but both games did lack that physical edge we are sure witness on Friday night. Newmarket, surely hungry to avenge last seasons County Final defeat start as warm favourites having accounted for maximum points in their Clare Cup campaign and an impressive 6 point Round One win over a Wolfe Tones side they had struggled to beat in championship in recent years.
Five newcomers to the Newmarket side defeated in last Octobers County final lined out in that fixture a fortnight ago and despite wet conditions equipped themselves admirably in snuffing out the expected physical threat from the Shannon opposition. The question remains have Cratloe built upon last years team enough to close in 2008’s one point defeat?
Physically, perhaps not enough yet, but the underdogs do have pace to burn and in a venue kind to open hurling Cratloe will fancy their chances despite what the form book says. As of yet Michael Deegan’s charges have not announced a team but no injury worries are expected.
Newmarket have Seanie Arthur absent with a broken hand sustained in a Clare Cup win over Inagh Kilnamona but had no evident problem replacing him in attack in Round 1 with James Liddy and Michael McInerney amongst the new faces to impress.
With a break in the rounds pending Clare’s fortunes in the Munster Championship, both sides will be eager to set themselves up for contention of qualifying from the group in late summer. Throw in time is at 7;45pm and referee for the tie is Killenena's Ger Hoey.
There are possibly too many fixtures to choose a ‘must see’ tie in what was billed as the group of death in the County Senior Hurling Championship, but as Cratloe and Newmarket on Fergus renew rivalry in Shannon this coming Friday night in Round 2, we will surely witness one of them.
Cratloe, having had a bye in the opening round, have still a lot of pundits to win over after an indifferent opening to the Clare Cup. Amongst two defeats and two wins was an implosion against a Clarecastle outfit who have already faltered to Tubber in championship fare. Two earlier impressive wins did dilute the disappointment of opening rounds against Sixmilebridge and Inagh Kilnamona but both games did lack that physical edge we are sure witness on Friday night. Newmarket, surely hungry to avenge last seasons County Final defeat start as warm favourites having accounted for maximum points in their Clare Cup campaign and an impressive 6 point Round One win over a Wolfe Tones side they had struggled to beat in championship in recent years.
Five newcomers to the Newmarket side defeated in last Octobers County final lined out in that fixture a fortnight ago and despite wet conditions equipped themselves admirably in snuffing out the expected physical threat from the Shannon opposition. The question remains have Cratloe built upon last years team enough to close in 2008’s one point defeat?
Physically, perhaps not enough yet, but the underdogs do have pace to burn and in a venue kind to open hurling Cratloe will fancy their chances despite what the form book says. As of yet Michael Deegan’s charges have not announced a team but no injury worries are expected.
Newmarket have Seanie Arthur absent with a broken hand sustained in a Clare Cup win over Inagh Kilnamona but had no evident problem replacing him in attack in Round 1 with James Liddy and Michael McInerney amongst the new faces to impress.
With a break in the rounds pending Clare’s fortunes in the Munster Championship, both sides will be eager to set themselves up for contention of qualifying from the group in late summer. Throw in time is at 7;45pm and referee for the tie is Killenena's Ger Hoey.
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