Clarinbridge stars prefer Athenry to Australia

ALL-IRELAND club hurling champions Clarinbridge’s qualification for next Sunday’s Galway SHC semi-final against Craughwell has prevented their senior stars from embarking on a trip of a lifetime to Australia this weekend.

The Galway powerhouse, who were last week chosen as winners of the Best Club Down Under competition organised by All-Ireland SHC sponsors Etihad Airways, are instead set to send a 25-man squad comprised of players from the club’s junior and intermediate hurling teams on the week-long trip.

They will receive training sessions from 2001 Tipperary All-Ireland-winning manager Nicky English and participate in a challenge game against an Australian club selection in the curtain-raiser to the first Test in this year’s International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia in the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on October 28.

Clarinbridge opted not to submit a request to the Galway County Board to alter the schedule of this year’s senior hurling championship, which has its final pencilled in for Sunday November 6, in order to facilitate their first-team squad travelling to Australia.

Instead the club’s senior squad, which features Galway county stars Alan Kerins and Barry Daly, have opted to focus their attentions on trying to complete back-to-back county senior titles for the first time in the club’s history.

Clarinbridge defeated Mullagh after a replay in the quarter-final of the Galway SHC last weekend and face Craughwell in Kenny Park, Athenry next Sunday afternoon at the last four stage.

“The feeling amongst the senior players and the club was that the county championship is the most important thing,” said club PRO Joe Egan last night.

“It’s unfortunate for our senior players and while there is some disappointment, they understand the situation.”