Sixmilebridge and Crusheen inch through to Clare quarter-finals

The remaining six quarter-final berths will be confirmed over the weekend

SPOT ON: Clare hurler Seadna Morey, left, won a penalty that helped Sixmilebridge claim a draw against Newmarket. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Sixmilebridge and Crusheen are the first two names in the hat for Monday’s Clare SHC quarter-final draw but only just amidst an exceedingly tense finale to Group 4 on Friday evening.

Indeed, throughout a dramatic second period, the ‘Bridge, last year’s finalists Crusheen, and Clare Cup champions Newmarket-on-Fergus were all out of the championship at one stage as it went down to the very last puck before the former pair relievedly prevailed.

Crusheen did what they had to do as three timely goals kept St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield at arm’s length to ensure a 3-19 to 0-18 victory in Ruan. Fergus Kennedy and Jamie Fitzgibbon grabbed goals in the space of 60 seconds in the 12th minute to establish a lead that they would never relinquish. 

Nine clear at the break (2-11 to 0-08), Michael Browne’s side clinched matters with an injury-time rebound goal through Eoghan McMahon. However, despite a 10-point triumph that also dumped St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield into the relegation series, Crusheen’s fate still depended on the result from Cusack Park as neighbours Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus went blow for blow in a compelling war of attrition.

Newmarket needed to win to draw level on points with Sixmilebridge and Crusheen in the table and they certainly started in determined mood when Eoin Guilfoyle found the net in the 11th minute to move 1-4 to 0-5 clear.

That score still divided the sides by the break at 1-10 to 0-11 but the narrative subsequently flipped nearing the two-thirds mark when Seadna Morey was fouled for a penalty that former county senior Jamie Shanahan cooly dispatched to the bottom right corner to boost the ‘Bridge into the ascendency at 1-15 to 1-13.

Newmarket’s superb triumvirate of Colin Guilfoyle, Peter Power, and Seánie Arthur not only reeled in their neighbours but got their noses in front by the 55th minute. However, Conor Deasy’s injury-time point deservedly divided the spoils at 1-19 apiece at the expense of Newmarket who agonisingly bowed out of the championship.

The remaining six quarter-final berths will be confirmed over the next two days, with a repeat of the 2022 senior decider between Ballyea and Éire Óg the pick of the bunch back in Cusack Park on Saturday evening (5.30pm).

Backed by a flawless start including the lowering of holders Clonlara last time out, a third positive result will clinch Group 1 for the Ennis side whereas 2021 and ’22 champions Ballyea not only require victory but a six point margin to boot in order to keep matters in their own hands and leapfrog their opponents.

A win of any sort would ensure champions Clonlara’s safe passage to the last eight when they take on Clooney-Quin in Sixmilebridge at the same time but won’t get anything easy from Fergal Lynch’s side who are fighting for their championship lives.

Sunday’s opening fare in Cusack Park is an intriguing Group 3 winner-takes-all showdown between Broadford and Inagh-Kilnamona at 1pm, with a draw sufficient for an unbeaten Broadford to advance to the business end while in Tulla at the same time, last year’s semi-finalists can secure a second successive quarter-final spot with success over relegation candidates O’Callaghan’s Mills.

The weekend’s senior final group matches conclude on Sunday at 3pm, with Kilmaley only needing a win or draw to top Group 2 when they take on Cratloe in Newmarket. However, with Cratloe winning the last six championship clashes between the pair, a seventh successive victory by a three point margin or more would catapult the 2018 and ’19 finalists into the knock-out stages at the expense of their opponents.

Feakle, who reached the penultimate stage in 2023, still have their fate in their own hands when they match up against newcomers Corofin in Clarecastle as a minimum victory would be enough to grab the final quarter-final place.