Clare SHC: Clooney-Quin make dramatic statement 

Peter Duggan in action for Calre. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Sunday’s fare only added to an already nebulous Clare SHC as Clooney-Quin and Crusheen secured their first victories of the campaign but there would be a heavyweight sharing of the spoils between 2023 champions Clonlara and the winners of the previous two Canon Hamilton trophies, Ballyea in Cratloe.

Last year’s finalists Clooney-Quin produced the most emphatic half of the entire championship to brush aside a shell-shocked Feakle who had won their opening tie by ten points.

Four second quarter goals through Darragh McNamara, Dannan Fox, Jerry O’Connor and Peter Duggan powered Fergal Lynch’s side to an emphatic 16-point interval cushion over 2024 champions Feakle at 4-11 to 0-07.

Despite the wind to come, Feakle made little inroads into that chasm as county senior Duggan finished with 1-8 in a 4-17 to 0-13 triumph that catapults his side to the top of Group 3.

Crusheen also reversed first round form when their newest recruit Riain O’Donnell grabbed a last-gasp goal to dramatically snatch a 3-14 to 2-06 success over previously unbeaten Broadford in Ennis.

That result blows Group 2 wide open again as with defending champions Éire Óg holding the only perfect record, Broadford need to lower the holders while Crusheen’s showdown with Scariff also takes on a new precedence for both.

It was even more nail-biting for the opening tie of the day as a Tony Kelly-inspired Ballyea looked to have made a full recovery from their ten point opening reverse to Inagh-Kilnamona when leading Clonlara by two by the sixth minute of additional time.

However, an Ian Galvin free and an Aidan Moriarty leveller from halfway at the death saw Clonlara grab an invaluable point at 2-14 to 1-17.

Kelly raided for 1-12 of that 1-17 tally for Ballyea who craved victory to keep their fate in their own hands. 

However, where there’s life there’s hope for Robbie Hogan’s side who now need to beat St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and hope that Inagh-Kilnamona can do them a favour by lowering Clonlara to invoke score difference in the final round of group matches in a fortnight’s time.