Clare SHC: Champions Clonlara lay down early marker

With their entire forward line that included John Conlon and Clare U-20’s Diarmuid Stritch and Michael Collins raiding for at least three points each, it was more a changing of the guard than the expected blow-for-blow showdown, with only Tony Kelly (6), Niall Deasy (4), substitute Cian Kirby (3) and a fortuitous Brandon O’Connell second half strike making any inroads into the champions’ cushion that was also eight at the interal at 0-15 to 0-7.

It was the headline act of a Group 1 double header that got off to a spectacular start when 2022 finalists Éire Óg just managed to pip Clooney-Quin to the post with a last gasp winner from debutante Robert Loftus at 1-20 to 3-13.

A draw would have perhaps been the fairest result of a tie that was level on five occasions by the hour mark but with the prospect of facing the last two champions over the next month, both teams went for the jugular.

The tie sparked into life just before the break when Peter Duggan fielded and finished to the net from the edge of the square in the 26th minute before doubling the dose three minutes later with a bullet 20 metre free to the net to catapult his Clooney-Quin side into the ascendency at 2-8 to 0-9.

Not to be outdone, fellow county team-mate Shane O’Donnell responded with a goal of his own to slash the half-time arrears to just two and the Ennis side incrementally completed the turnaround as the second half progressed to hold a two point edge entering the final minutes.

With all attention on talisman Peter Duggan, it was his older brother Martin that almost snatched victory when getting on the end of a Mikey Corry delivery to pull to the net and inch Clooney-Quin one clear in the 58th minute only for Danny Russell and newcomer Loftus to cement what could yet be a championship defining opening win for for Gerry O’Connor’s Éire Óg.

Such a tense wrestle for supremacy was in total contrast to Kilmaley’s 26 point pummeling of intermediate champions Corofin in Clarecastle on Saturday afternoon as timely goals through James McGuire, Sean O’Loughlin, Tom O’Rourke and Colin McGuane eased Brian Culbert’s side to a 6-22 to 1-11 triumph.

The other Group 2 opener was much closer in Sixmilebridge albeit that a Shane McGrath-led Feakle were full value for their 0-23 to 1-16 win over perennial contenders Cratloe.

McGrath (9) and a four-point haul from midfielder Ronan O’Connor kept last year’s semi-finalists’ noses in front throughout despite a spectacular 19th minute Cratloe goal from Conor McGrath and Rian Considine and Diarmuid Ryan’s second half placed balls.

Scariff maintained East Clare’s rising in O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge on Saturday when holding off Inagh-Kilnamona by 0-24 to 0-20 in Group 3. County seniors Mark Rodgers (7) and Patrick Crotty (6) led the way for the 2023 semi-finalists to ensure that they led from start to finish over an Inagh-Kilnamona side shy of All-Ireland winner Aidan McCarthy.

Finally, in Group 4, there was a distinct feeling of déjà vu as Crusheen blitzed recently crowned Clare Cup champions Newmarket-on-Fergus early on before clinging on for a minimum 1-21 to 2-17 win.

Three first-half goals sucker-punched Newmarket into submission in last year’s quarter-final but this time, it was their point-taking abilities that won the day with freetaker Ross Hayes leading the Crusheen charge to carve out a double figure advantage by the 23rd minute.

Newmarket inevitably rallied on the resumption but left themselves with too big of a mountain to climb as last year’s finalists relievedly prevailed.