Four teams remain in the hunt for the Clare U21 Hurling Championship with each determined to make it to the final. Both semi-finals take place this weekend and two intriguing contests are expected.
Kilmaley vs Clarecastle 03/04/15 at 17:00 in Clonlara:
In what is a repeat of the hugely controversial Minor final of 2012, Kilmaley and Clarecastle face off in what has the potential to be the game of the 2015 U21 hurling championship. While 2012 is more remembered for the off the field antics of both sets of management, this tie will be remembered for what happens on the field as two very skilful exciting sides aim to advance to the County Final. Very little will be between the sides when the final whistle sounds in Clonlara later this evening as the amount of scores hit by both in their quarter-final wins suggest, Kilmaley hit 1-15 while Clarecastle scored 1-16.
Kilmaley survived a late surge from Inagh/Kilnamona in their quarter-final tie to come out on top with four points to spare. In that clash, the victors dominated from the early stages with Cian Moloney raising a green flag inside three minutes. The Kilmaley wing-forward would finish the game with 1-10. The main worry for the West Clare outfit was their finish in their quarter-final. Leading by eight points with five minutes remaining, they allowed Inamona to ship four points in the closing stages to cut the gap to four. Should they end this evenings game in such a similar fashion, it will cost them a place in the final. Similarly they will need more players to step up with scores as Moloney will be a marked man following his quarter-final display. Kilmaley have only won the U21 Championship once, the win coming in 1975. Their record at minor level is better with championship victories in 1973, 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2014. When they claimed their only U21 title, their panel largely consisted of players from the 73 Minor Champions. They now need the various players from the minor winning teams of 2012 and 2014 to step up to the mantle at the U21 grade in order to add to their title haul. All their focus needs to be on a strong Clarecastle side as if they underestimate their opponents, there will be no final to compete in. Conor Cleary, Michael O’Malley, Aidan McGuane, Cian Moloney and Brian Cahill will need to put in big displays for the Kilmaley side.
In their quarter-final clash, Clarecastle edged out Feakle/Killanena on a 1-16 to 1-07 scoreline. Key to their success was the impact of Clare Senior, Bobby Duggan who finished the hour with 0-11, seven of those scores coming from placed balls. Ultimately it was Duggan who proved to be the difference between the sides with his accuracy from frees knowing no bounds, on the other hand Feakle/Killanena hit fifteen wides from frees and had three different freetakers over the hour. The Magpies recovered from the 2012 Minor Final defeat to claim the Willie Chaplin Cup twelve months later. However, in recent years they haven’t been sitting at the top table in Clare hurling. The win over Feakle/Killanena was their first victory at U21 since 2009. One strength that the Pat Tuohy managed side can call upon is the experience of their players; Gearóid Ryan, Stephen Ward, Conor Galvin, Bobby Duggan, Mark McGuane and Dylan Broderick all received regular gametime for the Clarecastle Senior Hurling team in 2014 in what was the Magpies best campaign at Senior level since 2007. The experience they have gained playing senior may prove invaluable for the Magpies and it will be their senior players that will have the biggest say in how it pans out for them in this contest.
Éire Óg vs Ballyea 04/04/15 at 12:00 in Clarecastle:
Another tight encounter is expected when two sides with recent U21 titles battle it out for a place in the penultimate stage of the competition. At the beginning of the championship, neither of these sides were tipped to reach the final, but now they’re both sixty minutes away from making it to that stage. While this contest is not being billed as the game of the championship, there is sure to be an exciting match on offer for all those who flock to Clarecastle.
For their quarter-final, Ballyea were the underdogs going in against a fancied Broadford who had just knocked Sixmilebridge out of the championship. Nonetheless, Ballyea had no interest in studying the script and completely outfought their opponents to book a spot in the last four with a 1-10 to 0-06 win. Finalists in 2014, Ballyea have lost some key players since with Tony Kelly, Jack Browne and Gearóid O’Connell all overage. Their loss has been gigantic but it’s now time for other players to step up for the Claret and Amber, arguably the biggest problem within the club has been their complete reliance on the trio plus Paul Flanagan at all levels. Broadford’s indiscipline was a big aid to Ballyea in with Niall Deasy hitting six placed balls over the hour, seven points was the difference between the sides at full-time and had the East Clare been somewhat diligent in this department it could have been a different result altogether. Ballyea have made it this far on their own merit and now that they have made the last four, they will be eager to go one step further. The hurt of losing the 2014 decider is a big driving force for the Ballyea lads plus the fact that very few people in Clare are giving them a chance. Tadhg Lynch, Niall Deasy, Michael Nagle, Martin O’Leary, Damien Burke and Pearse Lillis are some of the names to keep an eye on for the Ballyea side.
When Éire Óg claimed their sixth U21 title in 2010, they were captained by goalkeeper Kevin Brennan who is now one of the key members of the management team this year. A former Clare goalkeeper, Brennan will hope to have imparted some wisdom into the panel. Even though the scoreline suggests otherwise, the Townies didn’t have it all their way in their 2-17 to 1-09 victory over thirteen man Newmarket-on-Fergus. In fact the Blues lead by two points with fifteen minutes remaining, but it was the composure of the Ennis club in front of goal that helped to seal the deal. Both Éire Óg and Ballyea came up against very indisciplined sides in their quarter-final clashes and had both Newmarket and Broadford to thank for their slip-ups in this department. The Townies seemed physically stronger than the Blues in their last outing and over a month on from the game, their standard of hurling will have increased considerably since. They lost wing-back Conor Brennan to a straight red card and they’re expected to be without the Clare U21 football captain for the semi-final. Full-forward Shane O’Donnell has been in scintillating form recently and Ballyea will have a huge task in trying to quieten the Ennis man. Liam Corry, Eimhin Courtney, Kieran Malone and Dara Walsh will need to be in top form for the Townies in order to secure their place in the final for the first time in five years.
