Plenty of movers and a few nervous shakers too after Round Two of the TUS Clare Senior Football Championship has left the qualification race finely poised, with all three groups set for a dramatic final round. In the seeded Group One where there are three automatic Quarter Final places up for grabs, reigning champions Éire Óg remain on course for a potential three-in-a-row after making it two wins from two, but they were pushed all the way by a spirited Doonbeg side. Inspired by Eoin Killeen, Doonbeg led at the break in Lissycasey and, despite eventually losing by just three points, could feel unfortunate not to have taken more from the contest. Éire Óg will take plenty of encouragement from their ability to survive a serious examination and their final round tussle with St. Joseph’s Miltown Malbay will see who emerges from the group as winners and runners up. Doonbeg’s final game with Cratloe now becomes a shootout for either the third qualification spot or the booby prize of a relegation scrap.

Cratloe themselves were involved in a thrilling encounter at Páirc Finne, where they posted 0-20 but still came up short against St Joseph’s Miltown. Miltown goalkeeper Colin Hayes produced a series of outstanding saves to deny the Cratloe attack, while Euen Lineen and Darragh McDonagh (twice) converted goals at the other end. 

A forewarned Ennistymon were equally impressive in Group Two, responding emphatically to last season’s surprise defeat to Kilmihil by recording a comprehensive 16-point victory at Doonbeg’s Shanahan McNamara Park this time around. Brendy Rouine was in scintillating form spearheading a superb spread of scoring, with ten different players finding the target. Eoin Rouine’s rasper of a goal shortly after half-time provided the platform for the north Clare side to pull clear and turn on the style, moving them to the top of the group. Kilmihil, who can still secure the third place spot in a fortnight's time, will need an improved return up front where only Martin O'Leary contributed to their tally. 

The final Group Two placings remain wide open after Kildysart and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield played out another thriller in Clarecastle. The sides produced a second successive draw in the championship, in a contest which swung dramatically from one end to the other. St Joseph’s, boosted by the return of Michael Nash, looked set to claim the points before two late successive quick-fire Kildysart goals from Keith O’Connor and Jack Cotter appeared to turn the game on its head. Tom McDonald then produced a superbly struck equaliser from an acute angle to leave everything to be decided in the final round. A win for Kilmihil would leapfrog St. Joseph’s. A result in the opposite direction would see Kildysart and Joseph’s battle it out for second and third spot unless Kildysart can beat Ennistymon which would put them clear of the rest.

Friday night’s eagerly anticipated meeting of Kilmurry Ibrickane and Lissycasey proved a more one-sided affair than many had expected. After a competitive opening half, Daniel Walsh’s goal set Kilmurry on their way to a dominant second period and a comprehensive victory. Questions will now remain over Lissycasey’s prospects of making a breakthrough, while Kilmurry’s rebuild continue to gather momentum. The Bricks have looked increasingly assured through two rounds and appear to be building towards the knockout stages with genuine belief. Daryn Callinan (0-05) and Evan Cahill (0-01) turned in a very impressive hour at centrefield while Conor Burke (with 0-03) looks unfazed by his eagerly awaited  step up to senior level in their inside line of attack. 

Performance of the weekend could go to Corofin who also strengthened their hopes of qualification with an accomplished display against St Breckan’s. Seánán Kirby’s ground stroke midway through the opening half set Corofin on their way, while Cillian McGroary was central to an impressive overall performance. The victory leaves the 2025 Intermediate champions on the cusp of progressing, either as group runners-up or through the third-place route, while St Breckan’s now face a crucial final round against Lissycasey with their championship and survival hopes under serious pressure.

With so much still to be decided, the final round promises to deliver a dramatic conclusion to the Clare SFC group stages, with knockout places, group positions and relegation concerns all on the line.


Group Standings after Two Rounds of the TUS Clare SFC -