Ennistymon who lead the group with two wins from two face Kildysart who sit on three points with a win and a draw. Ennistymon are favourites for this tie on paper but Niall Ginnane’s side can punch their quarter-final ticket a victory to top the pool. They have the personnel go a long way towards that with the return of talisman Emmet McMahon who lines out for his third game after recovering from a long hiatus with ACL surgery. After a quiet induction against Kilmihil in Round One McMahon exploded to life in the stalemate with St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield two weeks ago helping himself to eight points. There’s no doubting he’ll be marshalled well against a very well organised Ennistymon defence this weekend which is where Kildysart’s other key players can step up. When you leaf through their expected fifteen there’s no shortage of them. Fergal Ginnane and Rory McMahon, both with county experience, backbone their defence that also includes Clare U20 defender Cillian Kelly. Assisting McMahon in attack is another Clare panellist Diarmuid O Donnell and the exciting prospect - Liam Casey.
Deccy Downes' Ennistymon have had a consistent campaign to date. In control for the lions share of their opening round against last season's finalists, St Joseph's Doora-Barefield, before the comfortable dismantling of Kilmihil, where they were ambushed 12 months previously. That consistency has long been a question mark for a team no one will deny is laden with talent. The transition to the new rules may possibly have let questions linger with Ennistymon's prospects. Who were the kickers for a side that have for a few years, perhaps unfairly, been seen as a defensive? A tally of 3-32 from their opening two bouts may indicate other wise. They are still as ungenerous in defence where Liam Cotter, Darragh Conneally and Clare captain Cillian Rouine have been in excellent form without the injured Ciarán McMahon. Brendy Rouine, Darren McNamara Josh Vaughan and a fit again Diarmuid Fahy are capable of troubling any defence in the championship . With a seeded group winners spot on offer for both this may be Ennistymon's biggest examination to date and certainly a better indicator of whether they are genuine contenders for the Jack Daly.
The duel is LIVE on Clare GAA TV on Saturday from 5pm at this link
Very different fates await the winners and losers of the second tie in Group 2. Where 2025 finalists St Joseph's Doora-Barefield, with a draw to their names from their opening two rounds, must earn another, or better yet a win, to stave off the possibility of a relegation dogfight. In their way are Kilmihil, no strangers to that pressure and often the masterminds of a Houdini act to escape it. Resources are not as plentiful as their competitors and Kilmihil are further stretched this season with the departures of Ciaran and Shane Downes and Sean Crowley. That lack of depth has been somewhat evident in their opening two rounds where they ran out of gas in the second half against Kildysart and only had a scoring return from key marksman Martin O Leary in Round Two against Ennistymon. They are in rebuild mode and have introduced the likes of Darragh Connors and Sean O'Gorman quicker than most clubs can afford but what they will have is stubbornness and spirit that has served them well in these junctures before.
St. Joseph's, with a point gained from Round Two will be under pressure to deliver here. Their curve is going in the right direction. They led by five points with as many minutes remaining against Kildysart in a much improved showing a fortnight ago but after a chaotic concession of two quick fire goals still needed Tom McDonald to rescue a point with the last kick of the game. Michael Nash, who was very effective with 0-03 when called up for that game having just landed home from the States, will be further up to speed while 1-03 from Eoin Lahiffe and 1-02 from Joe Rafferty bodes well for Donagh Vaughan's men who could kickstart their season with a win. In that scenario, if Kildysart were to get nothing from their tie with Ennistymon score difference would decide who would progress straight to the Quarter Finals as group runners up and the playoff as third place. In Kilmihil they will be hoping for those chicks to be counted before they hatch.
Match Tickets for Kilmihil vs St. Joseph's Doora Barefield are available here.
