Groups One and Two of the TUS Clare Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship take centre stage this weekend with direct qualification spots on the line.
First up on Sunday Whitegate clash with Parteen-Meelick at Dr. Daly Park in Tulla, live on Clare GAA TV, Table-toppers ‘the Gate enter as early pace-setters following impressive victories over Sixmilebridge and Tubber, anchored impressively in defense by Eoin Quirke while Mikey Bogenberger and Conor Whelan's scoring power from open play and dead-ball duties have been the highlights of their attack.
Perennial contenders Parteen-Meelick will rue letting Corofin away from them with an eight-point buffer in their opening round before a late rally fell short, but they brought themselves back into top-two contention with a hard-fought second-round win over Sixmilebridge. With target man Dara Nolan, Jack Kirwan, and veteran attacker Joe O'Connor leading the line, Parteen-Meelick view this tie as vital to shaping their championship ambitions.
Meanwhile, dual demands have to be negotiated for Corofin, whose route to the knockout stages of the Senior Football Championship ended in heartbreak last night with an extra-time defeat to St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield in their Preliminary Quarter-Final. Corofin face a tight turnaround to recover physically before taking on a Sixmilebridge side fighting to avoid relegation this Tuesday, September 8 at 7:30 PM in Gurteen.
Over in Group 2 things are really coming to the boil. Bodyke are the early pace-setters following hair-raising victories over Ruan and Tulla. Those results may have come as a surprise to everyone bar themselves, but with a Division Three league final appearance too, Bodyke are now well clear of the long grass. That elevated status brings added pressure and attention and another formidable challenge awaits the men from the Evicted next.
Last season's finalists, Clarecastle, were soundly beaten in their opening round against Tulla, but have since dismantled Smith O'Briens with aplomb to put their title ambitions firmly back on track.
Bodyke have plenty to be excited about - Ian Murray has been in scintillating form as has Seanie Doyle, Sean Wiley and experienced marksman Paddy Fitzgerald as they hunt for a place in the knockout stages. It’s a real test to evaluate where the Magpies are . The return of Cian Galvin to partner Colin Brigdale at centrefield paid dividends in their eight point win over Smith O’Brien’s and with the pace of Paul O’Connell, Conor Ralph and Conor Whelan alongside the ball winning ability of target man Harry Doherty they have potential to be in the mix up again in '26. Sunday’s tie will tell a lot.
The clash throws in at 3:30pm in Cratloe’s Páirc Mhichíl Ui hEithir and is LIVE on Clare GAA TV at this link.
The clash throws in at 3:30pm in Cratloe’s Páirc Mhichíl Ui hEithir and is LIVE on Clare GAA TV at this link.
Pressure aplenty on the meeting of Ruan and Tulla too. They meet at the same time in Newmarket on Fergus for what promises to be a cracker after both sides dropped points to Bodyke. They played out a thriller with Ruan stealing it through a late goaled Shane Punch free at the Quarter Final stage last year and there’s little to separate them on paper. Tulla’s spirited opening round win against Clarecastle showcased a lot of their attacking threat in Daniel Withycombe, Emmet Mulcahy and the Daniel Corry who was terrific at the edge of the square.
The tussle between Clare panel mates Robin Mounsey and David McInerney could be worth the admission alone should they square up to each other. Ruan , who have been knocking on the door of a breakthrough from this level, have firepower elsewhere in Frankie Lyons and Shane Punch and there are a lot of excited eyes on how centre half back James Cullinan gets on at six.
This could go either way and will also have a huge bearing on the final shake up in the table.
