The manager of the reigning Clare Senior Hurling Champions says they are ready to defend their crown.
Sixmilebridge open the new championship campaign against neighbours Clonlara in a repeat of the 2015 decider which went the way of the holders.
Clonlara’s county star and captain John Conlon is ruled out through injury while fellow county men Colm and Ian Galvin are currently abroad.
Bridge boss John O’Meara says they’re expecting a huge challenge.
Meanwhile Kilmaley will be looking for revenge in their first game back in the top tier since 2016.
They go up against a Newmarket side that consigned them to relegation when they met two years ago.
The west Clare men bounced straight back up by winning last years intermediate title and went all the way to the provincial decider before losing out to the eventual AIl Ireland winners Kanturk.
John Carmody is back in charge of his native club and says they’re ready for the battle.
