The meeting of the last two champions is the standout tie in todays second round action of the Clare Senior Hurling Championship.
Holders Ballyea take on 2015 champions Sixmilebridge in the winners round with the victors seeing themselves through to a quarter final spot.
Sixmilebridge manager John O’Meara says while they’re facing a team filled with quality, they can’t allow themselves to be distracted by it.
Meanwhile Ballyea will be hoping to take another step on the road to retaining the Canon Hamilton trophy after a historic season saw them capture it for the first time.
They’ll be without three of the squad from 2016, with Cathal Doohan and Pearse Lillis travelling while Damian Burke is ruled out for the year through injury.
Manager Fergal Hegarty says they don’t feel under pressure as defending champions.
That games starts at 7pm this evening in Cusack Park.
The first of today’s games comes at 2pm in Shannon where Feakle and Clooney/Quin square off the in the losers round while at 2.30pm survival is on the line as Clarecastle and Tulla meet in Sixmilebridge.
In the winners round, St Josephs face Newmarket in Sixmilebridge at 4pm while in the first game in Cusack Park at 5pm, either Cratloe or Crusheen will see their season come to an end when they meet in the losers round.
Updates from all today’s action across the afternoon here on Clare FM
There are also two games in the Clare Intermediate Hurling Championship this afternoon.
Broadford and Corofin meet at 3.30pm in Shannon with a place in the quarter finals on offer
At 4pm in Gurteen, Killanena and Tubber will be battling to avoid dropping into the relegation scrap.
