Two new teams will be involved in the 2019 Clare Senior Football Championship.
Last nights structures meeting saw a North Clare and West Clare amalgamation apply to enter next years race for Jack Daly
This year saw 5 teams relegated from the top tier of Clare club football following the adoption of the report of the Football Review committee in 2016.
The initial suggestion recommended dropping the number of senior teams from 16 to 12 in an effort to create a more competitive senior and intermediate championship.
The pathway was left clear though for amalgamations to enter the senior championship if such a situation arose and last night saw two such groups declare their intention to join forces.
In North Clare, the junior clubs of Michael Cusacks and Ballyvaughan will join up with Kilfenora while the intermediate west Clare neighbours of O’Curry’s and Naomh Eoin are also coming together to play at the top level.
It means the senior championship will now be contested by 14 teams in a group structure comprising of two groups of four and two groups of three with the top two in each section going forward to the quarter finals.
The 2018 Semi Finalists will be seeded for the draw meaning champions Miltown, Ennistymon, Cratloe and Kilmurry will be kept apart.