Two Clare communities have been taken over by a welcome seasonal sensation.
County final fever has gripped the parishes of Feakle and Sixmilebridge ahead of an historic first ever meeting between the sides in the decider this weekend.
A near David and Goliath tale when considering the history of the two sides in the Clare Senior Hurling Championship.
Sixmilebridge have been the proud owners of Canon Hamilton on 15 occasions and a win this weekend will move them to outright second on the roll of honour, ahead of Eire Óg.
Feakle were playing in the second tier as recently as 2018 and are now bidding for their seventh Senior title, they last won the biggest prize in Clare hurling 36 years ago in 1988, which is also the last time they played in the county final.
Clare FM analyst and former Clare and Feakle star Tommy Guilfoyle is hopeful this generational talent can go one step further on Sunday and insists the men of 88 have been a helpful guide along the way.
Clare FM’s Syl O’Connor will take a break from calling the action this weekend and the Sixmilebridge Chairman will undoubtedly be hoping his club can repeat his own heroics, when he took to the county final field in 1977.
This year, Sixmilebridge have opted for a joint-management model of Stiofán Fitzpatrick and Tommy Liddy.
O’Connor says there the perfect duo to guide the Bridge to glory.
The last time Feakle and Sixmilebridge met in the white heat of championship battle was the group stages of 2022, on that occasion the Bridge men prevailed with 21 points to spare.
A much closer affair will undoubtedly play out in Cusack Park and while much of the neutral focus will be on the county stars of Adam Hogan, Eibhear Quilligan, Seadna Morey and Jamie Shanahan, there are some injury concerns.
Feakle lost full back Evan McMahon to a cruciate injury last time out, but, Captain of the 88 team Val Donnellan insists there squad will be well able to adapt.
There will crucially be no penalties to decide Sunday’s contest, but when all’s said and done, either the 2,900 strong population of Sixmilebridge or the 450 residents of Feakle will be overcome with celebrations.
Former County winning Manager with Sixmilebridge John O’Meara believes a new unsung hero will be unveiled when the curtain closes.
You can listen to the full interview here:
