A dramatic evening in the Clare senior hurling championship has seen one of the main contenders exit the Canon Hamilton race.
Sixmilebridge’s hopes of a first title since 2020 are now dashed, after they were eliminated in dramatic fashion.
A late Colm Cleary goal for O’Callaghans Mills saw them beat the Bridge by 3-17 to 1-21, with Cleary finishing with a personal tally of 3-6.
That result, coupled with Clonlara’s 0-22 to 1-10 win over Crusheen, looked to have still sent Sixmilebridge through to the last eight on scoring difference.
However, a change to the rule in how teams are separated in group standings when three or more finish level on points was highlighted by Crusheen officials after their game in Cusack Park, which saw Crusheen confirmed as finishing second place in the Group Two table.
The rule outlines that in those instances, scoring difference is only calculated from the games between the teams who are involved in the deadlock, and not the overall group.
It meant that Crusheen took the second qualifier spot, with Clonlara topping the group after their third consecutive win.
