Clare clubs will find out their fate in the crucial Round 2 draw for the Senior Hurling Championship tonight.
While all 16 teams who played this weekend advance to the next stage, with this weekend’s winners facing the losers, the competition is now a straight knockout, meaning the county champions – whoever they’ll be – are just four wins away from lifting the Canon Hamilton.
Yesterday, Ballyea completed the First Round by defeating Crusheen 0-16 to 0-14, in a game that saw star man Tony Kelly to the fore.
Manager Kevin Sheehan says they were pleased to turn the tables on the side that knocked them out in last year’s Quarter Finals
Also this weekend, O’Callaghans Mills defeated Broadfod 2-13 to 0-17, Sixmilebridge overcame Éire Óg 0-17 to 0-12.
On Saturday, Cratloe defeated Kilmaley 3-14 to 2-11, Feakle had five points to spare over Whitegate, winning 0-21 to 0-16, and Wolfe Tones had 15 to spare over Clarecastle, as they won 4-19 to 0-16.
Tones manager Ray Diviney was pleased with the result.
On Friday night, Clonlara edged past Newmarket on Fergus with a two point victory and Inagh/Kilnamona delivered an impressive first half performance in particular as they beat Clooney-Quin 2-17 to 0-14.
In the Intermediate hurling champoionship this weekend, there were wins for St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Tulla, Bodyke, Corofin, Ruan, Parteen, Tubber and Sixmilebridge.
Those teams will go into the winners half of the second round draw for that competition as well.