This article is from page 129 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 129 JPG
CLUBS may have been without the services of their county players at the weekend but with most games going according to form, a clearer picture of both the promotion and relegation candidates emerged as the leagues approach the latter stages.
With only two rounds remaining in the Clare Cup, there are still 16 teams vying for four semi-final spots in the three divisions but that list will significantly decrease after tonight’s remaining fixtures in Division 2B.
In Division 1, Cratloe and Sixm1- lebridge both continued their recent good form to move alongside New- market-on-Fergus at the summit while Crusheen’s one point victory over Eire Og gives them an outside chance of claiming one of the two semi-final places. Crusheen’s re- maining fixtures however, are against Clarecastle and Sixmilebridge and they will need other results to also go their way as well so the odds are certainly stacked against them.
The biggest losers in the top divi- sion at the weekend were last year’s champions St Joseph’s Doora/Bare- field, and Clarecastle who played
out a draw at Gurteen on Thursday evening. The result didn’t suit either side really and it means that both are SISUD sya La nestle eCere BPMN slow us) (ose-tmlO)I me (Oye fight along with Kilmaley, Clooney- Quin and Eire Og with the bottom two to drop down.
In Division 2A, both Inagh/Kilna- mona and Tubber still lead the way but the north Clare side have now completed their fixtures while In- agh/Kilnamona only have one game remaining which gives the chasing pack of Tulla and Wolfe Tones a slim chance of catching them. The county champions from the last two years play in the final game to decide who has a chance of bouncing straight back to the top flight. Leaders Inagh/ Kilnamona play Scariff in their last game which will have implications at both ends of the table and the Combo will secure the title and a place in the penultimate stage of the Clare Cup if they win and more than likely rel- egate Scariff in the process.
Scariff’s ten point victory over Ballyea at the weekend gives them a fighting chance of survival but the bottom club will have to beat both Killanena and leaders Inagh/Kilna- mona if they are to avoid the drop.
Last year’s Division 2B champions Whitegate are also amongst the rele- gation favourites after going down to Tubber at the weekend and they will need to beat fellow strugglers Kil- lanena in their final outing and hope other results go their way if they are to survive. Killanena, Ballyea and possibly even O’Callaghan’s Mills could be dragged into it if Whitegate do pull off the much needed victory.
Division 2B is still far from de- cided with three matches down for decision this evening. Clonlara lead the way in the division but Broadford can leagfrog over them if they can beat Smith O’Briens tonight. Eight sides are still 1n contention for the two promotion places but the relega- tion places are all but decided after the bottom two Ruan and Kilmaley both lost at the weekend. Kilmaley are the first team to be relegated in the Clare Cup without a win in seven outings while Ruan need to beat both Ogonnelloe and Broadford if they are even to force a play-off and even so, they need either Sixmilebridge, Ogonnelloe or Feakle not to gain an- other point.
In the intermediate league, En- nistymon were the big winners at
the weekend as they saw off fellow promotion rivals Inagh/Kilnamona to jump to the top of the table. With only one round remaining, the top two, Meelick and Ennistymon meet in the final game with the loser likely to be caught if third place Clarecastle can overcome bottom side St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield. Along with promo- tion, the top two sides will also con- test the intermediate league final. Down the bottom, Cratloe secured lifeline after seeing off Clarecastle at home to push them ahead of Wolfe Tones with the Shannon side to play St Joseph’s in a relegation battle this evening.
In Division 4, Newmarket-on-Fer- gus and Eire Og topped their respec- tive groups to earn a place in the fi- nal with the winner to go up while in Division 5, Inagh/Kilnamona and Clonlara qualified for the semi-finals of the Junior B league along with Ballyea and Eire Og. Following a motion passed at convention in De- cember, the make up of the Junior B and C championships are based on a team’s performance in the league and the draw for these champion- ships will be made tonight at the July meeting of the county board