Newmarket-on-Fergus once more has a representative on the Clare senior hurling panel with Colin Guilfoyle recruited by Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney.
Well done to Colin on receiving the call, it is very positive news for our club as the exposure to such a professional environment for one of our own can only benefit the club. Having been on the county minor panel in 2014 and 2015, he is no stranger to the inter-county scene.
The year began for Guilfoyle as full-back on our U21 team that made the semi-finals losing out to Inagh/Kilnamona. It must be noted that he started the year as an intermediate hurler with our club, this fact will definitely give hope to upcoming hurlers in the club that hard work and perseverance with the inters can lead to bigger things.
He made his Clare SHC debut this year coming on as a sub in the first round against Clooney/Quin before earning a starting spot against Doora/Barefield at wing-forward in the second round. He was introduced from the bench again versus Ballyea in the last eight and featured for the full sixty minutes when playing Sixmilebridge putting in a very strong performance in the second half which no doubt grabbed the attention of the Clare management.
Earlier this month we saw one Colin from Newmarket bring the curtain down on his county hurling career, as the month draws to a close another Colin from Newmarket has been given his chance, if he has a fraction of the impact as Mr Ryan it would be an achievement.
We wish him the very best and look forward to seeing him line out in both the Saffron & Blue and the Blue & Gold in 2018.