By Shaun Casey

CLONTIBRET have made an impressive start to the championship, securing back-to-back victories over Inniskeen and Killanny to sit at the top of Group Two after the opening two fixtures.

There’s a lot of football still to be played of course, even before the knockout stages, and Clontibret face another tough test this weekend as they travel to Donaghmoyne for round three.

It’s three week’s on the bounce for Paul McCartan’s side, who are under no illusions of the challenge Donaghmoyne pose.

“That actually was our last league game, and they beat us by five or six points, they gave us a good trimming,” explained the Burren native, who is joint manager with Neil Coulter.

“We definitely know the challenge that we face there. They’re a really good team with a lot of good individual players. On top of that, they’re going to be looking to really bounce back after their defeat to Killanny so we’re well aware of the challenge that we face.”

They’ll have to do so without Conor McManus, who picked up a hand injury in the first-round win against Inniskeen. The broken bone in his hand could see ‘Mansy’ sidelined for a large portion of the championship, but he could return if they go deep in the competition.

“We wouldn’t have a massive squad,” added McCartan. “We’ve lost Conor McManus and at the minute it could be season ending for him, it’ll be a touch and go whether we get any championship action out of him.

“That’s a massive loss to the team and the club. We’re just hoping that the longer we can try and stay in the championship, the more hope that we get him game time but at the minute it’s not looking good.

“It’s a major setback for us because he’s so important. He’s a massive influence for us as a team and to lose that threat that he has, obviously he’s central to what we want to do, that’s a massive loss for us.

“We have a lot of good characters and good leaders around the squad, so we just have to deal with it. Every team is going to take setbacks and get injuries during the championship season and we’re no different. Unfortunately, it came in the first game for us, which is a bitter blow.”

McManus isn’t the only Clontibret casualty at the minute either.

“Our starting corner-back Cian Brennan has been out for the last six weeks with a broken finger, he had to have an operation. We have hamstring and groin injuries as well with the quick turnaround,” McCartan continued.

“We had six days between the Inniskeen and the Killanny game and we’re out again this Saturday so there’s bumps and bruises that you get in a championship but we’re enjoying it.

“There’s a great tradition around Clontibret and the start that we’ve had has been pleasing but we’re well aware of the challenge that we have this weekend. We know the challenge that faces us down there, it’s never an easy place to go to get a result.”