In 2014
Cratloe completed a historic first Clare Senior Championship 'Double' in eighty-five years since the famous
Ennis Dalcassians in 1929.
In 2016 a Football Review Agreement decided that from 2019 onwards the Clare Senior and Intermediate Football Championships would both involve twelve teams in an effort to make both more competitive. This meant that five clubs would lose their senior status and be relegated down to the
Clare Intermediate Football Championship. The eleven remaining senior clubs would be joined by the intermediate champions to form the new senior championship, and thereby increasing the intermediate championship from eight to twelve teams. 2018 saw the relegation of
Doora-Barefield,
Kilfenora,
O'Curry's,
St. Breckan's and
Wolfe Tones down to the
intermediate championship.
As part of the 2016 Football Review Agreement, a pathway was left open for any amalgamations that wished to enter the senior championship. Two intermediate clubs -
Naomh Eoin and
O'Curry's - from the Loop Head Peninsula in West Clare took up this opportunity for
2019. After their relative success, their near neighbours
St. Senan's, Kilkee were due to join them under the name Western Gaels for the
2022 senior championship.[1] However, they pulled out of the championship before it began.
Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams. Some of the more common venues include Hennessy Park in
Miltown Malbay and
Kilmihil.
Cusack Park in
Ennis also hosts several double-headers in the early rounds of the championship.
Final
The final is regularly played at
Cusack Park in
Ennis. Named after the founder of the
GAA,
Michael Cusack, the ground had an original capacity of about 28,000, but following a 2011 safety review, the certified capacity was reduced to 14,864. In 2015 a major renovation started, this included the demolition and re-erection of the main stand and construction of a new entrance/exit at the north side of the stadium. Once completed in late 2017 the official capacity was increased to 19,000
North Clare was a two-time temporary amalgamation similar to the modern-day divisional teams seen in
Cork and
Kerry. North Clare drew it's players from the
Ballyvaughan-Fanore,
Corofin,
Ennistymon,
Kilfenora,
Liscannor,
Michael Cusack's and
St. Breckan's football clubs. They competed together at senior level when they were all competing at either intermediate or junior level individually. North Clare played in three county finals in 1934, 1977 and 1978, losing on each occasion to
Kilrush Shamrocks.
When
Ennis Dalcassians won the 1943
Clare Junior Football Championship, they offered an opportunity to players from fellow junior club,
Doora-Barefield, to join with them and enter the 1944 senior championship as the Ennis Faughs. In 1952 when
Ennis Dalcassians became
Éire Óg, the Ennis Faughs continued to play at senior level until disbanding after losing the 1956 county final. In a thirteen year period, the Ennis Faughs reached eleven county finals, winning four senior titles in 1947, 1948, 1952 and 1954. When
Ennis Dals were relegated back down to junior level in 1945, a second Ennis Faughs team also entered and immediately won the 1946
Clare Intermediate Football Championship.