The inter-county Celtic Challenge (National Under 17 Hurling Competition) kicks off this evening. Clare have 2 teams entered again in this the fourth year of the competition. We are very proud to have 2 Banner GAA Ennis players on the Clare Saffrons panel whose first game takes place tonight in Tubber at 7:30pm versus the Limerick Treaty side from across the Shannon. Our Banner players in the Clare Saffrons side are Conor MacMahon and Tom O'Connell who are 2 of the leading players on our Club Minor and under 21 panels. Best of luck to Tom and Conor!! Everyone in the club are very proud of ye but not surprised that they have been included in this squad given their impressive performances over the last 2 years. Earlier this year both were key players in our Under 21 side who were narrowly beaten in the County Semi Final. This Celtic Challenge National Competition is in its 4th year and is focused on developing inter-county players that have missed out on making their intercounty minor panels. The philosophy of the competition is to keep players playing at an inter-county level recognizing that with development players from this competition are potential future inter-county stars. There are 44 teams in total in the National Competition including the 2 representative sides from Clare. There are quite a few players in this years full Clare Under 20's side who played in the Clare Celtic Challenge sides of 3 years ago. Best of luck again to Conor and Tom.