There will be as much interest in the battle to avoid relegation as in the race for the last two quarter-final places in the Clare SHC this weekend.

For Cratloe, Clonlara, Clarecastle, Eire Og, Crusheen and Newmarket, this weekend's final round three fixtures are mere preparation for their upcoming quarter-finals. They will be joined by the winners of the ties between Inagh-Kilnamona and Ballyea, and O'Callaghan's Mills and Broadford.

Inagh-Kilnamona meet at Cuack Park tomorrow night, while O'Callaghan's Mills and Broadford will face off in the curtain-sider where a place in the senior 'B' final against Eire Og will also be at stake.

For the 10 teams already out of the SHC race, the battle is on to avoid relegation to the IHC for 2015. Ruan, as the bottom team min the senior 'B' championship, are already doomed, while they will be joined in the intermediate grade by four more teams under the new format.

The 15 remaining senior teams, along with this year's intermediate champions, will compete in a slimmed-down 16-team SHC next year. Tweet

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