Clare ladies start league campaign

The Clare ladies’ opening Division 3 football league fixture against Down in Cooraclare on Sunday wasn’t preoccupying David O’Brien on Monday. News that Fernando Torres had definitely left Liverpool for Chelsea and that Andy Carroll was swapping the Newcastle number nine for that of Liverpool, at a cost of £35m sterling, took the Clare manager’s mind off the weekend league fixture.
Nearly as fanatical about how Liverpool are getting on as he is preparing the Clare senior ladies’ football, the Miltown publican didn’t appear to lament Torres’ departure too much.
“Fernando who?” O’Brien retorted when asked if Liverpool would miss the Spanish World Cup winner. The manager’s memory was significantly sharper when discussing the 2011 Clare ladies’ football panel.
David O’Brien revealed that the county panel will be short a few key players themselves. Some short term, some for longer. 
“This weekend, we’re without Michelle Delaney, Lorraine Kelly, Áine Kelly and Rachel Lenihan.
“They’ll be out for another few weeks,” he said, adding that some of last year’s panellists, including Sineád Kelly, Fiona Lafferty, Bernie Kelly and Sarah Hoey, cannot commit to the panel this year. 
However, Louise Woods and Anne Marie Callinan have returned, having not been involved last year.
“We’re hoping to get a good start to the league but Down are probably the best team in the league. It will be a good test for us to start with. We’re back training since January 7. We have five gym sessions done, a challenge match and a few training sessions. Hopefully we’ll get out of Division 3, although our main focus will be on championship but for now we’re concentrating totally on the league, giving people a chance and hopefully pick up a few wins,” he explained.
“You’re looking at probably four wins to get into the semi-final. Five would definitely get you in,” the Clare manager added.
O’Brien will be joined on the management team by Dan Sheedy, Shane Hehir, Andy Tierney and Trevor Slattery. Sunday’s NFL Division 3 league game in Cooraclare will throw in at 2pm
Liverpool play Chelsea at 4pm on Sunday at Stamford Bridge. Just in time for David O’Brien to keep an eye on how Andy Carroll fares against Torres, whom most Liverpool supporters claim they have already forgotten.  First though Clare will be seeking two valuable league points. 
The following is the Clare panel for the upcoming league campaign: Emma O’Driscoll, Laurie Ryan, Michelle Delaney, Louise Henchy, Niamh Keane, Niamh O’Dea, Louise Woods, Naomi Carroll, Banner; Marie Considine, Carmel Considine, Áine Burke, Martina Scales, (Liscannor); Áine Kelly, Lorraine Kelly, Claire Hester; (Fergus Rovers); Katie Geoghegan, ­Niamh Lardner, Megan McGrath, (West Clare Gaels); Sinéad Eustace, Eimear O’Connor, Grace Lynch, Niamh Greene; Coolmeen; Ailish Considine, Eimear Considine, (Kilmihil); Carol O’Leary, Róisín McMahon; (Newmarket); Rachel ­Lenihan; (Crusheen); Colette Corry, Shannon Gaels; Ann Marie Callinan; (Cooraclare); Kayleigh McCormack, (Burren Gaels).