‘Be careful’ caution for Antrim’s visit

Banner County selector Mike Deegan has warned that Clare “must be careful” ahead of Sunday’s Round 2 league game in which Clare will host Antrim.

“Antrim are on a roll and we have to be very careful. Their manager Jerry Wallis is highly rated. He has brought in a lot of experience, is highly organised and any team with that organisation will do well. He left Cork and Limerick in good order. They will have a pattern to their play that we will have to respect,” the Cratloe man commented as Clare finalised plans for Sunday’s game.
Deegan said it was disappointing to lose the Waterford Crystal final but added, “We got a lot out of the game. We were up against one of the best teams in the game at present and we learned more from that game than we did the previous week against Limerick in the league. The experience should help in getting ready for Sunday outing, which is very important. There is no point in beating Limerick in the opening round and not winning this one.”
According to Deegan, who managed Cratloe to their only Clare senior title in 2009, “Antrim are well organised on and off the field. We have a similar set-up here and the lads are buying into it. Clare have been lucky to beat them in the last two league campaigns and there is no question but that we are taking the challenge seriously.
“Hurling is enjoying great support in Antrim at this time. Their club champions are in the All-Ireland final and that is reflected is the way the county team is performing. Everyone wants to be involved and that is a big boost. If we do not respect them, we could pay the price.”
Deegan believes, “Clare must keep winning to keep up our challenge for promotion. We want to keep it in our own hands. We are taking one game at a time and we will concentrate on that game.”
Deegan agrees, “A lot of players got valuable game time during the Waterford Crystal. We had a lot of fellas with third-level colleges in that competition so it led to many getting matches. We saw a lot of players and they got great games against Limerick (twice), Waterford and Tipperary. These matches were better than any challenges.”
Clare won’t finalise the starting line-up until later this week but it is likely to be similar to the team which got the league campaign off to a winning start with an easy win over Limerick.
Sean Collins, one of the more impressive players on that occasion, is a doubtful starter. He missed out on the Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final with LIT last weekend due to illness, which resulted in him missing training earlier this week.
There is also a slight doubt about John Conlon, due to a niggly injury but the expectation is that he will be fit to play. Otherwise the team is expected to be similar to that which comprehensively beat Limerick in Round 1.
While Antrim cannot be treated lightly, Clare will carry the favourites’ tag on Sunday and it will be a surprise of they fail to record their second win of the campaign.
Clare are facing into a busy league schedule over the next few weeks with an away match to Laois on Sunday week, followed by a home clash with Wexford a week later.