Big names set to return to challenge Tipp

CLARE won’t name the starting line-up for Sunday’s crucial hurling league clash with Tipperary until nearer match time but it’s expected that Tony Kelly, David McInerney and Conor McGrath will all make their first competitive starts of the season.

The inclusion of all three will strengthen Clare’s chances of getting their first win of the campaign.

It’s also likely that experienced Brendan Bugler and Pat Donnellan will revert to defensive duties for this one, after spells at midfield and wing-forward respectively. Indeed, there is speculation that Clare might revert to using a sweeper, with Donnellan filling the role that he did with great success during the 2013 championship campaign.

Ahead of this week’s eagerly-awaited tie, there is a doubt about the fitness of Colin Ryan. The Newmarket man picked up a leg injury in the Cork match and didn’t train last week. A final decision on his fitness will be made nearer match time.
McInerney is likely to be named at full-back for Sunday’s game and this has increased speculation that Cian Dillon will switch to his club position of centre-back. If, as expected, Bugler switches to wing-back, where he was a regular for the past few seasons, Conor Cleary and Conor Ryan may have to be content with a place among the substitutes.

Kelly is likely to be named in the half-forward line, along with Colin Ryan, if he is passed fit, with Bobby Duggan in contention for a spot also. Conor McGrath is expected to join John Conlon and Shane O’Donnell in the full-forward line.
Clare go into Sunday’s game, which will be broadcast live on TG4, in the knowledge that another defeat will leave them staring at relegation and while a number of teams have, in modern times, managed to win championship honours after being relegated in the league, Davy Fitzgerald and his management team will be doing all in their power to get a victory under their belts this week to boost confidence.

Despite fielding a strong side in the opening round, Tipperary were well beaten by Dublin but bounced back to defeat Galway last time out. They are expected to bring a strong side to Cusack Park that will include Pádraic, Patrick and Brendan Maher, Seamus Callinan, Cathal Barrett and Johnnie O’Dwyer.

The sides are well known to each other, as they have met on a couple of occasions each year for the past couple of seasons in both league and Waterford Crystal.

In January, they played in the Waterford Crystal tournament, when Clare had a one-point win at Sixmilebridge.
They met twice in last year’s league, Clare winning the ordinary-round clash, before Tipperary won the semi-final. They each have had their share of wins over the other in the past few years and there appears to be little between them.
Another big attendance is expected on Sunday at Cusack Park which was in excellent condition for last Sunday’s football league tie between Clare and Sligo.

Last time out, Tipperary’s form looked the more impressive but with the expected return of a number of All-Stars to the Clare starting line-up, a first league win of this campaign is on the cards for Clare.

By Seamus Hayes, sports editor