Clare’s opponents in the 2021 National Ladies Football league have been confirmed along with a proposed date for the first competitive fixture.
Evan Talty’s tenure as Clare boss will begin on Sunday May 23 with a campaign in Division 2A of the league. Similar to their male counterparts, teams grouped in a regionalised format in order to reduce travel as part of Covid-19 concerns.
Clare will face familiar opposition, including the Meath side who ended their All Ireland Intermediate run at the semi final stage last year before going on to claim the title. They will also face neighbours Kerry along with fellow intermediate side Wexford. The four Ulster counties of Tyrone, Monaghan, Armagh and Cavan making up the four team Division 2B.
It is expected that a fixture list will be issued in the coming days along with a return to play document and guidelines to be followed for host venues.
Clare’s three league fixtures will take place on May 23, May 30 and June 6, with the semi finals set for June 13 before the final on June 27. Games are scheduled to take place on Sunday afternoons, but Saturday or midweek fixtures are also an option should both counties be in agreement.
It is also understood that no intercounty challenge games will be permitted ahead of the return to competitive fixtures. No details have been outlined as to the structure or dates for the championship.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.