Clare must sharpen up to overcome the Rebels

O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge will host the first ever meeting of Clare and Cork in the Waterford Crystal Senior Hurling Tournament on this Friday night when the throw in for the first of this season’s semi-finals will be 7.45pm.
Limerick IT and holders Tipperary will play in the second semi-final at Dolla (Silvermines) on Sunday at 12 noon.
Last year, Cork lost to Tipperary after extra time in the semi-final, while Clare went down to the Premier County in the final
On the way to Friday’s final, Cork defeated UCC 3-20 to 1-16 in a preliminary round before recording a 4-16 to 1-8 win over Waterford IT in last week’s quarter-final
Clare received a bye straight to the quarter-finals where they beat UL last weekend.
Jimmy Barry Murphy and his Cork management team have introduced a number of young players this season and they have impressed in the two games to date, as the big scorelines run up by the Leesiders suggest.
They are expected to make further changes for this week’s semi-final.
With a number of players ruled out due to injury and with a big number unavailable as they have played with their college sides, Davy Fitzgerald and his management team have been able to give a number of players’ senior competitive debuts. These include David McInerney, David O’Halloran, Alan O’Neill and Shane O’Donnell, who featured in the win over UL last Sunday.
With the National League start now just three weeks away, all managements are edging towards getting their strongest sides on the field. Both Clare and Cork have a lot of work put in ahead of the new season and this Friday’s clash should give both managements a good indication as how their preparations are going.
Clare are likely to be along similar lines to last week but the may have the NUIG players available. These include Donal Tuohy, Liam Markham and Aaron Cunningham. Seadna Morey, Patrick O’Connor, Jonathon Clancy and Shane O’Donnell who were introduced during the second half of Sunday’s win over UL could be included from the start this week.
Aidan Mannix, who scored 2-4 last week, Anthony Nash, Jamie Coughlan, Cian McCarthy and Michael Cussen are some of the players expected to feature in Jimmy Barry Murphy’s squad.
It should be an entertaining affair as players involved seek to stake a claim for a regular spot in their respective teams for the upcoming league. Disappointed at losing last year’s final, Clare are keen to go a step further this time. They will have to be sharper that they were last week if they are to get over this Friday’s hurdle.