Goalkeeper Patrick Kelly and ace forward Conor McGrath will start for the first time this season for the Clare senior hurlers when they open their Allianz league campaign against Offaly at Cusack Park on Sunday.
Manager Davy Fitzgerald and his backroom team have named a strong starting fifteen as Clare set out on a road which fans hope will lead to a return to the top division.
Goalkeeper Patrick Kelly is the only member of the starting line up that didn’t get any game time in the recent Munster league which Clare won, beating Limerick in the final.
Tony Kelly, Patrick Donnellan and Seadna Morey weren’t considered due to injury
The team is
Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona): Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Cian Dillon, Capt. (Crusheen), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea): Conor Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs), David McInerney (Tulla), Conor Ryan (Cratloe): David Reidy (Éire Óg), Colm Galvin (Clonlara): Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), John Conlon (Clonlara): Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Darach Honan (Clonlara), Conor McGrath (Cratloe).
By Seamus Hayes