Clare to make winning start at home to Waterford

The Clare minor footballers enter the championship arena on Saturday at 6.45pm in Cusack Park. Waterford will travel to Ennis with the winners qualifying for a Munster semi-final on May 16. The losers will play the losers of Kerry v Tipperary on April 17.
Michael Neylon (Corofin) who is a former Wolfe Tones mentor, is in his second year managing the team. He is joined by Noel Normoyle (Kilmihil), Maurice Reidy (St Joseph’s, Miltown) and Michael Neylon (Éire Óg). The management team has been joined by Tom Newell (Galway) in a coaching capacity. Newell was part of the Ballyvaughan senior management team a few years ago.
Clare will have the Cleary brothers, Conor and Eoin available to them from last year’s team along with Jamie Malone (Corofin). Unfortunately one of Clare’s key forwards, Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil) picked up a knee injury playing U-21 championship hurling for Ballyea against Éire Óg on March 17. O’Leary will be a huge loss to Clare.
However Michael Neylon is content that Clare have prepared well following recent challenge games against Galway, Mayo and Donegal.
“We did a good winter gym programme and then we played a few challenge matches over the last month. They were good games and it gave us a good opportunity to see the lads,” Neylon said.
“Things are always unpredictable with minors and it’s hard to achieve consistency. This is a big game for them,” he added.
Clare met Waterford on April 16 last year in the Munster championship, winning 4-14 to 1-9 at Fraher Field. Three first half goals helped Clare to a 10-point lead at the interval and the result was never in doubt from there.
Clare lost to Cork in the first round last year before beating Waterford and Limerick in the losers group play off. However Clare were well beaten when they met Cork again at the semi-final stage in Cusack Park. Cork won 1-16 to 0-6.
Liam Corbett is likely to start in goals for Clare on Saturday while others in contention for a starting place include Conor McNeilis and Niall Deasy (Clondegad), Conor Deasy (Sixmilebridge), Tadhg Lynch (Clondegad), Seán Garry (Cooraclare), Fergal Pyne (Killimer), Mark Bohannon (Shannon Gaels), Cian Murray and Jack Browne (Kilrush), Conor Cleary and Eoin Cleary (Miltown).
Having invested plenty of time and effort preparing for the championship, Clare should be well capable of beating Waterford again and qualifying for the provincial semi-final.
The game will throw in at 6.45pm and will be refereed by David Grogan (Tipperary).