The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
IT’S been quite a while since a Clare team went into the Munster Senior Hurling Championship as such rank outsiders. On Sunday, they will face the All-Ireland champions and favourites to retain the title in the provincial semi-final and it is expected the Premier outfit will win comfortably.
This is based on the fact that, for the second year in succession, Clare failed to win promotion from Division 2 of the national league. Their form in that campaign wasn’t impressive and, in fact, they struggled to win a lot of their games.
Since the league final, the loss of Domhnaill O’Donovan due to injury has been a blow. The Clonlara man was one of Clare’s best players on that occasion and facing into a game against a forward line that includes such as Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett, his presence will be missed.
Following on from their hugely impressive All-Ireland final win last September, Tipperary oozed confidence when they beat Cork in the opening round of this year’s championship when they clearly showed that they have every intention of retaining the crown.
Their forward line, in particular, stood out in that game and given the way the Clare defence struggled in the recent league, one can understand the fears that exist for Clare ahead of Sunday’s game.
The Clare team will be named this Thursday and while the management probably have the line-up finalised for the last week or two, there are varied opinions as to the likely starting team. Will Conor Cooney, Cian Dillon or James McInerney fill the full-back spot? Who will be named at centre-back, Brendan Buglar, Pat Donnellan, McInerney or Dillon? Cases can be made for all of the above for selection in either of the central defensive positions, areas that have caused a lot of problems for Clare this season.
There is a much more settled look about the forward line and it is fair to say at this stage that most could name five of the six that will start. Most agree also that Philip Brennan will wear the number one jersey and that Nicky O’Connell and Jonathon Clancy will team up at midfield. After a spell in the forward line during which time his form dipped, Clancy has played at midfield in recent challenge games where he has done much better.
Last Thursday, Clare played Cork at the Gaelic Grounds where the Leesiders emerged winners on a 3-14 to 1-17 scoreline. They played a Clare U-21 selection on Saturday in Cusack Park and emerged winners on a 2-22 to 0-19 scoreline.
In the game against Cork, corner-back James McInerney and centre-back Brendan Buglar were replaced at half-time. Eamonn Glynn who is pushing hard for a starting spot, came in at corner-back, while Pat Donnellan moved to centre-back with Cian Dillon taking over on the wing.
Fourteen of the Tipperary team, which started against Cork are set for duty on Sunday with Conor O’Mahoney likely to be in at centre-back from the start this time. In that first-round game, the Tipperary defence struggled a little at time and Cork were able to create a number of goal opportunities which they failed to convert.
Clare will be hoping that they can get Conor McGrath and Darach Honan into goal-scoring positions on Sunday. Honan, because of a groin injury, remains a doubt for Sunday’s outing but the expectation is that he will play. His Clonlara clubmate, John Conlon, is another on whom Clare followers will be pinning hopes of an upset. He has the ability to trouble any opponent and his tussle with Pádraig Maher could be one of the highlights of the game.
Overall, Tipperary look the stronger team with Brendan Cummins in goal, a defence that will include Paul Curran and Pádraig Maher, a midfield pairing of Shane McGrath and Gearóid Ryan and a forward line that will include Noel McGrath, Lar Corbett and team captain Eoin Kelly.
They are well entitled to the favourite’s tag and while Clare can be relied upon to provide them with a stern test, the reality is that Tipperary are, at this time, the best team in the country and anything other than a win for them on Sunday will be a major shock.
Of course, Clare will take great confidence from Limerick’s performance in last week’s semi-final when they almost shocked the defending Munster champions Waterford. Indeed, most will agree, that Limerick should have won that tie. Limerick’s performance will surely be a major encouragement to Clare but at the end of the day, Tipperary should be safely through to the provincial decider.
