By Seamus Hayes

Eire Og’s Ciaran Russell will make his debut for the Clare senior footballers in Sunday’s crucial league clash with Carlow at Cusack Park.

Russell has been named at wing back in a side that shows three changes in personnell from that which suffered their only defeat of the campaign to date when going down to Tipperary three weeks ago in Thurles. The Ennis man replaces Cratloe’s Oige Murphy

Kevin Hartnett who didn’t start that game due to injury but who came in for the second half is now named at full back releasing Gordon Kelly for duty at centre back. This results in the switch of Enda Coughlan to corner forward.  Under 21 player Jamie Malone returns to the starting line up and will lead the attack flanked by Shane McGrath and Sean Collins.

Although available to the footballers this weekend, dual player Podge Collins isn’t included in the starting line up due to a hand injury which kept him out of the hurlers league clash with Galway last week.

The team is; Pierce De Loughrey; Martin McMahon, Kevin Hartnett, Dean Ryan; Shane Hickey, Gordon Kelly, Ciaran Russell; Gary Brennan, Cathal O’Connor; Shane McGrath, Jamie Malone, Sean Collins; Martin O’Leary, David Tubridy, Enda Coughlan