Clare have secured a home venue for the semi-final of the Oscar Traynor inter league junior soccer competition. On the weekend of March 19/20, the Donie Garrihy managed Clare league side will entertain either the Donegal League or the North East league who play their quarter final tie on this Sunday in Letterkenny.
The draw was made at the AUL complex in Dublin on Wednesday night at half time in the quarter final tie between the Leinster senior league and the AUL, a tie won by the Leinster side after a penalty shootout.
Clare manager Donie Garrihy and coach Denis Hynes were present at the draw and Clare were first out of the hat.
“I am delighted that we have a home tie. This is an All-Ireland semi-final and having home advantage gives an opportunity to the football family in Clare to come out and support the team and watch the best players in the league represent their county”, commented the Clare boss who admitted “there are no easy games at this stage of the competition.
Clare got to the semi-final of this competition last year where they suffered a 0-1 loss to the eventual winners, Inisowen who are still in the hunt for this year’s title. They play Galway in a quarter final tie next week for the right to play the Leinster senior league in the second semi-final.
By Seamus Hayes