Honan a doubt for Wexford tie

CLARE travel to Semple Stadium in Thurles on Saturday for their fourth championship game of the season and, for the third time in this campaign, they will wear the favourites’ tag. However, forward Darach Honan looks set to miss the game due to a leg injury, which forced his early retirement from the action last week.

Wexford, who should have beaten the now Leinster champions, Dublin, in the opening round, are fortunate to have got this far, as they were lucky to overcome Carlow last time out.

That said, this is a fixture that Clare cannot take lightly and this has been acknowledged by various members of the management team and panel since last week’s big win over Laois.

The big talking point this week concerns the team selection. Going on Saturday’s performance, people would expect little, if any, change but the decision of some players to line out for their clubs in the final round of Clare Champion Cup games at the weekend could see the management name a different line-up for this week’s tie.

It is understood that team manager Davy Fitzgerald instructed the players, after the win over Laois, not to play, warning that those who did would be dropped.

The main focus is on the Cratloe contingent, who lined out for their club against Inagh-Kilnamona shortly after the match with Laois. Cratloe went into the game in the knowledge that a nine-point plus victory would secure them a place in the competition semi-final. It is understandable that they would want to play their strongest team in such an important fixture.

The fact that they played against the wishes of the county team management has left Fitzgerald and his selectors in somewhat of a spot. It seems some of the county panel were given permission to assist their clubs at the weekend but those on the starting team were told they weren’t to play.

Conor McGrath and Podge Collins were in Clare’s starting line-up last week, while Liam Markham was introduced during the course of the tie. They all trained with the squad on Tuesday evening at Cusack Park.

The expectation is that all will be included this week but a similar situation is in the offing this week.

Three weeks ago, Cratloe chose not to fulfill a football league fixture against Kilrush, opting to appeal to the CHC on the grounds that it wasn’t fair to ask them to play with up to nine of their players unavailable because of their involvement with county teams. Their appeal was successful.

That game, which Cratloe must win to avoid being relegated, has been re-fixed for this Sunday. Should Clare win on Saturday, they will be in an All-Ireland quarter-final two weeks later. Cratloe made a stand that clearly indicates they will not play without the players.

Forward Darach Honan is a major doubt for this week’s tie due to a leg injury, which forced him to retire six minutes into the second half of last week’s game with Laois. He was unable to play a full part in training on Tuesday.

Éire Óg’s Shane O’Donnell, who replaced the Clonlara man last week, is expected to be in from the start on Saturday if Honan is ruled out.

Despite his sending off in a club game last Sunday, Wolfe Tones player Aaron Cunningham will be eligible for this week’s county fixture.

It will be a more physical challenge for Clare on Saturday. Over the years, Wexford teams have always provided stiff opposition for Clare but, more often than not, the Banner have been victorious.

It is expected that Clare will maintain that winning form and come Saturday night, will to be formulating plans for an All-Ireland quarter-final match.