Injuries sideline McGrath, Dillon and Honan

Clare will begin their 2013 hurling league season without the services of two regulars from last season.

Conor McGrath and Cian Dillon have both been ruled out due to injury and aren’t expected to be available until at least mid-March. Darach Honan is also doubtful for the early stages of the new season following recent surgery for a cartilage complaint.

 

Cratloe’s McGrath had surgery on a hip complaint in the last two weeks and the predicted recovery period is a minimum of three months.

Crusheen’s Cian Dillon is expected to have surgery for similar complaint shortly.

“The injury to Conor had been there for a while but we managed it last year. Cian’s injury flared up during the club campaign last year,” team manager Davy Fitzgerald told The Clare Champion this week.

The Clare boss believes the increase in the number of hip injuries to GAA players is due to “a lack of knowledge with regard to training and physical conditioning. Most of these injuries have been troubling these players for the past few years”.

Early last year, Darach Honan had a similar operation and he missed most of the inter-county season as a result. “He had surgery to correct a cartilage problem before Christmas and we hope to have him back in full training in about six weeks. He missed most of last season. He is very enthusiastic to get back to full fitness but we have to be patient. He missed most of last year and it will take a bit of time to get back to full fitness,” according to the Sixmilebridge man.

The management team plans to have a number of games over the coming weeks ahead of the first competitive game of the season, against Waterford or UL in the Waterford Crystal first round on January 27. Clare’s opening game in the league will be on February 24 when Waterford will provide the opposition.

Last Saturday, they defeated Limerick IT 5-22 to 0-15, also managed by Fitzgerald and this week they will play Dublin and Offaly selections at venues yet to be confirmed. The greater experience of the Clare side proved a key ingredient in Saturday’s win.

Fitzgerald’s former Clare teammates Anthony Daly and Ollie Baker manage Dublin and Offaly respectively.
In these games, all of those currently in training will get a chance to impress the backroom team.

“We will be availing of the opportunity to give all of the lads game time and we will be using the Waterford ­Crystal to give those who haven’t yet played for Clare a chance to impress,” Fitzgerald said.

The Clare line-up last week was Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); Paul Flanagan (Ballyea), James McInerney (Newmarket), Conor Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills); Pat Kelly (Clarecastle), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara), Liam Markham (Cratloe); Conor Ryan (Cratloe) Enda Barrett (Newmarket); Fergal Lynch (Clooney-Quin) Paudge Collins (Cratloe) John Conlon (Clonlara); Mark Flaherty (Killanena) Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg) Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara)

Subs used: Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Davy O’Halloran (Éire Óg), Cillian Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Domhnaill O’Donovan (Clonlara), Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones), David McInerney (Tulla) and  Derek Fahy (Sixmilebridge).

Clare players in the Limerick IT line-up included Andrew Fahy (Whitegate) Cathal McInerney and Sean Collins (Cratloe).

Exciting draw
NUIG  2-16  St Thomas’ 1-19
An NUI, Galway side preparing for the upcoming Fitzgibbon Cup campaign played an entertaining draw with Galway senior hurling champions St Thomas’ at Limerick IT on Saturday.

An outstanding display from Crusheen goalie Donal Tuohy helped the students to a draw. Éire Óg’s Kevin Moynihan and Ballyea’s Niall Deasy were also part of the line-up.