The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
The Premier County team has won its last six games in the Munster Minor Championship and have won nine of their last 10 matches over the last two seasons, when you include the All-Ireland series.
Tipperary are going for three Munster minor titles in-a-row for the first time. They won two-in-a row in 1934/1935 and 2011/2012. In fact, Tipperary have won at least one Munster championship match at this level since 2001. Clare have won at least one game in each of the last four seasons in the Munster championship.
Since 1956, Cork and Kerry have won every Munster minor football title with the exception of 1984, 1995, 2011 and 2012, when Tipperary were successful. The closest Clare came was in 1994, when the Tommy Curtin managed team were narrowly beaten by Kerry in the final.
This year’s Clare team is managed by Michael Neylon, who was also in charge in 2012. He is joined on the management team by Michael Queally (Cooraclare – coach) along with selectors Noel Normoyle (Kilmihil), Donal Ó hAinifein (Ruan), Michael Neylon (Éire Óg) and Paul Conway (Kilkee). Meanwhile, Tipperary are managed by Charlie McKeever, who succeeded 2011 All-Ireland winning manager David Power, who was in charge of the Tipperary U-21 team this year.
Clare and Tipperary last met at this level in the 2010 Munster semi-final second play-off at Semple Stadium with Tipp winning 1-8 to 1-3.
Clare is captained by Jack Browne (Kilrush), while several clubs are represented in the starting 15, including Éire Óg, which has three players featured, Dara Walsh, Paddy O’Malley and Eimhin Courtney. Conal Ó hAilifein (Ruan) also plays his club football with the Ennis club, which won last year’s minor A title.
Lissycasey are represented by goalkeeper Killian Normoyle and corner-back Levin Howard, while Killimer, Kilfenora, Miltown, Corofin, Kilrush, Clarecastle and Inagh Kilnamona also have players starting. While Barry Keating hurls for Inagh-Kilnamona, he plays his club football with Ennistymon.
The winners will qualify for a Munster semi-final meeting with the winners of the Cork v Kerry quarter-final on May 15, while the losers play the losers of Limerick v Waterford in a play-off on Saturday, April 27.
The game will throw in at 7pm in Cusack Park and extra time will be played, if necessary. Brendan Stack (Limerick) will referee.
The following Clare team and subs was named this week: Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey); Fergal Pyne (Killimer), Jack O’Dea (Kilfenora), Levi Howard (Lissycasey); Kieran Malone (Miltown), Eoin Clancy (Corofin), Jack Browne (Kilrush); Eoin Hanrahan (Doora-Barefield), Dara Walsh (Éire Óg); Joe Downes (Cooraclare), Paddy O’Malley (Éire Óg), Conal Ó hAilifein (Ruan); Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg), Conor Galvin (Clarecastle), Barry Keating (Inagh-Kilnamona). Subs: Liam Corbett (Corofin), Darren Nagle (Liscannor), Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora), Liam Madigan (Kilrush), Oisín Hanrahan (Lissycasey), Conor Finnucane (Lissycasey), James Woods (Éire Óg); Eoin Kelly (Cratloe), Brian Cahill (Lissycasey).
