Opening win a must for promotion-chasing Clare

LAST February, Clare started their NFL campaign with a 1-17 to 0-12 win over Waterford in Cusack Park. Weather permitting, the county grounds will be the venue for Sunday’s opening Division 4 game at 2pm, which will represent Mick O’Dwyer’s first league game in charge of Clare.
A win, whatever the margin, will set Clare up for a serious tilt at promotion. They came close in 2010 and even closer last year, when they lost to Wicklow in Aughrim. Even a draw in the last league game of 2012 would have promoted Clare.
Since then, Micheál McDermott and his management team, bar Micheál Cahill, have stepped down, with O’Dwyer, Ger Keane and Michael Neylon taking over.
Clare have undergone extensive training, primarily in Corofin and LIT, while they have played several internal training matches between themselves and against the county U-21 team in Ryan’s field, Clarecastle.
The senior and U-21 panels have trained together regularly, which has resulted in approximately 50 players at several sessions. With the rain and wind not helping, Clare played a training game in Meelick last Sunday and trained in Mungret on Tuesday. They will complete their preparations this Friday ahead of Sunday’s league opener.
As is evident from the variety of training venues, some in Limerick, securing a permanent training base has proven impossible. Inclement weather has been a factor but this underlines the urgency of completing the work at the county board-owned pitches in Caherlohan, Tulla, as soon as possible. Whenever that finally happens, Clare county teams will hopefully not have to deal with the weekly problem of finding somewhere to train.
In the short-term, Sunday’s game is all that counts, however. Although under the management of newly appointed Niall Carew, Waterford will travel to Clare minus expectation. The local and national focus will be on Mick O’Dwyer and with Clare having easily beaten Waterford last year, most Clare supporters will be expecting a similar result.
Waterford will be without the suspended Gary Hurney, while Shane Briggs and Tommy Prendergast are doubtful.
Clare’s starting 15 is likely to include three from Stephen Collins, Declan Callinan, Chris Dixon (fitness permitting) and Enda Coughlan in front of Joe Hayes. The latter isn’t a recognised corner-back but if Waterford were to employ a corner-forward in a deep role, Coughlan would be perfectly suited to follow him. Clare’s plans will be badly affected if Gordon Kelly doesn’t shake off an injury and cannot line out at centre-back.
Kildysart’s Shane McNeilis could slot into that position, while Laurence Healy could do a job there. Stephen Collins has played most of his minor and U-21 county football in the half-back line, although it would be a brave move to start a player at centre-back on his inter-county debut.
Martin McMahon, who was man of the match against Limerick in the McGrath Cup quarter-final defeat in Foynes, will start at wing-back, with Seán Haugh in the frame for the other wing-back spot. However, if Declan Callinan isn’t selected at corner-back, he is very likely to be played on the wing.
McMahon could also do an effective job at corner-back if the Waterford corner forward is mobile and lively.
Team captain Gary Brennan and Cathal O’Connor will link up at midfield and should master whatever duo Waterford field. Up front, Shane McGrath and Alan Clohessy are very likely to feature in the half forward line, while David Tubridy, Ian McInerney and Mark McCarthy, who played well in a recent challenge game defeat to St Bridget’s, Roscommon, are in the running to form the full forward line.
Cathal Duggan played well in last Sunday’s trial game in Meelick and could be given a run, while Chris Dunning, Shane Ryan, Francie Hayes and Joe Dowling are among those in the mix.
Rory Donnelly has returned to training but may not be match fit enough to feature this weekend.
Clare lost twice in eight games last year, which underlines the importance of winning all of their home games. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that defeat on Sunday would significantly dent Clare’s chances of winning promotion and sap morale.
With a tricky game away to Leitrim looming on Sunday week, everyone involved with Clare know that a win this weekend is paramount.
Waterford may employ defensive tactics and attempt to hit Clare on the break. Yet whatever approach they decide upon, Clare should be well capable of repeating last year’s win and picking up both points.