Tough opener for Clare against high-flying Galway team

National Camogie League Division 1 Group 1 Round 1
Galway v Clare at Athenry, Saturday 2pm (John Dermody, Westmeath)

WITHOUT a competitive or even a challenge match in six months, Clare’s league campaign begins with a baptism of fire on Saturday against a Galway side they have found increasingly difficult to keep pace with in recent years.
That is all to do with Galway’s elevated development path that has now positioned them in the top two teams in the country along-side current champions Kilkenny.
Cathal Murray’s side have contested the last two All-Ireland Finals and famously secured a first ever National League and Championship double in 2019, albeit with the assistance of current Clare coach Conor Dolan.
Indeed, Dolan’s addition to Clare’s backroom team is not just insightful when facing Galway but it would have been interesting to see how the season would have panned out had Covid not darkened our doors in 2020.
After all, by the time the National League started last January, Clare had a large bank of winter fitness work done as evidenced by the fact that they would become only one of two teams to inflict a defeat on eventual All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in 2020.
However, the lockdowns have meant a more fragmented, uncertain outlook that tend to suit the top teams rather than the devel-oping ones, as time limitations both for preparation and matches are far from ideal for the likes of Clare.
The condensed season also removes much scope to alter your approach either as following derby duels against Galway and Lim-erick along with a guaranteed play-off, the championship inexorably looms around the corner.
How much Clare have learned from the last lockdown will quickly be gauged as a trip to Athenry followed by a home tie against a rejuvenated Limerick should provide a clearer barometer of where they currently rank.
Galway have been hampered by four ACL injuries within their panel whereas Clare, aside from Aoife Power and Robyn Conway, should have a relatively clean bill of health for Saturday.
The Banner do need to flesh out their 2020 options though so expect some new faces to be blooded while it will be also interest-ing to see how Galway approach this tie.
Do they opt for experimentation in order to find players for championship or stick with the tried and trust core in order to build up early momentum?
What we do know is that Galway will be strong favourites to commence the new season on a winning note so it does allow Clare the freedom to throw everything at their neighbours as anything but a home win would be seen as an upset.
Clare Senior Camogie Panel: Clare Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona) (Captain); Roisin Begley (Truagh-Clonlara), Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley), Sinead Conlon (Tulla), Robyn Conway (Feakle-Killanena), Lynda Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Susan Daly (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Bridin Dinan (Tulla), Ciara Doyle (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Ciara Duggan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Orlaith Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Becky Foley (Truagh-Clonlara), Laura Foley (Truagh-Clonlara), Ciara Grogan (Clooney-Quin), Greta Hickey (Whitegate), Aoife Keane (Inagh-Kilnamona), Caoimhe Kelly (Kilkishen), Eimear Kelly (Truagh-Clonlara), Laura McGrath (Feakle-Killanena), Máire McGrath (Sixmilebridge), Laura McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Roisin McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Edel McNamara (Kilkishen), Roisin Minogue (Bodyke), Chloe Morey (Sixmilebridge), Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle), Sarah Ní Ceallaigh (Kilmaley), Siofra Ní Chonaill (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Niamh O’Dea (Kilmaley), Clodagh O’Halloran (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Aine O’Loughlin (Truagh-Clonlara), Aoife Power (Scariff-Ogonnelloe), Amy Russell (Éire Óg), Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen), Zi Yan Spillane (Feakle-Killanena)
Management:
Ger O’Connell (Manager), Conor Dolan (Head Coach), Éanna Mulvihill (Coach), Steven Cusack (Head S&C), Maeve Conneely (S&C), Francie O’Halloran (Goalkeeping Coach), Alan Murnane (Goalkeeping Coach), Barry O’Connell (Perfor-mance Analysis), Nollaig O’Sullivan (Sports Psychologist), Trish O’Donnell (Physio), Claire Commane (Physio)

by Eoin Brennan