The Clare team has been named for today’s first game of their 2019 season.
The Banner are preparing to welcome Cork to Cusack Park for the sides’ first match of the Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League.
Joint managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor have named Clonlara’s Colm Galvin as captain, and he’s alongside Cathal Malone of SIxmilebridge and Inagh-Kilnamona’s Aidan McCarthy in the half-backs.
Behind them, two more Inagh-KIlnamona players – Jason McCarthy and David Fitzgerald – as well as Rory Hayes of Wolfe Tones at corner-back, and goalkeeper Keith Hogan of Clooney-Quin.
Shane Golden of Sixmilebridge is in midfield along with Kilmaley’s Michael O’Malley, while Ballyea’s Niall Deasy is at centre-forward beside Cratloe’s Dairmuid Ryan and Clooney-Quin’s Ryan Taylor.
The team is completed by a full-forward line of Gary Cooney, of O’Callaghan’s Mills, Aron Shanagher of Wolfe Tones and Michael O’Neill of Kilmaley.
There’s also plenty of fire-power on a Clare bench which includes the likes of Jack Browne, Tony Kelly, Cathal McInerney and Conor Cleary.
With only one team qualifying from a group of three that also includes Waterford, this encounter will be very important if Clare harbour ambitions of reaching the competition’s final.
Joint Manager Donal Moloney says last year’s championship games with Cork were tight affairs and he thinks this will stand to their players going forward.
Throw-in at Cusack Park is 2pm and we’ll have updates throughout the afternoon here on Clare FM.
STARTING 15 V Cork (numbers as per match programme):
1. Keith Hogan (Clooney-Quin)
2. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
29. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
4. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
10. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
18. Colm Galvin (Clonlara) – Captain
7. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
8. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
28. Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
11. Niall Deasy (Ballyea)
17. Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
13. Gary Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
12. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
22. Michael O’Neill (Kilmaley)
SUBSTITUTES:
16. Andrew Fahy (Whitegate)
4. Colin Guilfoyle (Newmarket On Fergus)
9. David Conroy (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
19. Brian Corry (Sixmilebridge)
3. David McInerney (Tulla)
27. Conor Cleary (St Josephs Miltown)
15. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe)
23. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
24. Rian Considine (Cratloe)
26. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
6. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
