Sean Haugh and Dermot Coughlan in discussions. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
After three months of preparation which included challenge games against Galway, Dublin, Wicklow, Sligo and on Sunday last against Westmeath, the Munster minor football championship begins for Clare on this Thursday evening when they entertain Waterford at the Wolfe Tones GAA grounds in Shannon (throw in 7p.m.).
This is the first of three outings on successive Thursday evenings at the end of which the top two in the group will contest the phase 1 final with a place in the Munster semi-final against either Kerry or Cork awaiting the winners.
Rathkeale will be the venue on Thursday evening next for Clare’s meeting with Limerick and a week later the Banner outfit will entertain Tipperary at a venue to be confirmed.
Ten clubs are represented in the starting fifteen which has been named by manager Dermot Coughlan and his backroom team for the clash with Waterford.
It includes just two survivors from last year in Sean McMahon from the Banner who captains this year’s team and Conor Fennell from Kilrush, this year’s vice captain. McMahon led the attack last year and he is now named at wing back.
“Sean Conneally from Ennistymon and Jamie Moylan were both ruled out due to injury, Conneally, (a membeer of the Ennistymon CBS team which reached the All-Ireland colleges C final recently), with a broken leg and Moylan with hamstring trouble”, manager Coughlan explained this week.
“Preparations have gone well, It’s a new group this year with just two survivors from last season”, the Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman added.
He is joined in the backroom by Sean Haugh (O’Currys), T. J. Carey (Liscannor), Jim Conlan(Clondegad), Martin Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Peter O’Dwyer (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) who is the team’s goalkeeping coach, Aidan Slattery from Ennistymon who is the squad’s physio, Martin David (S&C) and Dermot Mahoney (video analysis).
“We don’t know much about Waterford other than they have played challenges against Wexford and Wicklow. We are concentrating on ourselves and on producing a good performance”, Coughlan told The Clare Echo.
Ten clubs are listed in the starting fifteen with Lissycasey providing four, Kilrush Shamrocks and Kilmurry Ibrickane with two each while Éire Óg Wolfe Tones, Banner, St. Josephs Doora/Barefield, Cooraclare, Clondegad and Ennistymon each have one.
The team to face Waterford in this Thursday’s opening round is; Cian Howard (Éire Óg); Michael Kelly (Lissycasey), Daire Hill (Lissycasey), Niall Fitzgerald(Wolfe Tones); Sean McMahon (Banner) Captain, Paddy Nagle (St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield), Jake Garry (Cooraclare); Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Tadhg Lysaght (Kilrush); Colm Meaney (Clondegad), Darren Keane (Lissycasey), Mark Kelleher (Ennistymon); Dara Killeen (Lissycasey) Conor Fennell (Kilrush), Cathal Talty (Kilmurry Ibrickane);
Subs; Conor O’Neill (St. Breckans), Gavin O’Shea (Doonbeg), Paudiie Considine (Ennistymon), Colin O’Riordan (Wolfe Tones), Caden Deegan (Banner), Jack Kelleher (Killimer), Ronan McElroe (Banner), Padraig O’’Dwyer (St. Breckans), Keelan O’Donoghue (Cratloe);
The members of the extended panel are Josh Daniels (Lissycasey), Mufana Flynn (Banner), Conor Kearney (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Lorcan Doolin (Ballyvaughan), Conor Griffin (Claerecastle), Jamie Moylan (Cratloe) and Sean Conneally (Ennistymon).
