*Jamie Malone is expected to move to the half-back line in the absence of Cian O’Dea. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SELECTIONS around the middle third are among the main selection headaches for Colm Collins and his management team for Sunday’s Munster SFC quarter-final with Cork.
Cork’s aerial strength in midfield has been one of their main assets under new boss John Cleary and Clare will be keen to counteract that this weekend. Darren O’Neill has returned from a broken thumb which he sustained in the opening round of the Allianz National Football League and is battling with Darragh Bohannon to partner Cathal O’Connor in the middle of the field.
As first reported by The Clare Echo, Kilfenora’s Cian O’Dea will miss Sunday’s encounter after sustaining knee ligament damage. His absence from the half-back line will be felt but Jamie Malone is likely to revert to this line of the field. Ciaran Russell, Alan Sweeney and Pearse Lillis are also vying for spots here with Lillis another option in the half-forward line.
Stephen Ryan has nailed down his position as first choice goalkeeper since regaining the jersey in the third round of the NFL. Cillian Brennan will wear number three with Manus Doherty expected to get the nod in one corner while Ronan Lanigan is on course to make his championship debut. The return from injury of Cillian Rouine gives Collins and his management multiple options, the Lahinch man was a regular at corner back last season but his strength and football ability also makes him an option further out the field.
Captain Eoin Cleary is set to continue at centre forward with Keelan Sexton at full forward. Emmet McMahon and Gavin Cooney are expected to receive starting jerseys with Dermot Coughlan, Lillis and Malone in contention to join Cleary in the half-forward line.
Also ruled out through injury for the quarter-final is defender Eoghan Collins. The Ballyhaunis man missed out on the entire league campaign but will return to training following the Cork game.
While O’Dea has been a constant figure in the Clare defence and Collins a regular addition off the bench, the county manager was not concerned with the injuries. “I’d never be worried, in the normal scheme of things players get injured, there’s no point in dwelling on that because it’s an opportunity for the next man, we’ve got plenty players to step in, I’d never be worried about injuries, it’s never an excuse”.
