*Morgan Garry has linked up with the Clare squad after representing New York. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE senior football manager, Paul Madden has drafted the largest ever panel with over fifty footballers vying to keep their place on the county squad.
Collective training resumed for inter-county teams in the middle of November with players carrying out their own block of strength and conditioning work since October.
Appointed manager on a three year term in August, Madden had his management team in place within a month. Alongside selectors Ger Quinlan and Shane Daniels, they studied the club championship at senior, intermediate and junior level before putting together their provisional training panel.
Over fifty footballers are part of the panel at present. McGrath Cup fixtures against Waterford (January 2nd at 7pm) in Fraher Field and versus Kerry (January 6th at 7pm) in Clarecastle will serve as the last big auditions before the panel is cut between January 10th and 12th.
Of those recruited to the provisional panel, eighteen have not played senior football for Clare.
A wide net was cast by management which included looking at Clare natives lining out in club championships in different counties.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s run to a first Clare SFC final for the first time since 2012 has resulted in their contingent growing on the county panel.
Injuries derailed Tom Curran’s involvement in the Clare SFC as he was forced to miss the entire group stages. His first start of the campaign came in the semi-finals when he kicked 1-5 as Donagh Vaughan’s side overcame Cratloe. He was introduced on forty three minutes in their quarter-final win over Kilmurry Ibrickane but was kept scoreless in this tie and the county final defeat to Éire Óg. Despite starting in two of the four championship ties for the Clare U20s in 2024 and featuring in all games, he only started in Clare’s final U20 championship outing this season lining out at corner forward kicking a point before his substitution on fifty minutes. Tom has struggled with injury since his addition to the senior squad.
Tom’s older brother James has been brought back to the senior squad. James was drafted in with the Colm Collins’ training panel for his final season in 2023 when the U20 campaign concluded. He remained part of the squad in 2024 under Mark Fitzgerald but was let go by Peter Keane. He partnered Brian McNamara at midfield on the Clare U20 side in 2023 which were agonisingly defeated by Kerry in extra time in the Munster semi-final. He was to the fore at wing back for Doora/Barefield in their run to the county final and has wore number seven in challenge matches against Galway and Clare’s U20s in recent weeks, scoring 1-1 in their clash against the U20s.
Late getting a call-up to the squad was Michael Nash of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield but he has grabbed the opportunity thus far. While he had been on the radar of the new county management, Nash was initially only drafted in to boost numbers for an internal game but impressed so much that he has been retained on the squad for the last month. A dual player with The Parish, he is a third year biomedical engineering student at the University of Galway. He was part of the Clare minor squad in 2020 which contested the Munster final and was introduced as a substitute in all three of their provincial championship outings.
Joint captain of the Clare U20s in 2024, Josh Moloney has made the step-up to the senior squad for the first time. The Kilmurry Ibrickane defender has represented his county at minor and U20 level. With his club, Moloney has been one of their most consistent players at wing back over the past two seasons, he first lined out with the Bricks’ senior side in 2022. The Quilty man is a third year environmental science student at the University of Limerick.
Former Galway Utd midfielder Caoilfhionn O’Dea is among the new additions to the senior squad. The Mullagh man joined Galway Utd from Newmarket Celtic in 2018, starring in their Academy for three seasons before securing a first-team contract, he left the Tribesmen in January 2022. His exit from Galway has been warmly embraced by Kilmurry Ibrickane where he has become a focal point of their attack. His progression to the county senior panel has long been predicted by supporters of the Bricks. The twenty five year old scored Clare’s only goal in their one point loss to Galway at the beginning of December.
Fresh from captaining Ennistymon’s U21 footballers to win the championship for the fourth time, Joshua Vaughan has been added to the senior squad. He was only introduced for the final quarter of their 3-7 0-8 win over Clondegad due to injury and his involvement with Clare has also been hampered by injury. A talented fielder, Vaughan is effective at both midfield and the half-forward line. He started at midfield for all of Clare’s U20 Munster championship outings in 2024.
Sporting Ennistymon’s loss has been Clare’s gain with Ciaran McMahon pausing his soccer commitments while he focuses on trying to maintain his spot on the Clare panel. The Ennistymon defender was previously part of the senior squad but was let go during Mark Fitzgerald’s season in charge. A former Clare minor and U20 defender, he memorably scored a goal to force extra time when Ennistymon defeated Kilmurry Ibrickane by penalties to win the 2022 Clare SFC semi-final. His parents, Murt and Bridie run the popular McMahon’s Pub in Ennistymon.
Also vying to be retained in defence is Ennistymon’s Liam Cotter. The wing back has previously lined out at minor and U20 level for the county but is part of the senior set-up for the first time. His goal in the 2024 Clare SFC quarter-final helped Ennistymon defeat rivals St Breckan’s. Also part of the Ennistymon hurling side, Liam has acquitted himself well in challenge matches so far for the Clare seniors. A stint travelling in Thailand had him as a late addition to the Ennistymon cause when they recorded a first round win over Doonbeg in the summer. He last lined out for the county when playing for the U20s in 2023.
Returning to the county senior squad after six years is Seán Rouine, in the intervening time his first-cousins Cillian and Brendy have become staples of the panel. The twenty six year old from Lahinch is comfortable in defence and attack but has been utilised as a forward at club level since 2022. His performances at wing back as the youngest member of the Ennistymon team in 2018 led to Colm Collins calling him up for his sole senior campaign in 2019. He has also lined out at minor and U20 level for the county, featuring at wing back on the minor side defeated 2-21 0-3 by Kerry in the 2017 Munster final. A strength and conditioning coach, Seán spent two seasons involved with O’Currys along with stints with Killimer, Burren Gaels and the St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield ladies footballers. A calf injury has disrupted his return to the county senior squad.
An ability to kick two pointers underlined Mikie Tubridy’s value to his native Doonbeg in the 2025 club campaign and his performances didn’t go unnoticed by the newly appointed county management. Tubridy who is fluid at playing in any middle third position joins the senior squad for the first time. He made his senior debut for the club in 2016 against Clondegad and has always had the ambition to play inter-county football. He did play primary game for Clare in 2010 in Dungarvan while on the same day his current club teammate David Tubridy was lining out for the county seniors.
Prior to getting the recognition of an inter-county call up, full-back James Killeen and his family took the top prize for milking hygiene and facilities at the 2025 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards. Alongside his parents Andrew and Bernadette, James mils 110 cows and supply Kerry Dairy Ireland, the family farm has spanned five generations. On the field, James has been made the full-back spot his own for Doonbeg and has been the first choice at number three in recent challenge matches for the county seniors so it comes as no surprise that former Magpies and Clare full-back Conor Whelan is his most admired past player. He played rugby up until the U16 grade.
Making the bounce back to the senior squad after a one year hiatus is Thomas Kelly. The Shannon Gaels man was part of the panel during Mark Fitzgerald’s 2024 campaign but was not involved last year under Peter Keane. He even featured off the bench when Clare faced Down in the final round of the 2024 Allianz National Football League. The twenty three year old was joint captain of the Cill Cuil Gaels amalgamation alongside Emmet McMahon when they defeated Éire Óg 1-10 0-8 in December 2021. With the Gaels, Kelly has been one of their leading players at intermediate level. He was Clare’s goal scorer in the 2018 Munster minor final when they lost to Kerry 3-21 1-7. On the hurling field, Kelly is part of the Ballyea senior side and featured at midfield during this season’s championship with Robbie Hogan’s men bowing out in the semi-finals to Clooney/Quin.
Captain of the victorious Corofin intermediate footballers, Gearoid Cahill has rejoined the Clare senior football panel. He was previously part of the county set-up during Colm Collins’ time but received no game-time. A former dual player with Clare at minor and U20 level, Gearoid has been a driving force for his club which included them operating as a senior dual-club for one season. He scored a hat-trick for the Clare minor footballers in their April 2017 win over Waterford. His progress at U20 level was stymied by a cruciate knee ligament injury in 2019. Along with captaining the Corofin footballers this season, he was captain of the Corofin/Ruan U21 side in 2021 who defeated Newmarket-on-Fergus to win the A title. A primary school teacher at Barefield NS, Gearoid’s ability to create and take scores have been evident throughout the year, most recently in Clare’s challenge matches.
Lissycasey are viewed as one of the real up and coming senior sides in the county and there is an element of surprise that they only have one new addition at present to the Clare squad. Darren Keane has been drafted in to the provisional panel. He scored a goal from midfield during their 2-17 0-14 win over St Breckan’s in the Clare SFC quarter-finals while he had a strong showing in their dramatic draw with Ennistymon, a display that is likely to have earned him the call-up. Keane has been part of the county U20 squad for the past two seasons and is the son of referee Pat who was also involved with the club’s Junior A side.
Only two members of the provisional panel are also involved with Dermot Coughlan’s Clare U20 squad. Evan Cahill has retained his place on the squad with goalkeeper Eoin Byrne added to the senior panel. His addition means St Breckan’s have two goalkeepers on the senior squad as he joins clubmate Tristan O’Callaghan. He started in goals for five of Clare’s six games in the U20 championship in 2025, keeping two clean sheets and conceding nine goals. His ability to score frees from distance is also a valuable tool at his disposal.
Byrne’s predecessor as Clare U20 netminder, Cian Corry is also drafted into the senior squad. He finished with two clean sheets and conceded seven goals in Clare’s 2024 Munster U20 campaign in their five games where he was first-choice goalkeeper for each outing. Corry was between the posts for Killimer as they were crowned Junior A football champions to seal their return back to the Clare IFC at the first time of asking, they defeated Lissycasey’s second string 0-17 1-13 in the final. He has also shown his ability to slot over 45m frees when given the opportunity. Corry is also a former Clare minor goalkeeper.
Leading performer in Michael Cusacks’ Junior A success of 2024 was Seán McNamara and he carried that form through to 2025 as the Carron club consolidated their status in the second tier. He captained the North Clare club to glory for their Junior success and has remained one of their most prolific scorers. Seán was corner forward for the Clare U20s in 2022, scoring 1-3 across two games as they reached the Munster semi-final. His addition to the panel marks a rare occurrence when Michael Cusacks have representation on a county senior squad. His teammate Domhnall McMahon was previously part of the Clare senior hurling squad. His younger brother Oisin is currently part of the U20 football side.
Inter-county experience from a different country can be called upon for Morgan Garry. The Clondegad footballer spent two seasons involved with the New York senior footballers before returning home, including lining out in the Connacht SFC and the Tailteann Cup. He made an immediate impact with Clondegad and was one of their standout players as they reached the semi-finals of the Clare IFC, losing out to eventual winners Corofin. He was part of the Clare U20 squad in 2020 when he was introduced off the bench in both of their Munster championship ties. The twenty five year old has won two Clare SHC titles with Ballyea. He has been trialled in defence and attack for Clare in challenge matches since his addition to the squad. His physicality and previous inter-county experience could well stand in his favour when it comes to finalising the squad.
Kildysart’s contingent on the squad has remained at the same figure of four with Rory McMahon departing and Luke McGrath joining the squad. The forward won an U21B title with his club when they defeated Wolfe Tones in the 2019 decider, he kicked 0-1 from centre forward. McGrath played a decisive role for his club to overcome Kilmihil in the Clare SFC relegation play-off at the end of August, they fell three points down on fifty nine minutes but he stepped up with three points including a two pointer and a free while Diarmuid O’Donnell also chipped in with a point to help the Estuary side secure their status. McGrath has been among the more frequent scorers for Kildysart to keep them as a senior force following their intermediate success of 2022.
Miltown Malbay native Colin Hehir who has been plying his trade with Raheny in Dublin for more than three years is among the new recruits. He was among the goal-scorers for Raheny when they defeated Pobal Parnell in July to secure promotion to Division 1 of the Dublin League. Most comfortable at wing back, his club teammates include Brian Fenton and Rob Hennelly. He was wing-back on the St Joseph’s Miltown side crowned Clare SFC winners in 2018 and chipped in with a point on the day to help them go 0-6 0-4 ahead at half-time before defeating Ennistymon 0-14 0-8. He was forced off with injury that season as Miltown lost the Munster final to Dr Crokes. He last lined out for the club in the 2021 Clare SFC.
It will be a defining three weeks ahead for the new recruits to determine which of them will hold their spot on the county panel.
