*Daniel Walsh. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
DANIEL WALSH has been handed his first start of the 2026 Allianz National Football League in the named Clare team for Sunday’s crunch tie with Fermanagh.
Captain Cillian Rouine is listed among the substitutes for the first time of this year’s league campaign. As reported by The Clare Echo, the Ennistymon defender played a part in Clare’s recent challenge game with Galway, he could yet feature from the off in Brewster Park.
Sunday’s game commences at 13:00 in Brewster Park and is must-win if Paul Madden’s side are to have any chance of winning promotion to Division 2.
Walsh is named to start at wing forward but could swap with his clubmate Dermot Coughlan who is down to play at wing back. Coughlan’s absence from the half-forward line was felt in Clare’s five point loss to Westmeath in the second round when he had a deeper role.
Indeed it will be Daniel’s first time lining out in this year’s Division 3 run, having been an unusued substitute in losses to Down and Westmeath. He is named in the half-forward line alongside Aaron Griffin and Brendy Rouine while the inside line is comprised of Eoin Cleary, Mark McInerney and Cormac Murray.
Injury keeps Fionn Kelleher out of the matchday panel while his St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield clubmate Joe Rafferty loses out in the first fifteen due to Walsh’s inclusion.
Rouine’s return to the panel sees Evan Cahill miss out, the U20 was added to the matchday squad a fornight ago after Kelleher’s injury.
Fresh from captaining UL to Sigerson Cup glory, Brian McNamara will partner Darragh Bohannon in the middle of the park. Tristan O’Callaghan’s man of the match display for UL is not enough to see him take the number one jersey off first choice goalkeeper Stephen Ryan.
An unchanged full-back line of Alan Sweeney, Ronan Lanigan and Manus Doherty is set to continue for a third successive game with Ikem Ugwueru named at centre back, Cillian Brennan and Dermot Coughlan are listed on either side of him.
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
6: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
7: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
11: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
12: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
13: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
14: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
15: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Subs:
16: Tristan O’Callaghan (St. Breckan’s)
17: Caoilfhion O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
18: Jamie Stack (St. Breckan’s)
19: Michael Nash (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
20: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
21: Joe Rafferty (St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
22: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
23: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg)
24: Shane Griffin (Lisseycasey)
25: Morgan Garry (Clondegad)
26: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
