*Connor Meaney retains his place in the Clare side. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
AN UNCHANGED Clare football team has been announced by Paul Madden and his management as the county goes in search of a third win in as many weekends.
Clare cross the border to face Limerick in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale at 18:00 on Saturday evening in the fifth round of Division 3 in the Allianz National Football League.
Another two points on the board for Clare would see them move into the top half of the Division 3 table and at the very least likely secure their status in the third tier for 2027.
Hamstring injuries mean Clare are without midfielder Darragh Bohannon and captain Cillian Rouine for the second weekend in a row. Connor Meaney who replaced Rouine in the half-back line is retained at centre back with Cillian Brennan keeping his place in the middle third.
Brennan is named to partner Brian McNamara while Meaney is in the half back line with Brendy Rouine and Ikem Ugwueru on either side.
Fionn Kelleher who has been unavailable since the second round with a hamstring injury is back in the matchday panel. The St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield defender is in the squad at the expense of Liam Cotter.
Stephen Ryan maintains his spot as first-choice goalkeeper with the full-back line of Alan Sweeney, Ronan Lanigan and Manus Doherty staying put for the fifth game in a row.
Vice captains Dermot Coughlan and Mark McInerney are at centre and corner forward respectively. McInerney picked up a knock which forced his substitution last weekend but he forms part of the inside line with Eoin Cleary and Aaron Griffin.
Coughlan is joined by his clubmate Daniel Walsh and Josh Vaughan of Ennistymon in the half-forward line.
Clare
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
6: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
7: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
10: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
11: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
12: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
16: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckan’s)
17: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
18: Jamie Stack (St Breckan’s)
19: Michael Nash (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
20: Gearóid Cahill (Corofin)
21: Joseph Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
22: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
23: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg Inis)
24: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
25: Morgan Garry (Clondegad)
26: Luke Pyne (Éire Óg)
