*Keelan Sexton in action in Croke Park. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION of Clare’s run in the All-Ireland SFC, a number of Colm Collins’ side have headed to the United States.
Keelan Sexton, Clare’s star man in their thrilling 2-15 1-17 qualifier win over Roscommon has transferred to the Donegal club based in Boston for the summer months. He will miss Kilmurry Ibrickane’s first round of the Clare SFC and may miss the subsequent round depending on how matters progress Stateside.
After earning a starting jersey in this year’s championship, wing forward Emmet McMahon garnered the attention of US clubs and is now lining out with Ulster in San Francisco. McMahon was named at centre-forward on the Electric Ireland GAA Rising Stars Football Team of the Year following his displays for UL in the Sigerson Cup. His absence was felt by Kildysart over the weekend when they fell to 1-09 0-06 Cusack Cup final defeat to St Breckans.
Having struggled with injuries, Joe McGann only returned to the matchday panel for their quarter-final loss to Derry where he was introduced from the bench in the second half. The Doolin forward was absent for St Breckans’ weekend glory as he is currently in Canada.
Pearse Lillis was one of Clare’s top performers in this year’s championship, he is in the United States at present but has not transferred to any club and is expected to be lining out for his native Cooraclare as they bid to secure promotion to the Clare SFC fresh from their relegation last year, he will also be part of the Ballyea outfit attempting to record back to back Clare SHC titles for the first time in their history.
Both Dermot Coughlan and Ronan Lanigan who did not see game-time in this year’s championship are also in the US. Coughlan of the Kilmurry Ibrickane club has recovered from a cruciate ligament action to be back on the field in April, lining out in the Cusack Cup. Lanigan was a vital cog in the Éire Óg defence as they claimed the Clare SFC last year, was rewarded with a call-up to the county panel where he was a regular member of the matchday panel this season.
