*Clare’s senior hurlers wearing the new jerseys during the National Hurling League. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE’S hurlers haven’t had an easy run of it so far this season, but results aren’t the only reason supporters are scratching their heads.
The All Ireland champions take on Tipperary in a must win clash but confusion over this year’s kit continues to surround Brian Lohan’s side.
Last month’s defeat to Waterford saw Clare wearing a third different jersey for the last three games in a row.
A new strip was launched by Clare GAA on February 5th.
Supporters young and old across Clare purchased the jersey at a cost of €75, rising to €80 for ‘player-fit’ replicas and personalisation. Fans will no doubt be disappointed that their team continues to wear a different jersey to them. The county’s footballers have worn the official 2025 jersey in all championship and league fixtures so far.
Clare GAA has gone quiet when questioned on the rationale for the changing jerseys. Half a dozen phone calls and over ten emails on the subject have been made to Clare GAA by The Clare Echo but no response has been forthcoming. On each occasion, Clare GAA said they would get back “later” with information but never did.
The 2025 jersey features a subtle pinstripe design and blue sleeves accented with a new Volvo sponsorship. Machinery dealers Pat O’Donnell remain as the team’s main sponsor as they have done for the last twenty-three years. Kit manufacturers O’Neills stated that the new jersey was “inspired by the kits of the 90s” at the launch.
This jersey was worn in every game of a disappointing league campaign that saw Clare relegated to Division 1B.
For their championship opener against Cork in Cusack Park, Clare reverted to their 2024 jersey. The yellow base with blue hooped sleeves will live long in the memory of Clare people as it brought them their first All-Ireland victory since 2013.
Fans and media outlets alike were quick to accuse Clare of playing mind games with Cork by wearing the same jersey from that famous 3-29 to 1-34 win last July.
It’s hard to imagine a change of strip having much of an impact on a game but in any case, Cork suffered a similar disintegration to last year, leading by twelve points before Clare mounted an epic comeback to draw 3-21 to 2-24.
In their recent loss to Waterford, the saffron and blue changed for a third time in 2025. This time the jersey was a mixture of the two previous, keeping the pinstripe and Volvo accents while changing the fully blue sleeves in favour of 2024’s blue hoops.
Whatever kit Clare turn up in against Tipperary and Limerick, they will have to prove they deserve to wear it in must-win games to get their 2025 season back on track.
