*Ikem Ugwueru moves to centre forward for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
TEAMS have been named for the Munster SFC semi-final between Clare and Kerry.
The Clare Echo’s coverage of the Munster SFC is brought to you by Martin Daly Autos, Quin Rd Business Park, Ennis.
Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg is the setting for the clash of the two counties who have met in the last three Munster finals with Kerry having the upperhand on each occasion.
As first reported by The Clare Echo, goalkeeper Stephen Ryan and vice captain Dermot Coughlan will miss the game for Clare. Darragh Bohannon who missed four rounds of the National Football League with a hamstring injury is listed among the substitutes.
Ryan’s absence gives Tristan O’Callaghan his first start in the Munster SFC since 2022 when Limerick defeated Clare on penalties. The St Breckans comes into this campaign in fine form having produced a man of the match display as UL won their first Sigerson Cup campaign.
That UL side was led by Brian McNamara who forms a midfield pairing with Cillian Brennan this weekend.
Cillian Rouine will captain the side from centre back, the Ennistymon defender will make his second appearance this season following a broken thumb and hamstring injury.
His return and Coughlan’s absence allows Ikem Ugwueru to move up field to centre forward to strengthen Clare’s attacking presence. He is named alongside Gavin Murray and Connor Meaney with Meaney expected to be dropping very deep supporting the defence.
Rouine is flanked by his younger brother Brendy and Fionn Kelleher of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
For the eighth game running, Clare will have the same full-back line with Alan Sweeney, Ronan Lanigan and Manus Doherty in situ. At the other end of the field, Clare have their leading scorers of Mark McInerney, Eoin Cleary and Aaron Griffin.
There’s eight members of the starting team which featured against Kerry in January for the second round of the McGrath Cup which finished 0-16 0-14 in favour of the Kingdom.
Jack O’Connor has included six members of the All-Ireland winning side from last year in his first fifteen for Saturday. Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Mike Breen, Mark O’Shea, Paudie Clifford and David Clifford started in their 1-26 0-19 win over Donegal and will take to the field in Cusack Park.
Injuries rule out Joe O’Connor, Seán O’Shea, Seán O’Brien, Liam Smith and Brian Ó Beaglaioch.
Saturday’s semi-final is Paul Madden’s first championship game as Clare senior football manager. Galway official Thomas Murphy is the referee with the game commencing at 2pm.
Clare:
1: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckans)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
6: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
7: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
10: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
11: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
12: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
16: Tom O’Brien (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
17: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
18: Jamie Stack (St Breckans)
19: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
20: Gearoid Cahill (Corofin)
21: Joe Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
22: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
23: Josh Vaughan (Ennistymon)
24: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
25: Liam Cotter (Ennistymon)
26: Morgan Garry (Clondegad)
Kerry:
1: Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes)
2: Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
3: Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
4: Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks)
5: Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
6: Mike Breen (Beaufort)
7: Armin Heinrich (Austin Stacks)
8: Mark O’Shea (Dr Crokes)
9: Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil)
10: Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
11: Paudie Clifford (Fossa)
12: Cillian Trant (St Senan’s)
13: David Clifford (Fossa)
14: Paul Geaney (Dingle)
15: Keith Evans (Cill)
Subs:
16: Seán Broderick (Tralee John Mitchells)
17: Evan Looney (Dr Crokes)
18: Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes)
19: Seán O’Brien (Beaufort)
20: Killian Spillane (Templenoe)
21: Donagh O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses)
22: Gavin White (Dr Crokes)
23: Eddie Healy (Listowel Emmets)
24: Tom Leo O’Sullivan (Dingle)
25: Tomás Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys)
26: Ciarán Collins (Rathmore)
