*David Fitzgerald. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
FIVE CHANGES have been made to the Clare senior hurling team for Saturday’s fourth round of the Allianz National Hurling League against Kildare.
Brian Lohan’s side travel to St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge to face Brian Dowling’s Kildare at 18:30 on Saturday evening.
Surprisingly, there is more experienced than less-established players included in the first fifteen for this game.
Lohan and his management team have made five changes from the side which trounced Down by twenty nine points. Éamonn Foudy, Conor Leen, Diarmuid Ryan, Ryan Taylor and Colm O’Meara all enter the named team in place of Eibhear Quilligan, Ross Hayes, Cathal Malone, Darragh Lohan and Jack Kirwan.
Tony Kelly will captain the side and will wear number fourteen, vice captain Conor Cleary is at full back with Dylan McMahon retained in the corner for the third game running as Leen returns to defence.
Foudy is between the posts while Niall O’Farrell after doing well in his debut forms part of a half-back line alongside John Conlon and Diarmuid Ryan.
UL Fitzgibbon Cup winner, Diarmuid Stritch makes his second start at senior level. The Clonlara clubman is to partner Ryan Taylor in the middle of the pitch.
Stritch’s clubmate Colm O’Meara is handed a starting jersey at wing forward, Senan Dunford after scoring five points in his debut versus Down continues on the other wing with Mark Rodgers named at centre forward.
Joining Kelly in the inside line is David Fitzgerald and Shane Meehan. Ironically, all three have worked for Patrick Bourke’s Menswear in the past.
For the first time this season, two-time All-Ireland winner David McInerney is named among the substitutes. Both John Conneally and Robin Mounsey have recovered from injuries to take their place among the substitutes with Ian Galvin also on the bench and in line to make his first county appearance of 2026.
Clare:
1: Éamonn Foudy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
2: Dylan McMahon (Clonlara)
3: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4: Conor Leen (Corofin)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
7: Niall O’Farrell (Broadford)
8: Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara)
9: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
10: Colm O’Meara (Clonlara)
11: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
12: Senan Dunford (Tubber)
13: Shane Meehan (Banner)
14: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
15: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
Subs:
16: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
17: David McInerney (Tulla)
18: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
19: Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
20: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
21: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
22: Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
23: Jack O’Neill (Clooney/Quin)
24: Aidan Fawl (O’Callaghans Mills)
25: Robin Mounsey (Ruan)
26: John Conneally (Clooney/Quin)
