*Peter Duggan in action for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CHAMPIONSHIP SURVIVAL is on the line as Clare’s senior hurlers take to the field in Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final.
Beaten Leinster finalists, Dublin stand in Clare’s path of reaching a fourth All-Ireland semi-final under Brian Lohan.
From the outset, the 2026 season has been coined as ‘a last dance’ for many of Clare’s hurlers and anything other than victory over Dublin this weekend would represent a hugely disappointing season.
When there has been a need to perform, Clare have largely delivered under Lohan and supporters heading to FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday will be optimistic of seeing a response from the men in saffron and blue following an incredibly underwhelming Munster campaign which included a fifteen point loss to Limerick and sixteen point defeat to Cork.
Saturday will be the third meeting between Clare and Dublin this season, They faced off in the first round of the Allianz National Hurling League with Clare winning 3-18 1-22 in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg on January 25th. They later met in the Division 1B final in TUS Gaelic Grounds on April 5th, Clare running out 2-26 3-20 winners, having led 2-15 2-5 at half time.
Conor Cleary was presented with the league trophy on that occasion, the Miltown Malbay man was subsequently dropped for Clare’s final two outings in the Munster championship but is understood to be back in the reckoning to start at full-back this weekend.
Most recent preparations following Clare’s exit from Munster included a challenge match against Offaly where Lohan’s side were comfortable winners. Shane Meehan was said to be the standout Clare player which will heighten his chances of increased game-time in the All-Ireland series.
Mark Rodgers is understood to have got game-time in attack for Clare during the Offaly game and is edging closer to a full return to action following an injury sustained in the victory over Tipperary.
Apart from The Clare Echo reporting on this challenge match, there has been little build-up to Saturday’s quarter-final from a Clare perspective, this is the preference of Lohan’s camp but does little to promote the game and whet the appetite of Clare’s loyal supporters that have travelled the length and breadth of the country supporting the team this season.
Having shocked Limerick in last year’s quarter-final to win 2-24 0-28, Dublin are eying up an appearance in the All-Ireland semi-finals for the second year running. Injuries to Cian O’Sullivan, Chris Crummey and Liam Rushe weakened their challenge in the Leinster final and the Dubs will be quietly confident of causing an upset this weekend.
It will be the sixth championship meeting between the sides in twenty one years. Their most recent encounter was the 2023 All-Ireland quarter-final where Tony Kelly netted a hat-trick as Clare were 5-26 2-17 winners. Kelly made his championship debut in a memorable victory when Davy Fitzgerald and Anthony Daly were in opposing dugouts in Cusack Park, Fitzgerald’s charges winning 1-16 0-16.
Dublin last defeated Clare in 2010 and did so comprehensively on a score of 2-22 0-15 in the qualifiers, prior meetings in the qualifiers saw Clare prevail 4-21 1-16 in 2006 and 1-23 0-9 in 2005, both of which were during Anthony Daly’s Clare tenure.
