Clare SFC Final Expert Preview – Eoin Cleary

*Eoin Cleary shoots on goal. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

CLARE senior football captain Eoin Cleary believes an already impressive Éire Óg have brought their standards to a new level this year.

Three-time Clare SFC winner, Cleary faced off with Éire Óg in the group stages of this year’s campaign which saw his St Joseph’s Miltown overcome Kilmihil in the relegation decider.

Well-worked passages of play have become a regular feature of their displays, the Clare forward noted. “Éire Óg have really shown their experience throughout this championship and this was shown in the way they managed the game against us They put a few lovely move together in the second half to be fairly comprehensive winners in the end. They have some really good young players, a good coach and they have stepped it up notch this year”.

With a high proportion of players on county panels at all levels, Ennistymon will benefit from this exposure, the two-time All Star nominee outlined. “Look at any Clare minor or under 20 team in past two or three years, they have been dominated by Ennistymon players. They got to the final in 2018 and are there again now. There are only three or four from that team starting which will tell you the young talent they have in the club. Kilmurry Ibrickane will be disappointed how semi-final played out but Ennistymon stayed in there and got the rub of the green”.

Youth has impressed for the North Clare side, Cleary said. “Brendy Rouine is a real class act with a great future. They have plenty of really talented young fellas such as Brendy’s brother Cillian, Ciaran McMahon and Diarmuid Fahy to mention a few”.

“All clubs knew going into this campaign that Éire Óg would be the team to beat. Based on the way they are playing and the way they have managed their campaign, they are the favourites. Corofin gave them a good game for a lot of their semi-final but other than that they have been relatively comfortable winners in a lot of their games. Hopefully it will be a good game and that Ennistymon will rise to the challenge”.

VERDICT: Éire Óg