*Jack O’Neill. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
TERENCE FAHY has named his starting team as the Clare U20 hurlers get set to make their bow in the Munster championship.
Clare welcome Cork to O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge at 19:00 on Wednesday evening in their first of four guaranteed games in the provincial championship.
Seven members of the All-Ireland winning minor hurling side of 2023 are included in the first fifteen. They are goalkeeper Mark Sheedy, corner back Eoghan Gunning, centre back James Hegarty, midfielders Jamie Moylan and Matthew O’Halloran, wing forward Ronan Kilroy and corner forward Michael Collins.
Senior panellist Jack O’Neill will lead the line at centre forward while his Clooney/Quin clubmate John Cahill captains the side from corner back.
There are eight survivors from the starting team which lost out to Cork in last year’s Munster semi-final while two more of that team, Ronan Keane and James Organ are included among the substitutes.
Fahy is in his fourth season as U20 manager, Tomás Kelly of Inagh/Kilnamona has been by his side for the entire duration of his term while 2013 All-Ireland winning centre back Conor Ryan is on board this year as coach. They are joined by former Clare netminder Andrew Fahey on the coaching ticket with Conor Shannon continuing as S&C coach. The backroom team is comprised of Kieran Connelly (medical), Cathy Kolbohm (nutritionist), Barry McMahon (kit man), Paudie Lynch (kitman), Jim Minogue (stats), Stephen Malone (stats) and Paul Gannon (team secretary).
Clare:
1: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge)
2: Eoghan Gunning (Broadford)
3: Fionnan Treacy (Éire Óg)
4: John Cahill (Clooney/Quin)
5: Joe Casey (Kilmaley)
6: James Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
7: Eoghan McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
9: Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
10: Ronan Kilroy (Banner)
11: Jack O’Neill (Clooney/Quin)
12: Fred Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
13: Seán Boyce (O’Callaghans Mills)
14: Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara)
15: Michael Collins (Clonlara)
Subs:
16: Fionn Morgan (Clarecastle)
17: James Organ (Corofin)
18: Tadhg Lohan (Cratloe)
19: Robert Loftus (Éire Óg)
20: Dannan Fox (Clooney/Quin)
21: Piaras Ó Sé (Ruan)
22: Daniel Costelloe (Ballyea)
23: Fiachra Ó Braoin (Sixmilebridge)
24: Ronan Keane (Killanena)
