*Clare will be without first choice goalkeeper Shane Cusack. Photograph: Joe Buckley
ASKEATON is the venue on Sunday for Clare’s second game in this season’s Oscar Traynor inter league junior soccer competition.
Having suffered a 0-1 loss to Limerick in round 1, a win is important for Clare on Sunday as it would keep their hopes of qualifying from the group alive.
Two teams will go forward from the group which also includes the Kerry league who won their opening tie (4-1) against Clare’s opponents on Sunday. Kerry travel to Jackman Park to play Limerick on this Sunday at 2p.m. which is also the kick off time for the Clare game in Askeaton.
Clare must plan for Sunday’s game without three players who saw action against Limerick.
Newmarket Celtic’s Shane Cusack and Harvey Cullinan were in the starting line up against Limerick while their clubmate Tadhg Noonan was introduced during that game. They are all unavailable for Sunday’s fixture.
On the plus side Avenue’s Cullen McCabe has recovered from injury and is available for selection.
“Of course the lads are a loss but we have known about their absence for a few weeks. We are traveling to Askeaton to win which would put qualification from the group back in our own hands. It’s a very important fixture”, according to Clare manager Donie Garrihy.
Clare didn’t play any game in the lead up to their opening clash with Limerick. “We trained a number of times but not having played a friendly game could have been costly”, the manager said this week.
The manager and his backroom team won’t finalise their team for Sunday’s game until nearer match time but in contention to replace goalkeeper Shane Cusack are Simon Kilker from Tulla United and Jakub Ruminowicz from Avenue United.
The Desmond league is a long-standing league and previously won the Oscar Traynor title. They draw their players from Newcastle West, Rathkeale, Broadford, Askeaton and Ballingarry in West Limerick.
They are in a similar position to Clare in that having lost their opening game in this season’s competition, they need a win to keep hopes of qualifying from the group alive.
With home advantage they are likely to fancy their chances of doing that but Clare have trained well since their first-round outing and there is an air of confidence in the camp that they can capture the points on Sunday.
