*Conor Cleary. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
CLARE’s senior hurlers defeated Offaly as they continue preparations for the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
In a challenge match held on Tuesday evening, Clare emerged as convincing winners over Johnny Kelly’s side.
Exact details of the final score and the personnel used by both teams have been kept under wraps. Indeed, Clare were the only county competing in the All-Ireland quarter-finals not to have a representative in Blarney on Tuesday morning for the launch of the All-Ireland championships.
Three halves of twenty five minutes each were played in Tuesday’s game which saw Clare win well by the sounding of the final whistle in what sources described as “a mismatch for a finish”.
The Clare Echo has learned that Brian Lohan and his management went with a very strong side for the first fifty minutes and then used players battling for game-time for the final twenty five minutes whereas Offaly fielded their strongest side for the first twenty five and then emptied the bench from here on.
Conor Cleary started at full-back for Clare and is understood to be back as first-choice number three. The Miltown Malbay native was harshly dropped for Clare’s fourth round win over Tipperary in the Munster SHC and received no game time in the sixteen point loss to Cork that sent the Banner crashing out of Munster.
In news that will lift the spirits of Clare supporters, Mark Rodgers is moving closer to a return to championship action. The Scariff attacker had been out of action since a dreadful challenge from Tipperary midfielder Willie Connors last month but is back in the shake-up and firmly expected to regain his place in the forward-line.
According to well-placed sources, Shane Meehan was one of the most impressive players in saffron and blue during the challenge game. The Banner GAA clubman featured at corner forward and was lively when in possession.
Captain Tony Kelly featured at midfield and was moving well over the course of an hour. Shane O’Donnell formed part of the attack and was positioned at corner forward for large stages of the game.
Introduced as a substitute during the game was John Conlon who holds the record number of championship appearances for the county and had started the last two outings at centre back.
