*Gavin Cooney is back in the Clare team. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
INJURIES HAVE forced Colm Collins to make two changes to the Clare senior football team this weekend.
Darren O’Neill (broken thumb) and Keelan Sexton (hamstring) miss out on the action for Sunday’s trip to Páirc Tailteann in Navan. In their absence, Darragh Bohannon and Gavin Cooney enter the fray, both of whom made a considerable impact during last weekend’s dramatic one point win over Louth.
Meath will head into the tie in a buoyant manner having recorded an away win against Cork in Colm O’Rourke’s first National Football League outing as manager.
With O’Neill and Sexton absent from the matchday panel this weekend, Gearoid Cahill, Micheál Garry and Dan Keating are included with Cooraclare’s Brian McNamara also omitted.
UL’s Sigerson Cup captain Emmet McMahon continues at full forward with Gavin Cooney joining him alongside Podge Collins.
Bohannon goes straight in at midfield to partner Cathal O’Connor. David Sexton and Ronan Lanigan, both of whom made NFL debuts last weekend continue in goals and at corner back respectively with Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Pearse Lillis, Cian O’Dea and Alan Sweeney keeping their spots in defence.
Eoin Cleary is named to start at centre forward alongside his close friend Jamie Malone and cousin Dermot Coughlan.
Clare:
1: David Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad )
4: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
5: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
6: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
8: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
14: Emmett McMahon (Kildysart)
15: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
16: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
17: Gearoid Cahill (Corofin)
18: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
19: Michael Garry (Cooraclare)
20: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
21: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
22: Dan Keating (Kilmihil)
23: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
24: Darren Nagle (Liscannor)
25: Ikem Ugweru (Éire Óg)
26: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
