*Sean Doyle. Photograph: ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry

Clare U20 manager Sean Doyle is upbeat for his side’s chances when they meet Tipperary on Monday despite the loss of key man, Aidan McCarthy.

Final touches to preparation received a blow for Clare when Inagh/Kilnamona’s Aidan McCarthy sustained a broken thumb while training for the county seniors.

Despite McCarthy’s loss, team manager Sean Doyle is quite upbeat about the side’s chances. “We have a good young squad ready to go. It includes a lot of last year’s minor team. The squad also includes a number of the players that helped St. Flannan’s to Harty Cup glory and they gained a lot of experience from that campaign. Twenty five of the panel will be available for this grade again next year”, the manager told The Clare Echo this week.

Captain Aaron Moloney will also miss the clash having picked up an injury in the days leading up to the game.

In his second season in charge at this grade, Sean is joined in the backroom team by Evan Kilroy from Oranmore and Val Murnane from Limerick (team coaches) and by selectors Ger Rodgers (Scariff) and Jim McInerney (Tulla).

The manager readily acknowledged, “It’s been a very difficult season to prepare a team because of COVID-19. We had started early in the year and we had done a good few sessions before the lockdown came. We only got to resume five or six weeks ago but we have had a great response from all involved”.

The squad’s preparations were upset again last weekend when challenge games against both Offaly and Wexford were cancelled as a result of COVID-19 restrictions moving to Level 3. “We had already played the Kerry seniors and the Limerick under 20’s and the form was good and we are expecting a big performance on Monday evening”.

Victory on Monday would earn Clare a home semi-final date against Waterford, a match which is scheduled for October Bank Holiday Monday in Sixmilebridge.

Kilmaley’s Bradley Higgins is also ruled out of this year’s championship. He suffered a cruciate knee injury last year and isn’t expected to return to hurling until 2021.

Bodyke’s Doyle is expecting a fierce test from their opponents. “They are the defending champions and their team will include five or six of the players that played in the All-Ireland final last year, players like Andrew Ormond, Conor Bowe, Jack Devanney and Kevin Maher to mention some”.

In his first season in charge of the under 20 side last year, Clare lost out to Cork who went on to contest the final. “We were two points in arrears going into injury time and while Cork eventually won by seven, there really was nothing between the sides”, he explained.

Doyle and his backroom team have a couple of injury concerns ahead of Monday’s fixture. Conner Hegarty is battling a knee injury while Shane Meehan is recovering from a broken nose sustained while playing with his club, Banner, in the Clare junior football semi-final.

Meehan is one of a number of players who are part of the county senior panel at this time. They others are Paddy Donnellan (Broadford), Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones), Cian Galvin (Clarecastle), Mark Rodgers (Scariff) and the injured Aidan McCarthy

Clare:
1: Cian Broderick (Clarecastle)
2: Paddy Donnellan (Broadford)
3: Adam Mungovan (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
4: Jathan McMahon (Clonlara)
5: Mike Gough (Smith O’Briens)
6: Dylan McMahon (Clonlara)
7: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
8: Aidan Moriarty (Clonlara)
9: Gearoid Cahill (Corofin)
10: Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
11: Robin Mounsey (Ruan)
12: William Halpin (Tulla)
13: Diarmuid Cahill (Corofin)
14: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
15: Shane Meehan (Banner)

16: Cillian O’Brien (Clonlara)
17: Darragh Healy (Clarecastle)
18: Eoghan Wallace (Clarecastle)
19: Conner Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
20: Colm O’Meara (Clonlara)
21: Cian Mulqueen (Broadford)
22: Kevin Keane (Corofin)
23: Conor Bourke (Clonlara)
24: James Maguire (Kilmaley)

Related News

01052025_Council_Cliffs_of_Moher_0059
Rita represented West Clare 'with integrity & dignity' during term as Cathaoirleach
natasha o'brien 1
'I'd rather be difficult than be silent' - Natasha determined to speak out
Shannon Airport (2)
'National Development Plan a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebalance regional development' - Shannon Airport Group
ennis homecoming 22-07-24 marty morrissey alan o'callaghan 2
'It was a year full of everything' - O'Callaghan looks back on term as Mayor of Clare

Advertisement

Latest News
Shannon Airport (2)
'National Development Plan a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebalance regional development' - Shannon Airport Group
waterford v clare minor 28-06-25 tommy kennedy ian o'brien ger o'connell 1
All-Ireland final defeat won't overshadow year for Clare minors
ennis homecoming 22-07-24 marty morrissey alan o'callaghan 2
'It was a year full of everything' - O'Callaghan looks back on term as Mayor of Clare
jarlath burns 1-2
GAA President Burns to maintain Scariff Harbour Festival's links with Northern Ireland & GAA
michael mcnamara 3
AI offers generational opportunity for Mid-West to become Ireland's digital home - McNamara
Premium
ennis homecoming 22-07-24 marty morrissey alan o'callaghan 2
'It was a year full of everything' - O'Callaghan looks back on term as Mayor of Clare
1 DSC_9466
'There's no way we're not going to go again' - O'Donnell says no decisions made but exits from Clare camp unlikely
brendan o'mara
Two Gardaí working full-time on case of €10m drug seizure involving Meelick ex Ryanair pilot
charge sheet 1
Ennistymon farmer tears up charge sheet in front of Garda where he is accused of year long harassment of neighbour
monaghan v clare 29-06-25 roisin considine jennifer duffy 1
Monaghan make their mark & send Clare out of ladies football championship

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement