*Clare Hehir. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
AS THEY put final plans in place for their opening game in division 1 B of the National camogie league, Clare have received a huge boost with the return of Clare Hehir and Michelle Powell.
The latter missed last season as she recovered from a cruciate injury while Clare Hehir took time out to travel.
Team manager John Carmody said this week that the availability of this duo “is a massive boost”.
However last year’s captain, Ciara Grogan will not be involved this year as she is travelling.
Clare begin their league campaign on this Saturday in Tubber when they will host Westmeath (throw in at 2p.m.).
On Saturday week Clare will travel to play Wexford and they will follow this with games away to Down a week later before entertaining Limerick on March 15 and Antrim on March 22. The league final is scheduled for March 29.
Truagh/Clonlara star Aine O’Loughlin is the team captain this year with Muireann Scanlan from Cratloe as the vice captain.
Another of the Truagh/Clonlara stars from their great run to the All-Ireland final last year, Eimear Kelly is away while Laura Foley and Roisin Begley will be concentrating on hockey with their club Catholic Institute but, as was the case last year, they are expected to be available to Clare come championship.
“We have had a good pre-season when we got a lot of work done. I am very happy with our preparations and the girls have been showing good form”, Carmody told The Clsre Echo this week.
Clare’s first round opponents won division 2 last year which earned hem promotion to 1 B while Clare were relegated from 1 A.
The manager’s backroom team includes Aaron Considine, Eugene Foudy and Dermot Maher as coaches, Jason McCarthy (S &C), Noel Considine (goalkeeping coach), Josephine Taaffe (Ruan) and Ann McNamara (Sixmilebridge) as selectors.
It’s a very busy schedule over the next six weeks and all involved will be hoping that the team will challenge strongly for promotion back to division 1 A. Of course they will be hoping to avoid injuries which will be key to providing a strong challenge for league honours.
