*Jack O’Halloran has been added to the Clare squad. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE manager Denis Hynes has boosted his squad for Saturday’s Oscar Traynor semi-final against Limerick Disrict League.
Saturday’s Munster region semi-final sees Clare welcome Limerick District League to Frank Healy Park. Kick off is pencilled down for 17:30 with the visitors carrying the favourites tag.
A hamstring injury kept Avenue Utd midfielder Nnabuike Nneji out of action for the quarter-final victory over Kerry at the beginning of November. Nna is one of four new additions to the squad and comes in on fine form having been one of the steady figures for his club over the weekend when they managed to hold off a scare from Lifford AFC in the Premier Division.
His clubmate Seán O’Callaghan has also joined the squad. The centre-half won a Connacht Cup during his time with Athenry Utd and scored an all-important goal for Avenue when overcoming Bridge Utd in last season’s title-decider to win what was his first Premier Division medal with the club.
Left winger Jack O’Halloran who was part of the Clare side under Donie Garrihy last year has also linked up with the squad in advance of Saturday’s semi-final. The Bridge Utd man was a first-choice starter during Garrihy’s tenure and has become a leading figure for his club over the past two seasons.
O’Halloran scored twice for the Sixmilebridge club in Sunday’s win over Grattan Utd in the last thirty two of the Munster Junior Cup, when introduced off the bench.
Also hitting the net twice for Bridge in their 4-2 win was Conor Whelan. The former Tulla Utd clubman who previously represented the Oscar Traynor side. He returned to the Clare league in August when leaving Avondale Utd for Bridge.
Shane Cusack will once again wear the captain’s armband for Clare this weekend. The Newmarket Celtic man is expected to be joined in the starting eleven by his clubmates Harvey Cullinan and Aaron Rudd.
Eoghan Thynne of Avenue Utd and Bridge Utd’s Scott Kirkland will be others looked to lead the way for Clare this weekend.
Bridge Utd duo, Liam Buckley and Aidan Moloney both of whom started the Kerry tie are ruled out through injury.
Also on Saturday, Clare’s youths are in action in the inter-league Munster region semi-final. They are also headed to Frank Healy Park but have an earlier start of 12:30 when hosting Cork Youth League in Doora.
