*Aidan McCarthy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE HURLER, Aidan McCarthy was dropped from the county senior hurling panel before Saturday’s loss to Tipperary.
McCarthy broke his silence on Wednesday in a tweet which confirmed he did not leave the panel of his own accord.
In an online post, Aidan said, “Just to clarify and confirm. I did not walk off the Clare Senior Hurling panel. I was willing, ready and able to line out for my county against Tipperary on Saturday evening if selected”.
Aidan was not included in the matchday twenty six for Clare’s third outing in this year’s provincial championship. Instead, he lined out with Inagh/Kilnamona and finished as their top scorer with 0-9 as they defeated St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 2-21 1-13 on Saturday in the willwego.com Clare Cup.
Absenteeism and injuries have hurt the Clare cause in this year’s championship so the omission of McCarthy from Saturday’s squad was a major talking point once the panel was announced on Friday morning.
He trained with his club on Thursday evening when it emerged he was no longer part of the county panel.
The Clare Echo understands that the All-Ireland winner was not included on either the A or B team in an internal training match following on from Clare’s loss to Waterford. He aired his opinion and disappointment on this with manager Brian Lohan and in days subsequent to this he was no longer part of the panel.
First-choice freetaker for the Clare team, Aidan was substituted on sixty minutes in the first round draw with Cork and on forty seven minutes in the second round loss to Waterford, he hit four wides prior to his substitution against the Déise.
During last year’s All-Ireland win over Cork, he scored 1-7 in the final. There had previously been a clash between Lohan and McCarthy after he was dropped for last year’s quarter-final win over Wexford but he regained his starting jersey in the semi-final win against Kilkenny where he amassed a personal tally of 0-11.
