*Aidan McCarthy in action for the Clare seniors. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Clare’s U20 hurlers have been dealt a massive blow ahead of their Munster quarter-final next Monday with star player Aidan McCarthy to miss the tie through injury.
The Inagh-Kilnamona man sustained a broken thumb while training with the county senior squad last week and currently has his hand in plaster which won’t be removed until Tuesday next, the day after Clare’s meeting with the defending champions which is set for Semple Stadium in Thurles on Monday evening at 7p.m.
McCarthy is one of the key men of Sean Doyle’s squad, he was included on the Electric Ireland Minor Hurling team of the year in 2017 and made his senior inter-county championship debut last summer and had been featuring in the half-back line for Brian Lohan’s seniors during the Allianz National Hurling League this year.
He lined out at midfield on the Kilmurry Ibrickane side that were crowned Clare SFC champions in September.
Manager Doyle remains upbeat for Clare’s chances despite the absence of the utility man. “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”, he told The Clare Echo.
