*Cormac Murray. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CILLIAN BRENNAN and Cormac Murray return to the Clare football team for Sunday’s fourth round of the National League against Laois.
Second from bottom in Division 3, Clare have the opportunity to overtake Laois in what is expected to be a tight and competitive affair in Cusack Park on Sunday at 14:00.
Injury rules out midfielder Darragh Bohannon and captain Cillian Rouine, hamstring injuries deprive them of a spot in the matchday panel. Their losses were reported in The Clare Echo this week while Fionn Kelleher and Seán McAllister remain sidelined with injury.
Their absence paves the way for Cillian Brennan and Cormac Murray to return to the first fifteen. Ex captain Brennan was introduced as a substitute for Bohannon in the opening quarter of last Sunday’s six point win against Fermanagh. Murray who started in the first two rounds is back in the fold at corner forward alongside his Miltown Malbay club mate Eoin Cleary and vice captain Mark McInerney.
After making his senior debut last weekend, Joshua Vaughan moves from wing forward to midfield where he will partner Brian McNamara.
Positional switches are expected within the named team, Brendy Rouine and Dermot Coughlan are likely to swap roles. Stephen Ryan continues between the posts with the full-back line retained for the fourth game running, comprised of Alan Sweeney, Ronan Lanigan and Manus Doherty.
Ikem Ugwueru is named at centre back with Coughlan and Brennan either side of him. Daniel Walsh who made his first appearance of the year versus Fermanagh continues at wing forward, Rouine is named on the other side with Aaron Griffin in the middle.
Liam Cotter, Gearoid Cahill and Luke Pyne are included in the matchday squad with Bohannon, Rouine and Caoilfhionn O’Dea missing out.
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
6: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
7: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
10: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
11: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
12: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
13: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
14: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
15: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay)
Subs:
16: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckan’s)
17: Liam Cotter (Ennistymon)
18: Jamie Stack (St Breckan’s)
19: Michael Nash (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
20: Gearóid Cahill (Corofin)
21: Joseph Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
22: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
23: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg Inis)
24: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
25: Morgan Garry (Clondegad)
26: Luke Pyne (Éire Óg)
