*Clare captain, Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE and Tipperary’s sixty first championship meeting is do or die as Saturday becomes a defining one so far as the 2025 season is concerned for both camps with some positive news emanating from the Banner camp in advance of the tie.
Cusack Park or Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg will be packed to capacity as the old rivals lock horns from 6pm and aim to pick up their first championship win of the year and also keep their campaign alive. The loser can still qualify from Munster in third spot, provided they win their final round clash and other results go their way.
In their sixty championship clashes to date, Tipperary hold the better record with forty wins compared to Clare’s sixteen while there have been four draws between the counties. Of the encounters since 2000, Tipperary have won eleven and Clare have prevailed in four.
Ironically Tipperary’s last win in the Munster championship was in Ennis when they scored five goals on their way to a 5-22 3-23 victory in the opening round. Tipp have drawn three games in the Munster championship since then including last year’s encounter between the sides at Semple Stadium.
Defending All-Ireland champions Clare have found wins hard to come by this season which already included relegation from the Allianz National Hurling League.
The Clare Echo understands that Tony Kelly is expected to feature in Saturday’s game. The All-Ireland winning captain was ruled out of the eight point loss due to illness and was not present in Walsh Park for the game. The exact nature of his predicament are unknown but the five-time All Star who has so often gone above and beyond for the county cause is set to do that yet again this weekend. Team doctor, Dr Michelle McNamara has been closely monitoring the condition of the school teacher since his release from hospital in Galway.
Hurler of the Year, Shane O’Donnell’s involvement is less clear and the Éire Óg attacker may be sprung from the bench. His recovery from a shoulder operation had him geared towards an appearance in the final round of Munster versus Limerick but the significance of Saturday’s game could see him take to the field in the Clare colours for the first time this year, at some stage.
Question marks also remain on the involvement of first-choice full-back Conor Cleary. The Miltown Malbay native has missed out on both championship games this year for Clare, though carrying an injury he was included among the substitutes for the first round draw with Cork but was not included in the matchday panel for the second round defeat to Waterford. With Clare’s defence struggling thus far, Cleary’s return would be broadly welcomed. Diarmuid Ryan’s chances of lining out are slimmer as he continues to recover from injury.
Brian Lohan and his management will come under pressure to make changes to their starting attack. Clare and Waterford are the joint lowest scorers of the five Munster counties in this year’s senior championship with a total of 51 points.
Shane Meehan’s addition to the starting team against Waterford came as a surprise considering he didn’t make any appearance against Cork the week previous. The Banner clubman who scored 0-4 has done his cause of making back to back starts no harm.
Ian Galvin who has fared well in his introduction from the bench in both of Clare’s outings is also in the reckoning for increased game-time.
As has been the case during Lohan’s six-year tenure, the exact starting team will not be divulged until matchday regardless of what is announced by Clare GAA via their social media channels in advance of the game.
Wexford’s James Owens will referee Saturday’s game which will only be available to watch on the streaming service GAA+.
