*Áine O’Loughlin is now one of the most experienced players in the Clare team. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SEVERAL key players have opted out of the Clare senior camogie panel for 2024 which will prompt a new-look team when they begin their league campaign this weekend.
Galway travel to Ennis as strong favourites this Saturday for the start of the National Camogie League. Clare welcome the neighbours to Cusack Park for a 2pm start.
A number of the players who have been the backbone of the Clare side in recent seasons will be absent due to a variety of reasons including retirement, and travel. Chloe Morey from Sixmilebridge has called time on her inter county career while Niamh O’Dea, Clare Hehir, Orlaith Duggan, Doireann Murphy, Alannah Ryan and Caoimhe Kelly have all opted out.
Ciara Grogan of Clooney/Quin and Áine O’Loughlin from Truagh/Clonlara have been appointed as joint captains of the side.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, John Carmody who is his second stint as manager of the senior side outlined, “We will be introducing up to nine players to the team this season and this will be a huge task for a young team. That’s the hand we have been dealt but it will be a great learning curve ahead of the championship. With league games against Galway, Kilkenny, Waterford, Cork and Tipperary, arguably the leading five counties in the game, it will, we hope stand to the team come championship time”.
Rachel Daly from Scariff/Ogonnelloe will make her debut in goals for the senior side on Saturday. Others who are expected to see game time in this tie include Caoimhe Lally, Ellen Casey, Grace Carmody, Jennifer Daly, Labhaoise O’Donnell, Caoimhe Cahill and Aoife Anderson.
In round two, a week later Clare will face Kilkenny and further games in the league will see them away to Waterford and Cork and at home to Tipperary.
For the championship, Clare have been grouped with Cork, Galway, Down, Dublin and Wexford with three teams to qualify from the group.
Former All-Ireland winning manager with Cork, Paudie Murray and his brother Kevin will be assisting Clare with their championship preparations this season. “They have won multiple All-Irelands and it’s a great boost for Clare to have their assistance this year”, Carmody explained.
According to the Kilmaley man the senior squad “are really only coming together this week as our preparations have been disrupted due to colleges competitions”.
Clare will have an early start on Saturday with the intermediate team facing Galway in round 3 of their league at Inagh. This game is currently scheduled for 12 noon but officials have requested that it be brought forward to 11.30 am because of the 2pm start at Cusack Park.
With a big number of the squad who played in the opening rounds called up to the senior side, there will be a number of new young players making their debuts in Saturday’s outing at Inagh. Clare beat Wexford in round one but lost by a point to Tipperary last day out.
New players coming in this week include Sophie Cullinan,(Truagh/Clonlara) who will be in goals; Bonnie Wiley Murphy (Scariff/Ogonnelloe) at full back Jennifer Nicholas (Tulla), Sinead Power and Tina Queally (both Inagh/Kilnamona) and Mary Hanrahan (Crusheen).
