*Mark McInerney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ÉIRE ÓG’s Mark McInerney has been named to make his first start of this year’s Allianz National Football with Ronan Lanigan and Brendy Rouine listed among the subs for the first time in 2025.
McInerney replaces Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Daniel Walsh in the named team which also includes a positional switch between Ikem Ugwueru and Connor Meaney as Clare look to bounce back to winning ways against Laois. The game takes place at 18:00 in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
To date in this year’s league, McInerney has been listed as sub goalkeeper, he was still sprung from the bench in attack during additional time for Clare’s victory over Kildare a fortnight ago. Tweaks to the rule changes that are likely to see less outfield action from goalkeepers could well be the rationale for the altered approach from management. This move sees Tristan O’Callaghan togging out for the first time in the 2025 league.
Clare’s meeting with Tipperary in the U20 football championship means both Seán McAllister and Evan Cahill are unavailable for the senior side.
Senior manager Peter Keane had told The Clare Echo that defender Ronan Lanigan “could be touch and go” to appear against Laois and the Éire Óg man is listed among the substitutes for the first time. His imminent return would bolster the Banner’s backline and create more options for other players to be pushed forward.
So too is Brendy Rouine, the Ennistymon attacker has had a luckless run with injuries in 2023 and 2024 but kicked 1-4 in half an hour for his club as they defeated Corofin 3-21 1-13 in the opening round of the willwego.com Cusack Cup.
After picking up a knock last weekend, Gavin Murray of Éire Óg is not included among the subs for the trip to Laois.
A win is essential for Clare if they are to maintain aspirations of securing promotion to Division 2.
Clare:
1: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg)
2: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
6: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
8: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
9: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
10: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
14: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
16: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckan’s)
17: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
18: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
19: Rory McMahon (Kildysart)
20: Cillian McGroary (Corofin)
21: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg)
22: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
23: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
24: Diarmuid O’Donnell (Kildysart)
25: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
26: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
