*Rory McMahon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
RORY MCMAHON is set to make his first starting appearance for the Clare senior footballers as they make the trip to Sligo.
Kildysart’s McMahon is included in the half-forward alongside his younger brother Emmet. It will be a first league start for Rory who made his debut when coming off the bench in Clare’s 2-17 0-10 win over Leitrim in the second round.
He replaces Ciaran Downes who is understood to be ruled out with a dead leg injury which is why he is not included among the matchday twenty six. Rory was not included in the panel for last weekend’s win over Kildare.
McMahon is one of two changes with Daniel Walsh listed among the first fifteen in place of Connor Meaney.
Seán McAllister is named to start at wing back but featured in a full sixty minutes for Clare’s U20 footballers as they suffered a shock defeat to Waterford on Saturday so he may not feature from the off. Fellow U20, Evan Cahill is included among the substitutes. This means Meaney could yet to start in place of McAllister.
Peter Keane’s side make the journey to Markievicz Park knowing they must beat Sligo to keep their chances of promotion alive. Sligo have one draw and three defeats from their four outings to date in the National Football League. A win for Clare would see them climb level to the top of the table on points with Kildare and Offaly.
Clare:
1: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg)
2: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
6: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
7: Sean McAllister (Clondegad)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
10: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
11: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
12: Rory McMahon (Kildysart)
13: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
15: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Subs:
16: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
17: Cillian McGroary (Corofin)
18: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
19: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
20: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg)
21: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
22: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg)
23: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
24: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
25: Jamie Stack (St Breckan’s)
26: Diarmuid O’Donnell (Kildysart)
