*Liam Murphy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE’s minor hurlers are one hour away from a place in the All-Ireland final.
Ger O’Connell’s charges make the trip to Tipp this Sunday where they face Cork at 1pm in FBD Semple Stadium. It is the fourth All-Ireland semi-final in as many seasons for Clare.
A source of major frustration for Clare supporters is the clash with the county’s senior footballers who face Louth at 2pm in Portlaoise on Sunday.
Focus for the minors is solely on getting a result against a Cork side crowned Munster champions for a thirty fifth time and a first since 2021 when they overcame Waterford by a single point in May.
It will be the second meeting of Clare and Cork at this grade this season. The Rebels recorded a 3-24 3-17 when they clashed at Dr Daly Park in Tulla in April.
Since then, Clare have become stronger as a unit and have made several alterations to their line-up. Dara Kennedy’s return from injury has served as a big boost for Clare with the Ballyea man anchoring a central role in defence.
Rory Ralph of Clarecastle and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s Ben Talty have been added to the fray in the half-forward line with Jack O’Halloran, a son of two-time All-Ireland winner Michael nailing down the full-back berth.
Star attackers Paul Rodgers and Liam Murphy from Scariff and O’Callaghans Mills respectively will be the threat that Cork will focus on.
Within the Clare camp, O’Connell and his management will put an emphasis on getting joy off puckouts from Leon Talty, an area which Cork’s dominant half-back line punished the Banner on when they met in Munster.
Two months on from their last meeting, Clare are in a much stronger place and head for Thurles confident of causing an upset.
Clare
1. Leon Talty (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
2. Niall Doyle (Éire Óg)
3. Jack O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
4. Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge)
5. Evan Crimmins (Newmarket on Fergus)
6. Dara Kennedy (Ballyea)
7. Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
8. Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
9. Evan Cleary (Ballyea)
10. Rory Ralph (Clarecastle)
11. James O’Donnell (Broadford)
12. Ben Talty (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield)
13. Ian O’Brien (Cratloe)
14. Paul Rodgers (Scariff)
15. Liam Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
Subs:
16: Conor Keogh (Sixmilebridge)
17. Darragh Murrihy (Inagh Kilnamona)
18. Cormac Gunning (Broadford)
19: Jason Keane Hayes (Kilmaley)
20: John Barry (Inagh Kilnamona)
21: Gavin Marshall (Parteen/Meelick)
22: Donncha Mahon (Clooney/Quin)
23: Eoin O’Connor (Ballyea)
24: Jake Gibbons (Whitegate)
