*Seadna Morey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SEADNA MOREY is in line for a starting role for the first time in this year’s championship.
Sixmilebridge’s Morey a three-time All-Ireland U21 winner and an All-Ireland senior medallist from 2013 started at full-back in a challenge match versus Galway last week.
None of Clare’s starters in the Munster Final loss to Limerick featured in the clash with Henry Shefflin’s Galway and instead opportunities were given to fringe players like Robin Mounsey, Cian Galvin, Aaron Fitzgerald and Jack Kirwan.
Morey is now understood to be getting the nod to line out at full-back in Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC quarter-final against Dublin which will take place at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick at 4pm.
First choice full-back Conor Cleary is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder and is unlikely to feature this weekend but would be firmly back in the mix should Brian Lohan’s side eliminate Dublin from the championship to set up a semi-final tie with Kilkenny at Croke Park.
Lohan and his management have been criticised for their inability to make defensive changes in the Munster Final defeat to Limerick. Cian Nolan started at full-back and had the difficult task in curbing Aaron Gillane in what was his first outing for the county seniors this year. The Killaloe man was not aided by the huge ocean of space in front of him and the Limerick attacker with coach Paul Kinnerk’s tactic of isolating Gillane working a treat with centre back John Conlon and corner back Adam Hogan pulled out of shape leaving Nolan with very little defensive support, his job became even more difficult when he was handed a yellow card in the opening half which limited his ability to tackle for fear of being dismissed.
Writing in his column for The Clare Echo, 2013 All-Ireland winner, Darach Honan stated, “Once Cian Nolan received a yellow card his hands were tied and couldn’t handle Aaron Gillane, however, I would see no issue with starting him this weekend and I think you would see a huge improvement in him if you did. Paul Flanagan and Seadna Morey both did well when introduced the last day, and both are more than capable of playing from the start this weekend”.
However, it seems that Morey will now be given the opportunity to lead the Clare defence from full-back where he is expected to be flanked by Adam Hogan and Rory Hayes with the half-back line to remain comprised of Diarmuid Ryan and John Conlon.
Freetaker Aidan McCarthy is reported to be an injury doubt for Saturday’s game. Clare had three different freetakers in the Munster Final with Scariff’s Mark Rodgers and captain Tony Kelly also taking placed balls. Rodgers or Peter Duggan who was Clare’s freetaker in their run to the 2018 All-Ireland semi-final are first-choice freetakers for their clubs.
