*Cillian Brennan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior footballers will be without newly appointed captain Cillian Brennan for their opening outing in the Allianz National Football League.
Division 4 league winners last year which they followed with a Connacht championship final appearance later in the season, Sligo come to Ennis this Sunday with high expectations as the 2024 Allianz football league gets underway.
They will carry the favourites tag against what will be a new look Clare outfit after a number of those who have been leaders for Clare during their time in Division 2 have called time on their inter county careers while some of the other stars of recent seasons have taken time out to travel.
Kerry man Mark Fitzgerald will be in charge of Clare for the first time in the Allianz National Football League but he is well versed on what the league is all about having been in charge of Limerick last season.
The Clare team coach is former Limerick captain, Seanie Buckley who has been coach to Éire Óg for the past three seasons, helping Paul Madden’s side to win two county championships in that period.
Sligo will arrive in Cusack Park with an experienced manager in All-Ireland winning midfielder, Tony McEntee from Crossmaglen in Armagh.
This is his fourth season in charge of the Connacht county so it’s fair to say that he is well versed on the players that are available and these include last year’s captain Niall Murphy, Paul Kilcoyne, Nathan Mullen, Luke Towey, Alan Reilly and Kerry’s Patrick Spillane, son of Kerry’s eight time All-Ireland winner Pat.
Clare will be looking to goalkeeper Stephen Ryan, defenders, Manus Doherty, Alan Sweeney, Daniel Walsh, forwards Dermot Coughlan, Emmet McMahon and Aaron Griffin to provide leadership.
Ennistymon’s Cillian Rouime was named to start against Cork in the recent McGrath Cup first round tie but he pulled up during the warm up and had to withdraw and he was still out of action when they played Waterford in round 2 four days later.
Kildysart’s Emmett McMahon didn’t play in the McGrath Cup due to a leg muscle injury and a similar injury kept Éire Óg’s Mark McInerney out of the team for those games. Both are expected to feature this week.
Incidentally Clare lost to Cork in that McGrath Cup fixture before recording a comfortable win over Waterford and they will be hoping that the experience gained in those games will help to see a more settled side in action this Sunday.
The Banner outfield will have a number of players who will be playing in the league for the first time and these include Cooraclare duo Brian McNamara and Micheál Garry along with Westmeath native Gavin Murray to make an impression in this campaign.
Ruled out because of injury is newly elected team captain, Cillian Brennan, the team’s full back in recent years and he is not expected to be available until later in the campaign. In his absence goalkeeper Stephen Ryan from Kilrush will captain the side.
Also not available at present due to injury is Brendy Rouine, younger brother of Cillian. The Ennistymon clubman has been sidelined since Clare’s U20 campaign last year with a serious groin injury.
Sligo’s greater experience entitles them to the favourites tag but with home advantage Clare will be determined to put down a marker as they seek a quick return to Division 2.
