*David Reidy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
NO CHANGES have been made to the Clare senior hurling team as they go in search of their first league win of 2025.
Successive defeats to Kilkenny, Galway and Wexford have Clare teetering with relegation and a defeat to rivals Limerick on Sunday in TUS Gaelic Grounds with confirm their drop to Division 1B for 2026.
Having made six changes from the fifteen which lost by seven points to Galway for the third round against Wexford where they came out the wrong side of a 1-23 1-17 scoreline, the announced team for the Limerick game shows no changes.
Confirmation of Shane O’Donnell’s absence for the season has been a cruel blow for Clare, the Ennis man underwent shoulder surgery. Tony Kelly is named to play at full-forward for the second game in a row as the All-Ireland champions look to find a new number fourteen for 2025. He’s flanked by Aidan McCarthy and David Reidy.
Mark Rodgers at centre forward and David Fitzgerald on the wing make their second starts of 2025 with Patrick Crotty retaining his role at wing-forward for the third game in a row. Cathal Malone and Ryan Taylor continue their partnership in midfield.
Darragh Lohan and John Conlon occupy central roles in the Clare defence which is completed by Rory Hayes, Ian Macnamara, Cian Galvin and Adam Hogan with Feakle’s Eibhear Quilligan staying as first choice goalkeeper.
For John Kiely’s Limerick, Barry Nash makes his first start of 2025 at corner back. Injury rules out Sean Finn, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes and Gearoid Hegarty. Captain Cian Lynch is at midfield alongside Adam Enright.
Colin Coughlan is likely to pick up fellow UL Fitzgibbon Cup winner Patrick Crotty with Diarmaid Byrnes expected to tail David Fitzgerald.
There is an unfortunate and avoidable tight window between Clare’s hurlers and footballers in action this Sunday. The footballers host Kildare in Cusack Park at 14:00 with the Gaelic Grounds encounter commencing at 15:45.
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
3: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
4: Ian Macnamara (Killanena)
5: Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
7: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
8: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
9: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
10: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
11: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
12: Patrick Crotty (Scariff)
13: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
14: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
15: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs:
16: Cian Broderick (Clarecastle)
17: Paddy Donnellan (Broadford)
18: Shane Meehan (Banner)
19: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
20: Seán Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona)
21: Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
22: Conor Leen (Corofin)
23: Shane Woods (Inagh/Kilnamona)
24: Jack Kirwan (Parteen/Meelick)
25: Robin Mounsey (Ruan)
26: Gearoid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe)
Limerick:
1: Jason Gillane (Patrickswell)
2: Barry Murphy (Doon)
3: Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
4: Barry Nash (South Liberties)
5: Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell)
6: Ethan Hurley (Newcastle West)
7: Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown)
8: Adam English (Doon)
9: Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
10: Eddie Stokes (Doon)
11: David Reidy (Dromin-Athlacca)
12: Cathal O’Neill (Crecora Manister)
13: Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell)
14: Shane O’Brien (Kilmallock)
15: Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh Castlemahon).
Subs:
16: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh)
17: Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh)
18: Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh)
19: Michael Houlihan (Kilmallock)
20: Dylan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh)
21: Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
22: Aidan O’Connor (Ballybrown)
23: Fergal O’Connor (Effin)
24: Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen)
25: Patrick O’Donovan (Effin)
26: Cian Scully (Dromin/Athlacca).
