*Carol O’Leary. Photograph: David Dillon
Carol O’Leary and Orla Devitt return to the Clare intermediate ladies football side for Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final.
O’Leary and Devitt had been dropped prior to their ten point win over Laois in favour of Caitriona Callinan and Roisin Looney but regain their places as James Murrihy is expected to adapt a more defensive approach against a fancied Tipperary outfit.
Tipperary eased into the knockout stages notching up big wins over Meath, Wicklow and Longford to finish top of Group Two with a scoring difference of +52. The Premier County have long been labelled as the favourites in this grade and have overcome Clare twice this year in the Munster championship, four points separated them in the group stages with Tipp victorious on a scoreline of 0-20 1-04 in the provincial decider.
Clare’s form in the All-Ireland campaign has been mixed losing a home tie to Wexford by three points but bouncing back in their next outing versus Laois.
Sunday’s tie begins at 2pm at Staker Wallace in Limerick with the winner advancing to the last four where they will meet either Sligo or Offaly.
Clare:
1: Ciara Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
2: Áine Keane (St Josephs Miltown)
3: Ellie O’Gorman (Kilmihil)
4: Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
5: Carol O’Leary (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
6: Laurie Ryan (Banner)
7: Siofra Ní Chonaill (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)
8: Orla Devitt (Éire Óg)
9: Eimear O’Connor (Coolmeen)
10: Roisin Considine (Liscannor)
11: Ailish Considine (Kilmihil)
12: Caoimhe Harvey (West Clare Gaels)
13: Grainne Nolan (Banner)
14: Niamh O’Dea (Banner)
15: Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels)
Tipperary: L Fitzpatrick; L Spillane, M Curley, E Cronin; B Condon, S Lambert, C Kennedy; A McCarthy, A.R. Kennedy; N Lonergan, A Moloney, L Dillon; O O’Dwyer, A McGuigan, A Fennessy.
