*Keelan Sexton will return to the Clare side. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Keelan Sexton and Cathal O’Connor who missed Clare’s first round Munster football championship loss to Limerick due to injury are back in training having recovered from their injuries and they are both in the running to play against Meath in Saturday’s opening game in the qualifiers.
Manus Doherty and Cillian Brennan, both of whom were forced out of that contest during the extra time period, have both recovered and are also in contention for inclusion in the team for Saturday’s game which throws in at 6p.m at Cusack Park.
However long term injuries, Stephen Ryan and Darragh Bohannon won’t be ready for this contest against the beaten Leinster semi-finalists while it also appears that the game has come too soon for long serving defender Kevin Harnett who hasn’t got any game time this year due to injury.
Sean Collins missed the league campaign due to injury but he has returned to action and the experienced Cratloe man will be pressing for inclusion on Saturday but his brother Podge remains doubtful because of a hamstring injury
When the sides last met, Meath managed a one point win, 0-10 to 0-9 at Clare’s headquarters back in March in round 6 of the Allianz League.
Defensive errors proved costly for Clare on that occasion with the winning point coming after Clare had coughed up possession when they looked to be in control of the play.
In that tie the teams were level on six occasions including at half time when the s core was 0-5 each, Clare opened a two point lead midway through the second half but the Royals hit back to level before striking for the winning score.
Their form has been mixed all season and their most recent outing saw them suffer a heavy defeat in the Leinster championship semi-final.
They have had the upperhand on Clare in recent clashes albeit that the winning margin has been small, just a single point on a few occasions.
In players such as Bryan Menton, Donal Keogan, Cillian O’Sullivan and Shane Walsh they have match winners.
Two of their panel have strong Clare connections and both are members of the Rathoath club. Bryan McMahon’s father John is from Coolmeen and he was a key member of the mid Clare club in his playing days and his form earned him a call up to Clare duty.
Jack Flynn whose mother Olive McInerney hails from Sixmilebridge got a call up to the Meath panel following impressive form with his club in 2020.
The Leinster side will travel to Ennis confident that they can maintain their recent . winning form over the Banner side but they will know that lady luck has smiled on them in some of those clashes.
Desperately disappointed to lose out to Limerick in a penalty shoot out in the Munster championship, Clare are sure to be determined to return to winning ways and if this is to happen they will need Ciaran Russell, Cian O’Dea, Jamie Malone, Eoin Cleary, Pearse Lillis, Keelan Sexton and David Tubridy to lead the way.
