PICTURED: Diarmuid Stritch. Photo by Gerard O’Neill
Clare have named a 38 man panel for their upcoming National Hurling League Division 1B campaign which starts at home to Dublin in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg in Ennis this Sunday (2pm).
Amongst the six potential National League debutantes are 2023 Munster and All-Ireland Minor winners Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge) and Jamie Moylan (Cratloe) who will represent the county at Under 20 level as well in 2026.
Clonlara’s Diarmuid Stritch, who also lined out in last year’s Munster Under 20 Final against Tipperary, 2024 Clare Under 20’s Niall O’Farrell (Broadford) and Senan Dunford (Tubber) along with O’Callaghan’s Mills’ County Premier Intermediate winner Aidan Fawl are other additions to this year’s flagship squad that are favourites to regain their top flight status.
With 21 of the 23 players that featured in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final extra-time victory over Cork still available to Brian Lohan [Aidan McCarthy and Seadna Morey being the other two], a strong squad will embark on a six match National League group series over the next seven weeks.
In order to trim the squad to the permitted 40 player mark, seven panelists were released this week ahead of the National League throw-in. Last year’s Clare Under 20’s John Cahill, Fiachra Ó Braoin and Eoin McMahon were joined by Éire Óg’s Canon Hamilton winner Oran Cahill, Clarecastle pair Cian Broderick and Colin Brigdale and Inagh-Kilnamona’s recent County Under 21A winning joint-captain Shane Woods.
