*Diarmuid Stritch. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLONLARA’s Diarmuid Stritch has joined the Clare senior hurling panel in advance of Sunday’s opening round of the Munster championship.
Stritch excelled for Clare’s U20 hurlers in their first round draw with Cork where he hit four points, display a razor sharp first touch and burst of pace which caught the eye of the senior hurling management.
A suspected concussion injury ruled him out of the U20s win over Waterford a fortnight ago but he has since linked up with the county senior hurling panel. He hit two points for Clare’s U20s in their nine point loss to Tipperary. The former Ard Scoil Rís student got 625 points in his Leaving Certificate last year.
His clubmate Ian Galvin has also returned to Clare training, a groin injury ruled him out of the entire Allianz National Hurling League. The skill level and crafty nature of the inside forward may be required in the absence of Shane O’Donnell for the first two rounds of the provincial championship at least.
Speaking on The Water Break, The Clare Echo’s sporting podcast, Clonlara manager Donal Madden said both Galvin and Stritch are worth using this weekend. “He is back training, Ian had a serious groin injury, he is back training. The other guy that ye mentioned (Stritch) is in training with Clare, he is a class act, they are two really good guys, Diarmuid is an exceptional talent and I’m clearly extremely biased but he is a class act, a gorgeous guy with a super attitude, he works really hard, career wise and everything, he is a really good guy, I’m looking forward to him playing for Clare for years, I’d be using both of them to be honest”.
Clare recently played Dublin in a challenge game where it is understood that Diarmuid Ryan featured. The Cratloe man sustained a foot injury at county training in January and was an absent figure as Clare were relegated from the Allianz National Hurling League.
Whether he returns to the half-back line for Sunday’s clash with Cork remains to be seen. Wolfe Tones’ Darragh Lohan and Cian Galvin of Clarecastle are also pushing for inclusion from the odd at wing-back with John Conlon and David McInerney set to fill the other spots in this line.
Eibhear Quilligan is expected to line out between the posts for Clare with the familiar full-back line of Conor Cleary at three flanked by Adam Hogan and Conor Leen.
Inagh/Kilnamona’s Seán Rynne is tipped to make his senior championship debut with his clubmates Aidan McCarthy and David Fitzgerald to form part of the Banner attack. Rynne may get a starting jersey or be sprung from the bench but it understood to have impressed management with his finish to the league.
Captain Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers and Peter Duggan are all anticipated to be included from the off in the Clare forward line.
Cathal Malone and Ryan Taylor are in line to resume their midfield pairing with the tactic of Malone following Darragh Fitzgibbon as was trialled in the league defeat to Cork not a likely option this time round.
As ever, the Clare camp is remaining very tight-lipped in advance of the championship but a solid block of training has been completed following the conclusion of the Allianz National Hurling League.
