*Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill NOT WANTING to concede goals early on was the reason Clare played the opening half of the All-Ireland semi-final with a sweeper according to manager Brian Lohan who said they will dust themselves down and come back again.
*Players keep their eyes fixed on the sliotar during the All-Ireland SHC semi-final. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE’S bid to reach the All-Ireland senior hurling final for the first time in a decade came up agonisingly short against a battle-hardened Kilkenny.
*Shane O’Donnell in action for Clare versus Kilkenny. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Clare had no problem overcoming futile resistance from Dublin to give us a crack at Kilkenny in an All-Ireland semi final this weekend. The players and management alike will be on a mission to atone for last year’s loss in a game where we …
*Conor Cleary. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill JOHN CONLON, CONOR Cleary and David McInerney have all been named to start in Clare’s team to take on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland senior hurling final.
*Clare’s John Conlon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill HOPES ARE RISING on the injury front for Clare’s senior hurlers ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final versus Kilkenny.
*Clare’s Shane O’Donnell in action during last year’s All-Ireland semi-final. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Nine time All-Ireland senior hurling medal winner Noel Skehan while hoping his native Kilkenny will beat Clare in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final believes “any of the four teams involved in the weekend’s semi-finals can qualify for the final”.
Darragh Lohan signs an autograph. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill A FIRST SENOR championship start was the reward for Darragh Lohan as Clare powered past Dublin on Saturday but he hadn’t as much notice as others may like for such a run-out.
Diarmuid Ryan gets away from Cian O’Sullivan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE ARE NOW among the last four teams standing in the race to lift the Liam McCarthy after easily dismantling the Dublin challenge which is dissected in our latest episode of The Water Break.
*Clare manager Brian Lohan with selector James Moran. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BEFORE A BALL was pucked on Saturday, Brian Lohan was confident his Clare charges would deliver a performance.
*Tony Kelly hit a hat-trick for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE HAVE MADE the semi-finals of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship for the second year in a row and in the process have set up a rematch with Kilkenny in Croke Park.
