*Shane O’Donnell. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill THE WHEEL turns full circle for Shane O’Donnell this Sunday when eleven years after his indelible All-Ireland Final debut as a carefree teenager, he faces the same opponents at the same stage in an almost eerie decider rematch against the Rebels once more.
*Clare centre back John Conlon. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill STARTING TEAMS have been named by Clare and Cork for Sunday’s eagerly awaited All-Ireland SHC final.
*Tony Kelly. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill FOR ALMOST twelve months up to late May of this year, the question on all hurling followers lips wasn’t could Clare win the Munster or All-Ireland title but rather will Tony Kelly make a full recovery from the injury which saw him miss Clare’s league campaign.
*Clare manager, Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill For the first time in his five year reign in charge of the Clare senior hurlers, Brian Lohan has a full hand to choose from, a fittingly opportune factor ahead of his biggest game as he leads out the Banner in Croke Park in Sunday’s All-Ireland decider against …
*Clare selector, Tommy Corbett (far-right) with Paul Flanagan, David Reidy and Ken Ralph. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill ANY TEAM expecting to beat Cork must be able to cope with their “bomb squad of speed” that they unleash from the bench in the final twenty minutes of a game, Clare selector Tommy Corbett has stressed.
*Tony Kelly gets away from Walter Walsh. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE CAPTAIN Tony Kelly never felt that Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final game was gone from them.
*Ryan Taylor offloads the ball under pressure from David Blanchfield. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill NOT ALONE was Ryan Taylor’s return a huge boost for him, his family and Clare supporters but it was also a turning point in the game in helping his county qualify for the All-Ireland senior hurling final.
*Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE manager, Brian Lohan says there is a feeling that their year was only starting after beating Wexford in the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final while he pointed out beating Kilkenny in the National Hurling League final was a huge help in overcoming the Cats in Saturday’s All-Ireland …
‘We have an ambitious group that want to win All-Ireland finals’ – Lohan Read More »
*Ian Galvin gets away from Richie Reid. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE “won all the battles,” Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng pointed out while reflecting on Saturday’s All-Ireland semi-final.
*Diarmuid Ryan in action against Declan Dalton. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLARE will face Cork in the All-Ireland SHC final after the Rebels ended Limerick’s bid for a historic five in a row.
