*Mark Rodgers battles to win possession. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. STARTING their National League campaign with a win has been a strong way for Clare’s hurlers to respond to the frustration felt by supporters last year, manager Brian Lohan has said.
*Tony Kelly scores Clare’s third goal. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CLARE emerged victors over Dublin by two points in a hard-fought tie to start their quest to get back to the top tier of the Allianz National Hurling League.
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 …
*Paul Flanagan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill BALLYEA sealed their place in the Clare SHC semi-finals at the expense of Clonlara, experience told with one match-winning performance in particular for Robbie Hogan’s side.
*Kevin Hehir is challenged by Páraic O’Loughlin. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. TWO of the leading contenders for the Canon Hamilton face off in the Clare Cup final this weekend.
*Clonlara’s Colm Galvin is chased by Luke O’Halloran of Sixmilebridge. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill CLONLARA qualified for a second Clare Cup final in four years after they withstood a strong Sixmilebridge comeback to set up a league decider with Inagh/Kilnamona.
*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill It was an excruciatingly difficult pill to swallow for Clare as their hopes of a first Munster Under 20 Hurling title in eleven years hinged on two contentious decisions entering the final quarter.
*Clare’s Diarmuid Stritch. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill Fortune finally favoured the brave as Clare produced a late smash-and-grab victory to tee up a Munster Under 20 Final rematch with Tipperary next Wednesday.
*Goalkeeper Mark Sheedy will make his tenth successive start in the Munster U20 championship. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. CLARE’s U20 hurlers starting team shows one change for Wednesday’s semi-final with Cork.
*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.