*Clare captain Patrick O’Connor. Photograph: Martin Connolly Two wins and two defeats is Clare’s record from the 2019 Munster SHC, the two losses being extremely one-sided contests, the aftermath of which resulting in “a tough few weeks” for all involved in the Banner setup and their families according to captain Patrick O’Connor.
*Donal Moloney. Photograph: Martin Connolly It’s been a difficult and unusual period for Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor, recent heavy defeats to Tipperary and Limerick brought with it widespread criticism of them and their panel of players which management addressed in the moments following their victory over Cork.
*Sean Finn competes with Aron Shanagher. Photograph: Martin Connolly 2018 was an unforgettable year for Limerick as they became All-Ireland senior hurling champions for the first time since 1973, one glitch remained in a dream campaign, that being their eleven point June defeat to Clare.
*Clare Joint Manager, Donal Moloney. Photograph: Martin Connolly Back to back defeats and not just that but successive drubbings for the Clare senior hurlers as it all comes down to next weekend and needing a win over Cork plus Limerick to draw with or beat Tipperary, for joint manager Donal Moloney lifting the spirits of…
*Conor Cleary attempts to block Cian Lynch. Photograph: Martin Connolly Clare have made just one change to their starting team from that which suffered a thirteen point defeat to Tipperary on Sunday, Limerick have also made one alteration to their lineup.
*Seamus Callanan reacts quickest and buries the ball in the Clare goal despite Patrick O’Connor’s attempts. Photograph: Martin Connolly The Clare Echo’s Darach Honan reflects on Clare’s thirteen point defeat to Tipperary and looks at possible changes for Sunday’s must-win tie against Limerick.
*Clare’s defence deal with a Tipperary attack in the 2018 Munster SHC. Photograph: Gary Collins Both Clare and Tipperary are unbeaten so far in this year’s Munster SHC, for one that will change on Sunday according to The Clare Echo columnist Darach Honan.
*Ian Galvin. Photograph: Martin Connolly Ian Galvin has returned to contact training giving joint managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor an extra option in attack for Sunday’s Munster senior hurling championship tie with Tipperary in Cusack Park.
*Tony Kelly’s shot is blocked by Kieran Bennett during their Munster League meeting in January. Photograph: Martin Connolly Their League quarter-final defeat to Waterford in Walsh Park was the warm-up and Sunday is the real deal as Clare aim to get their Munster senior hurling championship campaign off to a winning start.
On Sunday, Patrick O’Connor will aim to become the first Clareman since Anthony Daly to lead his county to a Munster senior hurling championship, the prestige of being captain is not lost on the corner back. In June, the Banner side that won back to back League titles in 1977 and 1978 were honoured with…
