*Cillian Rouine misses out through injury. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
INJURY has ruled out both Cillian Brennan and Cillian Rouine from the Clare senior football side which welcome Meath to Cusack Park on Saturday evening.
Having been unavailable for the Munster SFC quarter-final loss to Limerick, Cathal O’Connor and Keelan Sexton return to the mathchday panel, O’Connor slots into the side at midfield with Sexton listed to start on the bench.
Full-back Brennan was forced off with injury in extra-time of the defeat to Limerick and was expected to be included in the team but has not been deemed fit enough for selection.
Rouine who made his first championship start at the end of April misses out with an ankle injury. Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan once again is ruled out, the Kilrush man picked up an injury the week leading up to the Munster quarter-final and has not recovered sufficiently.
In their absence, Conor Jordan and Alan Sweeney are handed starting jerseys. The other change from the team which bowed out of the provincial championship sees Cathal O’Connor return in place of defender Eoghan Collins.
Colm Collins’ side face off with Meath at 6pm on Saturday evening.
Clare:
1: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckans)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks)
4: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
5: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
6: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
7: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
8: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
9: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
10: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
13: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
14: David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
