*Fiona Lafferty.
Clare’s senior camogie team commence their All-Ireland senior championship campaign in Sixmilebridge this evening (Saturday) and do so without several key players through injury.
Cratloe natives Maire McGrath and Naomi Carroll are unavailable with long term injuries while Aoife Keane (ankle) and Chloe Morey (knee) are not included in the starting team which has three All-Ireland championship debutants; Alannah Ryan, Teresa O’Keeffe and Amy Barrett.
First up for Clare in Group 2 of the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland senior camogie championship is their most difficult tie, facing off with the reigning All-Ireland champions. Chasing a three-in-a-row for the first time since 1973, Cork will be confident of getting their title defence off to a winning start when they travel to O’Garney Park for the 5pm throw-in.
Ger O’Connell has opted to remain with several players that received plenty of game time during the League for the championship opener with eye brows raised following the omission of former captain Orlaith Duggan from the starting fifteen.
Niamh O’Dea has left the panel since the league, opting to focus solely on Clare’s intermediate ladies football campaign. Her decision coming less than three weeks after telling national media of how facilitating both managements were in catering for dual players.
County champions Inagh/Kilnamona have four players included in the starting team, beaten finalists Newmarket-on-Fergus have one sole representative, captain Laura McMahon. O’Connell’s own club Truagh/Clonlara have three players lining out as do Scariff/Ogonelloe with one each from Sixmilebridge, Clooney/Quin, Kilkishen and Tulla.
CLARE:
1: Sarah Loughnane (Sixmilebridge)
2: Ciara Grogan (Clooney/Quin)
3: Laura McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)
4: Ciara Doyle (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
5: Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona)
6: Alannah Ryan (Kilkishen)
7: Michelle Caufield (Truagh/Clonlara)
8: Amy Barrett (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
9: Roisin Begley (Truagh/Clonlara)
10: Sinead Conlon (Tulla)
11: Andrea O’Keeffe (Inagh/Kilnamona)
12: Teresa O’Keeffe (Inagh/Kilnamona)
13: Eimear Kelly (Truagh/Clonlara)
14: Mairead Scanlon (Scariff/Ogonnelloe)
15: Fiona Lafferty (Inagh/Kilnamona)
