*Clare’s Ronan Lanigan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior footballers are back in action this weekend when they make the long trip to Healy Park in Omagh to face Tyrone.
It’s a 1:30pm start for Sunday’s side with Mark Fitzgerald’s side needing a win to stay in the All-Ireland SFC following their disappointing two point opening round loss to Cork a fortnight ago.
They face a Tyrone side fresh from a 0-21 0-14 defeat to Ulster champions, Donegal. Clare boss, Mark Fitzgerald believes his side are capable of causing an upset. He told The Clare Echo, “We wouldn’t go to Omagh if we didn’t think we had a chance, we wouldn’t be in this competition if we didn’t think we had a chance”.
Tyrone manager, Brian Dooher is anxious that his side bounce back. “While it’s good to be going back into action this Sunday, it’s very important that we lift our game and make life difficult for Clare,” he said.
Dooher added, “They obviously ran a decent Cork side close, and they will not be fazed by having to face us at this point in time. For our part, we have to take the learning from that game against Donegal and put it to good effect against Clare. We came up against the hard running of Donegal, and we will have to expect more of the same against Clare. They are a robust side who can cause opponents problems, and we will have to keep our guard up.”
“We have to remain positive and try and set the pace from the outset. We must try and sustain our effort because Clare will battle to the end,” the three-time All-Ireland winner said.
