*Cillian Rouine. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ENNISTYMON’S Cillian Rouine is expected to be back in the fold as Clare’s senior footballers welcome Antrim to Cusack Park.
Clare’s bid for promotion requires them to record a third win on the bounce and their cause is strengthened by the availability of the former county minor captain, Rouine who memorably got the winning score last year to see Clare defeat Cork in the Munster SFC for the first time since 1997.
Cillian has struggled with a hamstring injury so far this season which has limited his involvement in the Allianz NFL to a brief cameo versus Westmeath when the issue resurfaced and prompted his departure.
Rouine is back in the reckoning for this weekend, manager Mark Fitzgerald has confirmed. His return would strengthen the Clare defence with Cillian a member of the starting team for the past two seasons at corner back but a more central role is expected for the Lahinch man in 2024.
Twenty five year old Darragh Bohannon may also feature. The Shannon Gaels clubman who made his championship debut for Clare in 2017 has been unavailable for all of this year’s league has returned to the training pitch as part of his rehabilitation programme.
Éire Óg’s Éinne O’Connor who has impressed in all his appearances so far in the NFL remains sidelined with a hamstring complaint which he suffered in the thirteen point win over Wicklow, a game which was his only start so far of the campaign.
Captain Cillian Brennan is also taking more of a part in training as he continues his road to recovery. The Clondegad clubman is unlikely to line out in the NFL, at this stage. Brendy Rouine remains a long-term injury, he has not played a competitive game since Clare’s U20 semi-final defeat to Kerry last season.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Fitzgerald said of the injured list, “Cillian Rouine is fine and will be back in for the Antrim game, we’d be hoping Darragh Bohannon will be back for that too and Cillian Brennan is a little bit beyond that, those lads are actually back on the pitch training with us at the moment which has given us a huge boost”.
