CILLIAN BRENNAN IS SET to return to the heart of the Clare defence for Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC quarter-final with Derry.
Brennan has been out of action with a hamstring injury which forced him off in extra time during Clare’s Munster SFC quarter-final loss to Limerick.
Banner boss, Colm Collins had been hoping that the Clondegad defender would return to the fold following on from their dramatic qualifier win over Roscommon. Now, it appears that this has materialised with the Rice College past pupil partaking returning to full fitness in training this week.
A hamstring injury had kept Cillian sidelined for over seven weeks. He is expected to return to the side at full-back giving Collins and his management the freedom to push Cian O’Dea back into the half-back line where he will also double up as a key launchpad for attacks.
Management are likely to stick with a similar fifteen for the last eight clash. The impact of both David Tubridy and Gavin Cooney from the bench was very influential to Clare clawing their way back against Roscommon. Collins and his selectors of Enda Coughlan, Declan Downes, Gerry McGowan and Declan O’Keeffe will hope for a repeat impact off the bench from such players in Croke Park this weekend.
Clare’s team is due to be named following their final training session before the Derry game which takes place in Cusack Park on Thursday evening.
