*Eoin Cleary. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CAPTAIN EOIN Cleary returns to the county football side for their third round of the Allianz National Football League.
An illness ruled the Miltown Malbay man out of their second round loss to Meath but he returns to lead the Clare attack from centre forward. Kilmihil’s Ciaran Downes misses out as a result of Cleary’s return.
It is the only change made by Colm Collins and his management from the side which fell to a 4-08 0-16 defeat against Meath for their meeting with Kildare which commences at 2pm in Cusack Park following the meeting of Clare vs Kilkenny in the National Camogie League.
Keelan Sexton (hamstring) and Darren O’Neill (broken thumb) remain sidelined. There is positive news as Brendy Rouine of Ennistymon and Ciaran Russell are included in the matchday twenty six with Russell expected to see action in the second half.
Returning to winning ways is a must for Collins’ charges if they are to have aspirations of securing promotion to the top tier.
Emmet McMahon who captained the UL Sigerson Cup footballers as they came agonisingly close to silverware for the second year in a row is down to start at full-forward with Podge Collins and Gavin Cooney in the corners. Jamie Malone and Dermot Coughlan are named as wing-forwards.
McMahon is one of five members of the UL team included on the panel, Downes, Ikem Ugwueru, Aaron Griffin and Daniel Walsh are listed among the substitutes.
David Sexton keeps the goalkeeper’s jersey and is protected by a full-back line of Éire Óg duo Ronan Lanigan and Manus Doherty in the corners with Cillian Brennan at number three.
Pearse Lillis is named at centre back where he is to be flanked by the North Clare duo of Cian O’Dea and Alan Sweeney.
O’Neill’s absence gives Darragh Bohannon another opportunity in the middle of the field alongside Cathal O’Connor.
1: David Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
5: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
6: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
8: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
14: Emmett McMahon (Kildysart)
15: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
16: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
17: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
18: Micheál Garry (Cooraclare)
19: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
20: Dan Keating (Kilmihil)
21: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
22: Darren Nagle (Liscannor)
23: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
24: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
25: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
26: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
