Doherty to make championship debut for Clare footballers

ÉIRE ÓG’s MANUS DOHERTY will be one of the Clare footballers making their championship debut this weekend.

Clare welcome Limerick to Cusack Park this Saturday with a place in the Munster SFC semi-finals the reward for the winners.

Corner back Doherty who made his breakthrough in this year’s league will make his first championship appearance. It comes off the back of last season’s club campaign where he won a first Clare SHC medal as a vital component of the Éire Óg defence, the Ennis side were managed by Paul Madden.

A first championship start is handed to Doherty’s fellow corner back, Cillian Rouine of Ennistymon while Kildysart’s Emmet McMahon will also start on a Clare senior championship side for the first time.

There will be at least one more debutant on the starting team. As first reported by The Clare Echo, Stephen Ryan is struggling with a knee injury and it is now understood that he is set to be out of action for four to six weeks. Ryan is still named in the starting fifteen but a late change is due to be announced tomorrow.

His absence means either Tristan O’Callaghan of St Breckans and St Josephs Doora/Barefield’s Tom O’Brien are vying to fill the posts with the North Clare man tipped to get the nod.

Jamie Malone is moved to defence while Éire Óg’s championship winning captain, Gavin Cooney is handed his second start of the year for the county side.

Injury rules out Keelan Sexton, Alan Sweeney, Darragh Bohannon and Cathal O’Connor from making the matchday twenty six while the Collins brothers who have recovered from hamstring and groin injuries are listed among the subs.

Limerick manager, Billy Lee has also announced his starting fifteen. Cork’s Conor Lane will take charge of proceedings which commence at 6pm.

CLARE:
16: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)

2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)

5: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
6: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
7: Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis)

8: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
9: Ciarán Russell (Éire Óg)

10: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)

13: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
14: David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)

Subs:
1: Tom O’Brien (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
17: Pádraic Collins (Cratloe)
18: Seán Collins (Cratloe)
19: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
20: Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks)
21: Darragh McDonagh (St Joseph’s Miltown)
22: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
23: Ciaran Morrissey (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
24: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
25: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
26: Joe McGann (St Breckans)

Limerick:
1: Donal Ó Sullivan Capt Monaleen

2: Sean O’Dea (Kilteely/Dromkeen)
3: Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen)
4: Michael Donovan (Galbally)

5: Cian Sheehan (Newcastlewest)
6: Iain Corbett (Newcastlewest)
7: Paul Maher (Adare)

8: Darragh Treacy (St Kierans)
9: Cillian Fahy (Dromcollogher/Broadford)

10: Adrian Enright (Fr.Caseys)
11: Brian Donovan (Monaleen)
12: James Naughton (St Senans)

13: Peter Nash (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
14: Josh Ryan (Oola)
15: Hugh Bourke (Adare)

Subs:
16: Aaron O’Sullivan (Pallasgreen)
17: Jim Liston (Gerald Griffins)
18: Luke Murphy (Monaleen)
19: Colm McSweeney (Gerald Griffins)
20: Gordon Brown (Na Piarsaigh)
21: Tony McCarthy (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
22: Tommy Griffin (Gerald Griffins)
23: Pádraig De Brún (Fossa)
24: Killian Ryan (Mungret/St Pauls)
25: Diarmuid Kelly (Newcastlewest)
26: Robbie Bourke (Adare)