*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Dates times and venues for Clare’s clashes in the Munster U20 and minor hurling and football championships have been confirmed.
Munster Council confirmed the fixtures at a meeting on Thursday evening.
Michael Neylon’s U20 footballers will be the first in action when they make the trip to Waterford on Thursday July 8th. Their quarter-final clash with Waterford is a repeat of last year’s fixture which the Banner County won 3-14 0-06. A two point defeat to Cork in the semi-finals ended Clare’s involvement during Neylon’s first year in the role.
Their meeting with Waterford throws in at 7:30pm in Fraher Field, Dungarvan with the victor earning a semi-final clash with either Limerick or Tipperary on Thursday July 15th.
A trip to Austin Stack Park in Tralee kicks off the campaign of Sean Doyle’s U20 hurlers. They face Kerry on Monday July 12th with a 7:30pm throw in time. Clare have not won a game at this grade since 2015 in what was Donal Moloney’s final year in charge at this grade, when it was then U21. Should Clare pick up a win, they will face Limerick at the LIT Gaelic Grounds in the semi-final on Monday July 19th.
Semple Stadium in Thurles is the setting for the minor hurling quarter-final between Clare and Cork on Wednesday July 14th. Terrence Chaplin’s charges have a 7:30pm start for this tie which is a chance for the Banner to atone for their 2020 quarter-final meeting. On that occasion, the side managed by Brian Coffey lost out 1-24 2-13. The winner of the quarter-final will face Limerick at the same venue on Tuesday July 27th.
Beaten Munster finalists last year, Dermot Coughlan’s minor footballers will be determined to go one step better in 2021. They have a home semi final in Cusack Park on Friday July 30th at 7:30pm where they will face the winners of Limerick or Tipperary.