*Clare Hehir. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

AS THEY put final plans in place for their opening game in division 1 B of the National camogie league, Clare have received a huge boost with the return of Clare Hehir and Michelle Powell.

The latter missed last season as she recovered from a cruciate injury while Clare Hehir took time out to travel.

Team manager John Carmody said this week that the availability of this duo “is a massive boost”.

However last year’s captain, Ciara Grogan will not be involved this year as she is travelling.

Clare begin their league campaign on this Saturday in Tubber when they will host Westmeath (throw in at 2p.m.).

On Saturday week Clare will travel to play Wexford and they will follow this with games away to Down a week later before entertaining Limerick on March 15 and Antrim on March 22. The league final is scheduled for March 29.

Truagh/Clonlara star Aine O’Loughlin is the team captain this year with Muireann Scanlan from Cratloe as the vice captain.

Another of the Truagh/Clonlara stars from their great run to the All-Ireland final last year, Eimear Kelly is away while Laura Foley and Roisin Begley will be concentrating on hockey with their club Catholic Institute but, as was the case last year, they are expected to be available to Clare come championship.

“We have had a good pre-season when we got a lot of work done. I am very happy with our preparations and the girls have been showing good form”, Carmody told The Clsre Echo this week.

Clare’s first round opponents won division 2 last year which earned hem promotion to 1 B while Clare were relegated from 1 A.

The manager’s backroom team includes Aaron Considine, Eugene Foudy and Dermot Maher as coaches, Jason McCarthy (S &C), Noel Considine (goalkeeping coach), Josephine Taaffe (Ruan) and Ann McNamara (Sixmilebridge) as selectors.

It’s a very busy schedule over the next six weeks and all involved will be hoping that the team will challenge strongly for promotion back to division 1 A. Of course they will be hoping to avoid injuries which will be key to providing a strong challenge for league honours.

Related News

newmarket on fergus village 1
Imbalance of GP cover flagged in Clare as HSE say active efforts ongoing to secure permanent service in Newmarket-on-Fergus
Shannon-Airport-2
Reconfigured Airport Oireachtas group need to tackle Shannon's lack of connectivity to mainland Europe
bunratty castle folk park 2
Audit raises questions of Council's governance following management of Bunratty deal
east clare memorial pat hayes
East Clare Memorial Committee to hold annual Easter commemoration

Advertisement

Latest News
School bands perform at Shannon Airport 1
160 students take flight in school band spectacular at Shannon Airport
spaces for biodiversity galway 1-2
Spaces for biodiversity competition returns in Galway
newmarket on fergus village 1
Imbalance of GP cover flagged in Clare as HSE say active efforts ongoing to secure permanent service in Newmarket-on-Fergus
clare v tipperary 19-04-24 alan sweeney 1
Clare footballers through to Munster final for third year running
rue willow 1-2
Ennis author Rue Willow goes through the Sands of Time
Premium
Shannon-Airport-2
Reconfigured Airport Oireachtas group need to tackle Shannon's lack of connectivity to mainland Europe
clare v galway camogie 15-05-21 ciara grogan
Grogan, Murphy & O'Keeffe return to Clare squad ahead of Munster opener
sixmilebridge v crusheen 24-08-24 tadhg dean 1
Crusheen go top of Clare Cup standings following Cratloe win
bunratty castle folk park 2
Audit raises questions of Council's governance following management of Bunratty deal
john conlon 1
'At 36 my body feels as good as it's ever been' - Conlon geared up for seventeenth season in saffron and blue

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement