Clare’s senior hurling side to face Waterford in their first clash of 2022 has been named.
Brian Lohan’s first team of 2022 includes six changes from the starting side that lined out against Cork in the All-Ireland Qualifiers in TUS Gaelic Grounds in July.
Tony Kelly and Aidan McCarthy are long-term injuries on the panel while the returning Peter Duggan is unavailable for the fixture.
John Conlon, Ryan Taylor, Kelly, Colm Galvin, McCarthy and Ian Galvin have been replaced on the first 15 by four replacements that day in Mark Rodgers, Shane Golden, Jack Browne and Gary Cooney while Jason McCarthy and Munster Cup debutant Paddy Donnellan also come into the team.
Donnellan partners Jack Browne in the middle of the field with McCarthy handed the centre-back role, a position Rory Hayes had been trialled out in a recent challenge match versus UL.
Éire Óg’s Darren O’Brien and Mike Gough of Smith O’Briens are in line to make their first appearance for the county seniors if they are sprung from the bench. They are likely to see plenty of action alongside defender Darragh Lohan and promising forward Shane Meehan.
Lohan stressed the need to introduce new blood to build a stronger panel. “The first taste of action begins on Saturday against Waterford where a lot of newer faces will be running out onto Cusack Park. In the precarious COVID times that we’re living in, we need to bolster our strength-in-depth so it’s an opportunity that we hope players will avail of ahead of the National League in three weeks time”.
He added, “Overall, we’re really looking forward to embarking on the new season, with the prospect of Munster Championship round-robin being a much-anticipated focus on the horizon”.
Waterford boss, Liam Cahill has included Austin Gleeson, Shane Bennett, Iarlaith Daly, Shane McNulty, Colin Dunford and Patrick Curran in his fifteen.
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
3: Conor Cleary (St Josephs Miltown)
4: Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
5: Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6: Jason McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
7: David McInerney (Tulla)
8: Jack Browne (Ballyea)
9: Paddy Donnellan (Broadford)
10: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
11: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
12: Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
13: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
14: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
15: Gary Cooney (O’Callaghans Mills)
Subs:
16: Éamonn Foudy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
17: Shane Meehan (Banner)
18: Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
19: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
20: Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
21: Domhnall McMahon (Michael Cusacks)
22: Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
23: Aaron Fitzgerald (Éire Óg)
24: Darren O’Brien (Éire Óg)
25: Mike Gough (Smith O’Brien’s)
26: Cian Broderick (Clarecastle)
Waterford:
1: Shaun O’Brien (De La Salle)
2: Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater)
3: Iarllaith Daly (Lismore)
4: Darragh Lynch (Passage)
5: Shane McNulty (De La Salle)
6: Tom Barron (Fourmilewater)
7: Conor Dalton (Clonea)
8: Cian Wadding (Roanmore)
9: Billy Power (Clonea)
10: Michael Kiely (Abbeyside)
11: Patrick Curran (Dungarvan)
12: Austin Gleeson (Mount Sion)
13: Colin Dunford (Colligan)
14: DJ Foran (Portlaw)
15: Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)
Subs:
16: Billy Nolan (Roanmore)
17: Cathhrach Daly (Lismore)
18: Michael Kiely (Dungarvan)
19: Sam Fitzgerald (Clashmore/Kinsalebeg)
20: Gavin Fives (Tourin)
21: Ian Beecher (Tallow)
22: Seamus Keating (Ardmore)
