*Shane O’Donnell is back in the Clare team. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
SHANE O’DONNELL will make his first appearance of the year for the Clare senior hurlers in a competitive showing this weekend while a championship debut awaits Adam Hogan.
O’Donnell returns to the Clare side at full-forward with Feakle’s Hogan starting at corner back. Goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy gets his first championship start, he made his Munster SHC debut last year when introduced as a substitute in Clare’s comprehensive win over Waterford.
Brian Lohan is without the suspended David Fitzgerald and David Reidy, the Éire Óg man had been Clare’s most impressive player in the National Hurling League and is understood to have picked up a hamstring injury.
There is better news on the injury front for Rory Hayes and Shane Meehan, the Shannon man has recovered from a broken bone in his wrist and Ennis native Meehan has overcome a long-running issue to both be included among the substitutes.
Tony Kelly and Cathal Malone are to partner each other at midfield with Clare’s most experienced player John Conlon at centre back with Diarmuid Ryan and David McInerney on either side of him.
Having missed all of last year’s championship, Aidan McCarthy is welcomed back to the fold at wing forward with Peter Duggan on the opposite wing and Ryan Taylor between them. The attack is completed by the full-forward line of Ian Galvin, O’Donnell and Mark Rodgers.
Joining Hogan in the full-back line are 2013 All-Ireland winning U21 captain Paul Flanagan and first choice full-back Conor Cleary.
1: Eamon Foudy. Inagh-Kilnamona
2: Adam Hogan. Feakle.
3: Conor Cleary. Kilmaley
4: Paul Flanagan. Ballyea
5: Diarmuid Ryan. Cratloe
6: John Conlon. Clonlara
7: David McInerney. Tulla
8: Tony Kelly. Ballyea
9: Cathal Malone. Sixmilebridge.
10: Peter Duggan. Clooney-Quin
11: Ryan Taylor. Clooney-Quin
12: Aidan McCarthy. Inagh-Kilnamona
13: Ian Galvin. Clonlara.
14: Shane O’Donnell. Eire Og
15: Mark Rodgers. Scariff.
Subs:
16: Éibhear Quilligan. Feakle.
17: Cian Nolan . Smith O’Brien’s
18: Aaron Fitzgerald. Eire Og
19: Shane Meehan. The Banner
20: Aron Shanagher. Wolfe Tones
21: Paddy Donnellan. Broadford
22: Robin Mounsey. Ruan
23: Rory Hayes, Wolfe Tones
24: Cian Galvin. Clarecastle.
25: Jack Kirwan. Parteen-Meelick
26: Brandon O’Connell. Ballyea.
