*Darren O’Neill. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
DARREN O’NEILL replaces Cathal O’Connor on the Clare team to take on Limerick in the Munster SFC semi-final this Saturday.
A two-time Clare SFC winner with Éire Óg, O’Neill is credited with helping to change the game two weeks ago when introduced at half-time in the quarter-final as Clare recorded a first championship win over Cork in twenty six years.
He is rewarded with a starting spot where he partners Darragh Bohannon in the centre of the field and the experienced Cathal O’Connor drops to the bench.
Colm Collins and his management team have opted against further changes to the fifteen. Eoin Cleary is once again named at corner forward where he joins Keelan Sexton and Podge Collins in the full-forward line.
Emmet McMahon is named at centre-forward in a line that also includes the industrious duo of Pearse Lillis and Dermot Coughlan.
Jamie Malone mans the centre-back spot flanked by Ciaran Russell and Daniel Walsh while match-winner Cillian Rouine is at corner back alongside Cillian Brennan and Manus Doherty with Kilrush’s Stephen Ryan lining out between the posts.
One change to the substitutes sees Darren Nagle included in the matchday twenty six at the expense of Dan Keating.
Clare
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
5: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
6: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
7: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
8: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
9: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
10: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
11: Emmett McMahon (Kildysart)
12: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
14: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
Subs:
16: David Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
17: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
18: Michéal Garry (Cooraclare)
19: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
20: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
21: Darren Nagle (Liscannor)
22: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
23: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
24: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
25: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
26: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
Stand By Players.
27: Dan Keating (Kilmihil)
28: Cathal Downes (O’Curry’s)
29: Colm Pyne (Killimer)
30: Thomas Kelly (Shannon Gaels)
