*Eibhear Quilligan. Photograph: Inpho / Tommy Dickson Clare’s Allianz hurling league campaign for 2021 will begin in far away Corrigan Park in Belfast on Sunday (throw in at 1p.m.) when they face newly promoted Antrim.
*Shane Bennett and Jack Browne in action. Photograph: Martin Connolly Clare will renew acquaintances with Waterford’s senior hurlers in the Munster senior hurling championship.
Reigning Senior B hurling champions Clonlara will continue with the same management this year.
Keith Carr has stepped down as strength and conditioning coach to the Clare senior hurlers after one season in the role.
Clare’s senior hurlers are set to be without regular defender Seadna Morey for the 2021 inter-county season.
One of the darkest days I experienced as a Clare hurling supporter was last year when Clare were decimated by Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds.
Two members of Clare’s All-Ireland winning team of 2013 have departed Brian Lohan’s senior hurling panel while three of the most promising young hurlers in the county have joined the squad.
The 2019 intermediate champions Broadford booked a place in the senior championship quarter finals when they defeated a fancied Clonlara outfit at Cusack Park this Sunday afternoon.
In a dogged tie that could have realistically swung in either direction, it was Clonlara who provided the greater composure coming down the final straight to edge the opening spoils in Sixmilebridge on Friday evening.
*Oisin O’Brien. Photograph: Sport Action Photography Ask any of the current Clonlara squad about the key early influencers in their hurling careers and outside of their parents, they are more than likely to reference national school teachers Eddie Horgan and PJ Fitzpatrick at the top of their lists.
