*Ronan Lanigan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
TWO CHANGES have been made to the Clare senior football team which welcome Donegal to Ennis on Saturday.
Colm Collins’ side face off with Donegal in the opening round of the All-Ireland SFC series and the fixture is viewed as a vital one with Clare under pressure to get off to a winning start if they are to have aspirations of building together a lengthy run in the competition.
Manus Doherty and Dermot Coughlan miss out on starting jerseys for Clare with Ronan Lanigan and Cian O’Dea entering the fray as a result.
Lanigan is at corner back for what will be his first championship start at senior level while O’Dea is a line ahead at wing-back, it will be the first time this year that the Kilfenora man has a starting spot for the championship.
With Daniel Walsh and Pearse Lillis named as wing-forward, a defensive set-up is expected from the Banner County as they aim to bounce back from their 5-14 0-15 Munster final defeat to Kerry.
Shannon Gaels’ Darragh Bohannon has recovered from injury to take his place among the substitutes and is expected to get game-time in Cusack Park on Saturday.
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan. Kilrush
2: Ronan Lanigan. Éire Óg, Inis
3: Cillian Brennan. Clondegad
4: Cillian Rouine. Ennistymon
5: Ciaran Russell. Éire Óg, Inis.
6: Jamie Malone. Corofin.
7: Cian O’Dea, Kilfenora.
8: Cathal O’Connor. Coolmeen
9: Darren O’Neill. Éire Óg, Inis.
10: Daniel Walsh. Kilmurry Ibrickane.
11: Emmett McMahon. Kildysart.
12: Pearse Lillis. Cooraclare
13: Eoin Cleary (C) Miltown St Joseph’s.
14: Keelan Sexton. Kilmurry Ibrickane.
15: Padraic Collins. Cratloe
Subs:
16: David Sexton. Kilmurry Ibrickane.
17: Darragh Bohannon. Shannon Gaels.
18: Gavin Cooney. Éire Óg, Inis.
19: Manus Doherty. Éire Óg, Inis..
20: Michéal Garry. Cooraclare
21: Aaron Griffin. Lissycasey.
22: Shane Griffin. Lissycasey
23: Mark McInierney. Éire Óg, Inis.
24: Brian McNamara. Cooraclare
25: Alan Sweeney. St Breckan’s
26: Ikem Ugwueru. Éire Óg, Inis.
Stand By Players.
27: Thomas Kelly. Shannon Gaels
28: Tom McDonald. Doora Barefield
29: Fergal Guinnane. Kildysart
30: Cillian McGroary. Corofin.
