Itās pretty much first come, first served for the seated side. You can tell her not to be delaying you on that basis
David Fitz starting ahead of David Mc from the team named. No surprise -Reidy, David Mc and Shanagher were really poor in terms of work rate last week for senior players.
Tony Kelly and Duggan ramping up and expects to be back in full training in the next week or two.
You would want to be in a good hour before throw in to get a spot in the stand even if there is only 4 or 5k at it
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Far from a classic in Tullamore today. Offaly were honest but limited and the scoreline flattered Clare who turned on the style in the last 10 minutes.
Wides, some very sloppy touches and the a whistle happy ref made it a stop start first half to forget aside from a couple of trademark Tony Kelly points early on. Shanagher coming on at half time and himself and Meehan inside in the second half were the winning of it, both had the beating of their men and had a hand in nearly all of our positive play in the second half. Meehanās footwork is top class and he took plenty of timber off the ball throughout. Kelly started like a train in the first quarter but his influence waned more and more the longer the game went on til he popped up with a fine finish after great work from the aforementioned Shanagher and Meehan.
Cleary struggled with the big full forward who got two from play and won at least 4 frees. He was subbed before he got a second yellow for persistent fouling. Conlon who was back at centre back and played well there was then switched back to full back for the last quarter.
Duggan came on for the last 5 minutes and his first action was to ping a sideline cut from midfield straight into the paw of Shanagher in the big square to win the game sealing penalty.
Taylor hit a couple of poor wides but Offaly struggled with his hard running while Crotty was industrious as ever, he will be hard to displace come championship. Neither OāBrien or Donnellan did much before being called ashore. You wouldnāt draw too many from it but nice to see us go through the gears and put the game away comfortably enough.
Itās still up in the air which half of the field he plays in so?
He was told in January that the plan was to play him in the forwards for the year, but i would think given the form of a number of lads who have been given chances in the backs so far that they will have to keep him at six and go from there. We probably have enough depth in the forwards even with Rodgers and Reidy injured to get by without him but the cupboard is fairly bare at the back
Iād fear Meehan wonāt yet be able to win his own ball come championship time, whether heāll be able to get on enough breaks off Shanagher (who has generally been figured out by most decent IC backs)
It looks like a year for being patient and developing our options moreso than anything
In an ideal world Meehan and Crotty would be great options off the bench with 20 left but needs must especially with Rodgers and Aidan Mc unlikely to feature this year, Reidy and Ian Galvin injured at the moment and no word on OāDonnell and his return.
Both have a lot of potential but may well need time but they are also outperforming more experienced lads and are on form - and we donāt have a lot of on form hurlers at the moment.
Two big games the next couple of weeks. A couple of performances needed. Itās hard to think of a decent championship season Clare have had off the back of a poor or mediocre league campaign. 2008 about the only one that comes to mind.
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Clare Snr H
E Quilligan
R Hayes
C Cleary
P Flanagan
D Ryan
J Conlon
J Browne
S Golden
P Donnellan
C Malone
T Kelly
P Crotty
S Meehan
R Taylor
J McCarthy
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Talk is Diarmuid Ryan and Shanagher picked up injuries and will be touch and go for champions.
David Mc and David Fitz start today assume for Ryan and Shane Golden
A creditable performance and draw albeit it was there to be won with 20 to go and we hit some really poor wides. Half backline was very solid with Conlon and Browne playing well while Jason McCarthy got through a lot of work in the first half. Half forward line all had spells where they played well although Diarmuid Byrnes dominated throughout and was probably the MOTM.
Our depth in the forwards is being tested without OāDonnell, Reidy, Aidan McCarthy, Ian Galvin, Rodgers and Shanagher. If Duggan can find a bit of form and we can get two of the six named above back fit and firing it would make a difference
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What was the wide count today?
Listening to it on the radio it sounded like Clare were well on top and shouldāve won well for all Byrnes had the free to win it.
They probably should have, there was a spell late in the second half where they could have gotten two ahead a few times and frittered away good chances. The disallowed goal in the first half looked dubious enough as well.
Both sides hit a good scatter of wides tbf
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Kelly missed three or four frees and had a couple of wides from play. Had two half chances for goals which could have been tapped over. Paul Flanagan fumbled a ball with no one within ten yards of him which led to a limerick free which they pointed. Clare were probably 5 or 6 points the better side second half on the balance of play.
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A standard day so for Kelly.
Replay of the disallowed goal show clearly should have stood.
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Was just coming on to say it alright
I would think Clare should look back on it as a game they left behind. Limerick look a shadow of the team which won three of the last four All Irelands.
He was in the square.