[quote=āKIB manā]What you on about Puke? Going on reports Ive read, mainly yours I might add, the Clare backline is struggling big time with only Gerry OāGrady showing any kind of form and Bugler ok at centre back the last day. Gerry Quinn possibly our best player is gone awol again. Full back is struggling and no likely contenders to replace him either, Pat Vaughan who done well at corner back last year is up in midfield. From watching Pat Donnellan last year, I dont think he is good enough and is far far too loose. Who do you reckon are the starting six backs and keeper? Even last year Clare were conceding big enough scores and there is nothing to suggest that without Frank Lohan and Gerry Quinn that things are going to get better. Midfield, Colin Lynch should only be a sub this year but who knows who is going to partner BOC. Iād suggest Tony Griffin maybe. None of the forwards look in any sort of form. Overall the portents arent good.
At this stage the Munster championship is looking a poor competition. Kilkenny seem like they will annihilate everyone this year. I think Galway have to improve from last year but when you see lads like the Healys, Tierney, Murray and Farragher still on and off it wouldnt fill me with hope. If Cork pull together any kind of form they might reach a final.[/quote]
It is looking like Brennan will be in goals, which could be disasterous but they will stick with him I would say, I would rather see Kelly myself, Conor Mc is going well in the corner, Dillon is starting to come into his own at full back and will be solid if unspectacular, GOG has the other corner back slot nailed downā¦Bugler is coming into his own at Centre back and will remain there for the rest of the yearā¦Pat Donellan is a smashing hurler KIB, I would have serious time for him, he has a few things he could improve on(shooting and final ball) but he will more than hold his ownā¦
Gerry Quinn will be back for the Championship, although will be a sub I would say, similar to last seasonā¦James Macinerney will get the other wing back slot and this lad is a great bit of stuff, very much in the Quinn mold only bigger and stronger, although his grip would break your heartā¦
All in all I think that these 6 would more than hold their own against any of the 4 other forward lines in Munster come Juneā¦When the League ends Clare will have the bones of 10 weeks to prepare for Tipp/Cork and they will spend the month of May training like lunatics, 5 nights a week doing all ball work, just like they did last year in the month of April, when the league was overā¦
The league has been poor alright but there was nothing said last year when we were just as bad, the problem is that Mac has talked an awful amount of guff and nonsense and put pressure on himselfā¦
When Mac was involved in the 1990ās there was fierce apathy to the league and he has continued this on to his current tenureā¦
The forwards will be our undoing not our backsā¦Diarmuid, Carmody, Gilli and Griff are as good as nailed down starters, Colin Ryan will get one of the spots and I would say that Conlon will get the otherā¦
BOC and Clancy will be the midfield, Pat Vaughan just hasnāt worked out in midfield which is disappointing given that he does so much good work for Crusheen hereā¦
So all in all the team could well be:
Brennan/Kelly
McMahon-Dillon-GOG
James Mac-Bugler-Donnellan
Clancy-BOC
Conlon-Diarmuid-Carmody
Ryan-Griffin-Gilligan