Ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final, Jamesy McConigley looks at the team standing in Clare’s way.
What do we know about Clare’s opponents?
After failing to overcome Kilkenny, Michéal Donoghue’s team will need to produce a sturdier display against Clare if they want to proceed further in the All-Ireland hurling series. The Tribesmen came out the wrong end in the Leinster Final three weeks ago and have gained plenty of criticism within their own county. With the Footballers being crowned Connacht champions after an eight year wait, pressure is mounting on the maroon and white hurling team. The question posed is, what can we expect from this Galway team?
Late Fitness concerns
Speculation surrounding the Galway camp suggests centre back Daíthi Burke who sustained a finger injury after the Leinster Final will feature for the Tribesmen. It is confirmed he has since played a club match for Turloughmore and finished the full seventy minutes in the provincial decider two weeks ago. Sources say his finger was heavily strapped and shall be no different against Clare.
Rahoon-Newcastle’s John Hanbury who left the field of play against Kilkenny should be fit in time to face Clare. He limped off during that defeat. Question marks over Cyril Donnellan’s fitness were raised but he trained last Sunday and again during the week. He should be fit to resume his position on the bench.
Possible positional switches
Reports filtering out of Galway are that Beagh’s Adrian Tuohy could replace Gearoid Mc Inerney in the Galway half-back line, with McInerney dropping back into the full-back line. Touhy gave a man-of-the-match display against Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry two weeks ago aiding his chances of starting Sunday. He lost his place on the team after a disappointing league campaign. Johnny Coen is expected to start at midfield with Davy Glennon making way to corner forward. Sources claim that Glennon will drop into the middle of the field as a spare man if Clare executes the sweeper system.