Clare will be without the pairing of Conor McGrath and Patrick Kelly for their crunch tie with Limerick on Saturday evening in their second round qualifier of the All-Ireland Hurling Championship.
Cratloe’s McGrath is ruled out with a hip injury and if Clare are to prevail this weekend it will be unlikely that he will be fit enough for the quarter-final. The 2013 All-Star has not played a competitive game since the County’s Munster semi-final exit to Waterford at the beginning of June.
Goalkeeper Pa Kelly misses Saturday’s game with an ankle problem which he sustained in training in the run-up to the Laois game. The Inagh/Kilnamona was replaced by Andrew Fahey between the posts with the Whitegate man keeping a clean sheet on his championship debut. Kelly has been the regular netminder since Davy Fitzgerald took the reigns as Clare boss.
There is some good news in the camp as Conor Ryan has returned to light training. The Cratloe man last played for the side in their National Hurling League quarter-final win over Tipperary but has been absent since due to a medical issue.
Semple Stadium is the venue for this weekend’s bout in what will be the fourth championship encounter between the teams in six seasons.