A first start for O’Doherty

There are three changes in personnell and some positional switches on the Clare team for Sunday’s hurling league quarter final from the side which defeated Limerick to win promotion back to division 1 A two weeks ago.

Into the side for his first action in this year’s campaign comes Ciaran O’Doherty from Crusheen who is named at corner back. The captain of Clare’s All-Ireland winning under 21 side in 2009 replaces Oisin O’Brien who is one of a number of squad members ruled out due to injury.

Miltown’s Conor Cleary returns to the starting line up at centre back, replacing the injured David McInerney while, up front, Darach Honan replaces the injured Shane O’Donnell.

In a positional switch Colm Galvin moves to corner forward in a switch with Aaron Cunningham

The team is Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona); Ciaran O’Doherty (Crusheen), Cian Dillon, Captain (Crusheen), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea); Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Conor Cleary (Miltown St.Josephs), Pat O’Connor (Tubber):David Reidy (Éire Óg), Conor Ryan (Cratloe); Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones), Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle), John Conlon (Clonlara); Colm Galvin (Clonlara), Darach Honan (Clonlara), Conor McGrath (Cratloe).

Sunday’s game at Cusack Park throws in at 3.45p.m.

Meanwhile the football team to play Kildare at NewBridge (throw in at 2p.m.) shows one change in personnell from the team which defeated Longford last week. Dean Ryan has been named at centre back in place of the injured Gordon Kelly.

The team is; Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Sean Malone (Miltown St. Josephs), Kevin Harnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Jamie Malone (Corofin), Dean Ryan (Eire Og), Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora); Gary Brennan (Clondegad) Captain, Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen); Sean Collins (Cratloe), David Tubridy (Doonbeg), Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare); Eoin Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs), Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes);

By Seamus Hayes