With five weeks grace before their All-Ireland hurling semi-final date against either Cork or Galway there is no immediate fear over the availability of Tipperary defender Pádraic Maher.
Maher sustained a shoulder injury in Sunday’s Munster final win over Waterford, and although it didn’t necessitate his replacement, it may require some period of rest. However, with Tipperary not out again until August 16th, there appears to be ample time for recovery.
Clare’s senior championship aspirations may have ended with Saturday evening’s qualifier defeat to Cork, but several members of that team – including forward star Shane O’Donnell – still have plenty to play for as the county’s under-21 hurlers begin the quest for a fourth successive All-Ireland title.
That objective remains some distance away, however, with a much-anticipated Munster semi-final first up tomorrow evening against Waterford – a team that features several of the seniors that fell to Tipperary on Sunday.
Home advantage
Clare do have home advantage at Cusack Park, although Waterford – also backboned by several players from their 2013 All-Ireland-winning minor team – have already taken out a well-fancied Cork in the quarter-final.
As well as O’Donnell, Clare can call on senior panellists Bobby Duggan, David Conroy, Michael O’Malley and Kevin Hehir. Last year’s joint-manager Donal Moloney is still in the role, although Gerry O’Connor stepped down after Clare secured a third All-Ireland title last year. They also won the 2009 title, which means they are now gunning for a fifth title in seven years.
O’Donnell has spoken about his role with the Clare under-21s this season, although considering he only joined the squad in 2013, he doesn’t necessarily see it as a four-in-a-row quest for him.
“No, we don’t see it like that,” said O’Donnell. “I think with the under-21s, it’s easy to think of it as a new year every year, because you lose so many players from the year before.
“So you’re not thinking we can be going for four-in-a-row, because from three years ago, none of the players are left. So I don’t think it’s difficult to be like ‘new year, new team, don’t think on the past’.
“There are a lot of new lads alright. Gerry [O’Connor] has moved on as well, although Donal is still with us. I haven’t been training much with them but it’s going as seamlessly as it ever was now.”
Speaking to the Clare Champion, Moloney was playing down his side's chances.
Fantastic year
“Waterford are the favourites,” he said. “They have a big sprinkling of senior players and they are having a fantastic year. There are shades of what we had in 2013. Waterford have really impressed this year and they have modified their style of play a little bit. They have done brilliantly to date.
“It’s been a great period for under-21 hurling in Clare. [But this group] are trying to forge their own way. We don’t refer to what was done in the last three years.”
The other Munster semi-final is set for Thursday, when Limerick host Tipperary at the Gaelic Grounds (7.30). Both those games go out live on TG4.
Finally, both the All-Ireland hurling quarter-finals have been confirmed for Semple Stadium in Thurles on Sunday week, July 26th. Dublin will be first up against beaten Munster finalists Waterford (2.0), followed by beaten Leinster finalists Galway against Cork (4.0).
Both games will be live on RTÉ 2.
