The Clare minor hurling team take on Waterford in the ESB Munster Minor Hurling Championship on Wednesday April 28th at 6:30pm in Walsh Park, Waterford. These two sides met last year in the first round when Clare were victorious by two points before Waterford got their revenge in the semi finals. The Deise had to go through the back door prior to the second meeting with Clare, which was played six weeks after the first round tie. It proved to be a fruitful journey for the young hurlers of Waterford who came away from Cusack Park, Ennis with a place in the 2009 Munster final after a win of 3-9 to 0-12. Waterford subsequently went on to win the Munster Final at the expense of Cork and the Deise went on to contest the All-Ireland semi final against Galway where they had to give second best to the Tribesmen. The Banner have four survivors from last year's starting line up in goalkeeper Ronan Taaffe, Noel Purcell, Daire Keane and David O'Halloran while Enda Boyce and Alan Mulready were introduced as substitutes in the second match. Once again this match is expected to be a close affair but Clare supporters who will make the long trek to Walsh Park will be hoping that this side play to their true potential and record a victory over the reigning champions who will include a few of last year's side.

The Clare team for last year's semi final was as follows:

Clare: Ronan Taaffe (Tubber); Noel Purcell (Sixmilebridge), Killian Ryan (Ruan), Trevor Purcell (Sixmilebridge); Sean O'Connor (Newmaret-on-Fergus), Patrick O'Connor (Tubber), Colin McGuane (Capt) (Kilmaley); Cathal McInerney (Cratloe), Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge); Daire Keane (Kilmaley), Eoin Hanrahan (Ruan), Aaron Considine (Clarecastle); Conor O'Donnell (Crusheen), Conor McGrath (Cratloe), David O'Halloran (Eire Og).

Subs: Gary Guilfoyle (Feakle) for Hanrahan (40); Enda Boyce (Cratloe) for T.Purcell (inj 40); David Liddy (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Considine (52); Alan Mulready (Sixmilebridge) for O'Donnell (54).

Scorers: C. McGrath 0-8 (0-4 frees); D. O'Halloran 0-2; S. Golden and D. Keane 0-1 each.


Clare, who last contested a Munster Minor final in 1999, are managed by Gerry O'Connor of Eire Og and he is joined by selectors Donal Moloney (Scariff), Eamon Fennessy (Sixmilebridge) and team trainer Paul Kinnerk who is a teacher in St. Caimin's Community School, Shannon. He was involved in the Shannon side's march to the semi final of the Harty Cup earlier this year and he was also the team trainer to the Sixmilebridge U21 side for the last two years.

The Clare panel according to The Clare Champion is:
Cathal Doohan, Paul Flanagan, Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Stephen O'Halloran (Clarecastle), Colm Galvin, Cathal O'Connell (Clonlara), Enda Boyce, Podge Collins (Cratloe), David O'Halloran (Eire Og), Cathal Malone (Ennistymon), Niall Arthur, Damien Lafferty, Haulie Vaughan (Inagh-Kilnamona), Daire Keane, Michael O'Neill (Kilmaley), Frank Melody, Niall Woods (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Martin Moroney (Parteen), Kevin Lynch, Alan Mulready, Seadhna Morey, Noel Purcell, Jaime Shanahan, Pa Sheehan (Sixmilebridge), Niall DeLoughrey (St. Joseph's Doora/Barefield), Ronan Taaffe (Tubber), Darragh Corry, David McInerney (Tulla), Tomas McNamara (Whitegate), Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones). Tweet

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