Might as well get a tread going for this since we had our first pretend competitive game yesterday.

A good finish from the lads in Lohans first game. Interesting to see certain position changes like McInerney in the half back line (although he didnt start in the end) which is were many have called for him to go. Browne looks likely to stay full back IMO for the rest of the season.

Seadna out to half forward. I am not so sure about this. He is game enough at corner back and we lack defenders.

Deasy should get a fair crack at it this year with Duggan gone. Very important year for him. Remember Duggan was 25-26 when he became the player he is today in the 2017 championship. He had done very little for clare to that point. That position that he and Deasy will look to play is not a young mans position, it requires great fielding and strength. I really hope Deasy can lesson the impact of Duggan going.

There are plenty of hurlers in Clare and we can make a serious rattle this year!

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 16/12/2019 09:29:40    2255090

I watched some of yesterdays game typical Winter hurling i spose management are only trying out thinks Doubt Browne will make full back not bulky enough tends to foul too much too. I think they should try make Cleary no 3 great to cover ball decent in air not a great stick man but tight marker that would release D McInerney to half back line.

Id say Brian will want to develop Deasy & Guilfoyle big men good in air but short on County standard but its essential that we have ball winners both are adequate on frees need Aaro Shanagher also to improve his game.

We are short on backs Jason McCarthy will surely nail a somewhere on team this year.

I would not be surprised too if Peter Duggan featured later in Championship

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 983 - 16/12/2019 11:13:43    2255115

Similarly to Clooney, i dont see jack browne being full back for the year ahead. i think teams will target him due to his lack of height by putting a big man in on him. Cleary is also someone i would think could be ideal for the no.3 jersey

hurlingexpert (Clare) - Posts: 1941 - 16/12/2019 13:53:18    2255142

Jack wont be full back, he should be corner or wing but i like the way we are giving a few lads a chance and the style was more direct.

I would like a half back of David Mac, Diarmuid Ryan and Aidan McCarthy tried alhough the latter 2 do add ball winning and power further up the field.

Cathal Mac has some wrists, really lovely striker of the ball.

Clareman (Clare) - Posts: 1056 - 16/12/2019 16:39:48    2255169

I too would like to see Cleary at full back, he's big, strong and likes a battle. Leave Jack in the corner, for me it's his best position.
Looking 4ward to the league now to see how management are gonna set up.

Dec82 (Clare) - Posts: 242 - 16/12/2019 16:40:32    2255170

Are Paul Flanagan and Oisin O'Brien are playing this year for Clare?

hamsterdean (Limerick) - Posts: 223 - 05/01/2020 13:54:30    2257500

Unfortunately coulden't make SMB yesterday by all accounts Clare were disappointing I know 5th January but we have known for a long time that our panel is no where near as strong as Limerick pity we dident get another match out of the ML.

Brian seems to be looking at players who want to play County no point in persisting with these fellows who always seem to be injured too sort id imagine.

Its a huge ask to come anywhere near limerick or Tipp now with all the top hurlers they have but when full panel is cut we will have better idea

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 983 - 06/01/2020 14:18:01    2257752

munster league wasnt the most inspiring couple of games from a clare hurling point of view. but with the league starting this weekend i would hope there is a renewed optimism! carlow first up should be a very winnable game anyway, they dont appear to be quiet as dangerous as they may have been 3 or 4 years ago!
it will be very interesting to see the team we put out for this game

hurlingexpert (Clare) - Posts: 1941 - 22/01/2020 11:37:09    2261527

John Conlon is a great choice as captain he is one off our best Hurlers ever has given huge service should have won more at County & Club great role model with this new management we have a bit of the look of how Kilkenny do it no frills its say they will fill out the spine of the team and introduce one or two players each game to blood them.

We need a bit of extra cover for Touhy in goals and need to settle on a back line that defends with minimum fouling.
Browne/Claery/Mcinerney/Morey are near certainties Pat O Connor too has rarely let us down Fitzgerald & Malone too have their their moments. Is Oisin O Brien finished now was a real warrier .
Rory Hayes of Wolfe Tones would make it if he settled down a bit.
Diarmuid Ryan would make a bit difference at halfback or midfield
I thought that the team that finished up V Cork in Championship was near our best mix last year Deasy & Guilfoyle & Shanagher need to take this massive opportunity to nail on their claims.

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 983 - 23/01/2020 11:22:35    2261741

A good start to the league yesterday. its one of those games where you your damned either way, if you win well - it was expected, if you scrap past its a disaster.

TMy two cents:

Touhy - was solid. Had nothing to do.

Fullback line coped fine. No real stand out players. They did their job.

I though SOH and AMcC were solid in the half back line. AMcC is a fine prospect and we must not forget he is only 19. He has a good physique and grew into the game yesterday. SOH was very good I thought. POC was solid.

Kelly and McInerney have the makings of a good midfield partnership but after years in the full back line it will take McInerney time to get to grips with this position but this is a change I welcome. Kelly was superb. Many thought he was going to play in the corner and that is an option going forward but in a game like yesterday against limited opposition you want him out the field reaking havok which is exactly what he did yesterday.

Center forward line were decent. Couple of points - Fitzgerald won a lot of ball but was very wasteful. He didnt look match sharp but he did win a lot of ball which is promising. I think he has the attributes to be a superb player. I would keep him here - he is another who needs time in a new role. I thought Reidy was super yesterday and Galvin did well too. Despite this, as the year roles on I think this center forward line may struggle physcially but individually they are very good players.

SOD was good - 1-2 from play. As long as the ball is good coming into the forwards, he will do damage.

Conlon scored 3 points (2 from play) but I thought he was very rusty. I wondered why he started but I can see now he needed the game. Some poor wides and a few dropped balls. No need to worry though as its January.

Taylor tried hard but concern forward at this level doesnt suit him.

All and all a good workout but next week will give us a fairer picture of where we are at.

On a side note, I know it was Carlow but there was a very poor crowd there yesterday. Cant imagine how little we will have going to Wexford next week. Given it was a smashing afternoon (albeit cold) I though we might have 4k plus at it.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 27/01/2020 09:21:51    2262778

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 983 - 27/01/2020 09:56:37    2262791

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 27/01/2020 13:39:01    2262884

2 wing backs did well, nice combo in midfield and david fitz is an option at 11. Bigger tests lie ahead though and Carlow were so bad its hard to judge anyone.

Clareman (Clare) - Posts: 1056 - 27/01/2020 14:44:10    2262914

Its interesting that lohan is going for a few natural defenders in the backline. Quirke & o'halloran are both long overdue an opportunity.

Cleary at full back is something I advocated for over the past few years so hope it works out!

I think diarmuid ryan will probably play wing back this year when he returns. As a knock on effect then i would use aidan mccarthy at wing forward, he is young but very good in the air and an excellent hurler.

I like the balance of the midfield, the 2 lads compliment each other well. Hopefully that prospers throughout the year!

Im not convinced by o'connor at 6. Also presuming a fit colm galvin would be in the team, i would play galvin at center back.

Fitzgerald at center forward is a very interesting one. Ive heard he played a lot of underage and club hurling in the half forward line and we know he's well able to score. He is strong and good in the air so i can see what lohan is doing here.. interesting to see how this develops.

Lastly, strong rumours going around of a possible return from Australia in 4-5 weeks!!

hurlingexpert (Clare) - Posts: 1941 - 01/02/2020 08:49:51    2264118

Superb win today with 14 men for most of the game away from home. Great character shown by the team and they appear to be buying in to Lohan and management. Kelly was superb again.

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 02/02/2020 16:05:47    2264473

Well done today lads. Deserved it, especially when it felt that Wexford playing at home with the wind and with an extra player might sneak it in the second half. Davy reverted back to type by not blooding any young lads off the bench. Will come back to bite us in the summer.

Two questions. I've been a fan of Kelly since he broke through in 2013- is this his best form since then? Are there many young lads introduced since the last regime? Didn't recognise Taylor when he was mentioned as an example. McInerney at midfield is an interesting change of approach.

beano (Wexford) - Posts: 1485 - 02/02/2020 19:00:57    2264581

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 02/02/2020 19:37:25    2264607

I feel like I shouldn't post on this site ever again as I am now on 1995

: )

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2697 - 02/02/2020 20:17:44    2264629

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 983 - 03/02/2020 11:15:23    2264782

clooney (Clare) - Posts: 983 - 03/02/2020 11:15:26    2264783