Hurlers First Fixture Announced For 2015

Clare will play either Tipperary or Mary Immaculate College Limerick in their first competitive hurling match of 2015 in the Waterford Crystal Cup.

The fixture will take place on the eighteenth of January and more than likely O Garney Park, Sixmilebridge will be the venue. 2014 All-Ireland finalists Tipperary face Mary Immaculate College managed by Eamon Cregan on the weekend of the eleventh of January with the victor advancing to play Davy Fitzgerald’s Clare outfit.

The Banner men reached the final of the Waterford Crystal competition last year only to suffer defeat at the hands of Eamon O Shea’s Tipperary at the penultimate stage. Fitzgerald has always used this competition to try out new players and the 2015 campaign should be no different as some fresh faces hope to make an impact including Eoin Enright and Gearoid O’Connell while others will be hoping to secure a starting position before the Allianz National Hurling League Commences.

Colm Collins’ Clare Senior Footballers will once again boycott the McGrath Cup in 2015. Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford and Clare all refused to partake in the competition in 2014 in protest of the seeded Munster championship. Clare will be the only Munster County to boycott the competition in 2015 as they prepare for their opening fixture in the Allianz National Football League on February 1st.

Last year’s boycott had no effect whatsoever on the performance of the Banner men and it is hoped this trend will continue in 2015 as the Gary Brennan captained side begin life in Division Three of the National League. Clare will play a number of challenge matches in the lead up to their opening tie of 2015.