Clare go in search of a place in the Oscar Traynor final when they make the six hour trip to Donegal to take on Inishowen in the last four of the competition.
Clare vs Inishowen 02/05/15 in Maginn Park, Buncrana at 18:00
Both sides are in familiar territory having reached the semi-finals of the Oscar Traynor Cup in 2014. Another common link between them is that Dublin’s AUL ended their participation in the competition over twelve months ago. What comes around goes around and Inishowen extracted their revenge on the four in a row champions seventeen days ago with a 3-0 win in the quarter-finals. While the result shocked many it has boosted the momentum of the Donegal side who are now eager to add Clare to their list of casualties.
Shannon Oympic’s Garry Higgins is ruled out of the clash with an ankle injury. Higgins who has been playing as a winger for the Banner has proved to be one of the side’s most consistent performers in the campaign with three goals to his name. Daryl Eade one of the more experienced players in the Clare squad is unavailable for the clash while Brian McGorrian will not be ready for selection due to an arm injury. Luckily for Mick Shiel’s and his management, 2014 captain, David McCarthy has returned to the squad so he will be expected to take Higgins’ place while Stephen Kelly is another option to come into the starting eleven as the Newmarket man could not make the trip to McSharry Park for their quarter-final victory over Sligo/Leitrim. Further boosts are provided with the return of Newmarket Celtic duo Eoin Hayes and Alan Kelly who have overcome recent injury problems. As it stands, Clare are unbeaten under Mick Sheil as they have won each contest apart from the campaign opener versus Galway where it finished 2-2. In their four matches in the campaign, Clare have scored eleven goals and they are most dangerous when on the attack with the pace of Eoin Hayes and Paddy O’Malley out wide pivotal to each Clare attack. While Higgins was a huge asset to Clare’s attacking style, having a player of David McCarthy’s quality to step into the side is a big relief for the Clare management.
Ousting four in a row Oscar Traynor Champions, Dublin’s AUL was no easy feat for Inishowen and they certainly defied the odds by doing so. Granted their opponents played with nine men for the last twenty minutes of the contest, but it was because of Inishowen’s domination that their Dublin counterparts became frustrated and lashed out with some horrendous challenges. Winning against the reigning champions on the road will have given the Donegal Peninsula side a massive boost and they will be carrying huge momentum with them ahead of Saturday’s semi-final. The Dermot O’Brien managed side have suffered defeat in this campaign, losing to Sligo/Leitrim in the first round 2-1, the same side that Clare overcame in the last eight on the same scoreline. Prior to their semi-final win earlier this month, Inishowen had been struggling to convert chances and in their five games they have just hit the net seven times. They will need to bring the same sort of efficiency in front of goal as was evident in their semi-final win. Brendan McLaughlin is a key figure for the Donegal side at midfield along with Shane Canning while Moville man Nigel McMonagle is a threat up front. Defence is their strongest area on the pitch and this has been evident in all their game to date, only conceding three goals in five matches as opposed to Clare’s concession of five goals in four games.
Home advantage will be massive for Inishowen and the six hour trek could possibly hinder a strong Clare challenge. The Banner cannot afford to underestimate Inishowen as holders Dublin AUL paid the price for doing so. On the other hand if the Donegal side waste chances in front of goal they will suffer while they will need to be sharp at the back as Clare will be constantly looking for gaps to cut through. Wexford and Limerick face off in the other side of the draw but both Mick Shiel and Dermot O’Brien are entirely focused on the ninety minutes that are ahead on Saturday evening. Two key areas will decide Saturday’s result; composure and hunger. Inishowen have struggled at times to get goals while Clare have been punished for going forward, composure in front of goal will be critical to Saturday’s outcome. Both sides have watched Dublin’s AUL hold a firm grip on the Oscar Traynor Cup for the last four years, Inishowen wanted it more in the semi-final and Clare will be determined to make amends for their defeat on the big stage last year. It all comes down to a greater will to win, while an early start for either team could set them up for glory. Clare’s finishing added with their experience should see them return to the Oscar Traynor final, but they will be punished for any mistakes.
