McDermott thinking outside the box to boost squad for 2011 season

CLARE football chiefs will look to second generation talent to aid the county cause for the upcoming McGrath Cup and National League campaigns.

With collective training set to resume this weekend after all panellists underwent a two-month weight-training programme during the November/December closed season, a number of players from outside the county but of Clare parentage have answered Micheál McDermott’s call to arms and will hope to stake a claim for a place in the squad.

Three players will join up with the panel for the upcoming McGrath Cup that kicks off on January 9 when Clare play host to Cork college UCC in Cooraclare. The winner of that game will progress to play other Cork side CIT in the last eight.

They are, Niall Browne (Twomilehouse, Kildare), Adrian Cahill (Celbridge, Kildare) and David O’Connor (St Brigid’s, Dublin).

Manager Micheál McDermott said: “The good news is that they’re all forwards. They will be in contention when we sit down at the end ofJanuary and pick the panel for the National League.”

In September, McDermott announced his intention to scour other counties for players who might be eligible to throw in their lot with Clare, having been overlooked for senior inter-county recognition in the county of their birth.

“The rule applies to a county that hasn’t won a provincial title in the last 10 years,” said McDermott.