Clare await news on ‘adopted trio’ eligibility

CLARE football boss Micheal McDermott is confident that the GAA’s Central Council will look favourably this weekend on their request to become eligible for the scheme which allows players to declare for the home county of their parents.

The Banner boss has identified three players based in Dublin and Kildare who are set to be drafted into his squad for the 2011 season but that hinges on Central Council rubber-stamping the county’s application. David O’Connor who plays with St Brigid’s in Dublin, former Kildare junior captain Niall Browne from Two Mile House and Adrian Cahill, who won a Kildare SFC medal with Celbridge in 2008, have all declared their interest in lining out with Clare.

The GAA approved the adoption of the parentage rule in the early 90’s at national level with several weaker counties profiting as a result. Dublin-born duo Declan Darcy and Jason Ward both proved major assets to Leitrim in the Connacht championship while more recently former Dublin underage star John Coughlan played at midfield for Offaly. Clare were not deemed suitable for inclusion when the rule was originally drafted due to the success the county were enjoying at the time, most notably in the form of their historic 1992 Munster title. But given their flagging fortunes in recent years and the shallow pool of players they have to pick from, McDermott feels they are now prime candidates for inclusion in this scheme.