Banner boss happy with squad

CLARE football boss Micheal McDermott has dismissed suggestions that last year’s All-Ireland club finalists Kilmurry-Ibrickane are under represented on the current county senior football panel.

Defender Martin McMahon was the only player from Kilmurry-Ibrickane involved with the Clare setup in Sunday’s NFL Division 4 opener against Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Last year’s half-back Declan Callinan has emigrated to Australia while fellow Kilmurry-Ibrickane players Peter O’Dwyer, Shane Hickey, Enda Coughlan and Darren Hickey are not involved this season. But McDermott insists he is satisfied with his panel ahead of the start of the league campaign.

“We have one player from Kilmurry-Ibrickane there and people will say why aren’t there more players from Kilmurry-Ibrickane? For one reason or another, be it work commitments or whatever, we just haven’t got them.

“They are a strong club in Clare, but there are lots of other strong clubs in the Clare county championship as well. Doonbeg who won the county title have only one player on the panel. We feel we have a good bunch of lads who will give us the effort and commitment. The bunch we have, have worked very hard over the year.”

McDermott also operated without St Senan’s Kilkee duo Michael O’Shea and David Russell who have both retired from inter-county football and forward Barry Toner has returned to his native Armagh.

However, McDermott welcomed Clondegad midfielder Gary Brennan back into the fray.