Clarinbridge stars prefer Athenry to Australia

ALL-IRELAND club hurling champions Clarinbridge’s qualification for next Sunday’s Galway SHC semi-final against Craughwell has prevented their senior stars from embarking on a trip of a lifetime to Australia this weekend.

The Galway powerhouse, who were last week chosen as winners of the Best Club Down Under competition organised by All-Ireland SHC sponsors Etihad Airways, are instead set to send a 25-man squad comprised of players from the club’s junior and intermediate hurling teams on the week-long trip.

They will receive training sessions from 2001 Tipperary All-Ireland-winning manager Nicky English and participate in a challenge game against an Australian club selection in the curtain-raiser to the first Test in this year’s International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia in the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on October 28.