Matchwinners: Four to watch at Cusack Park tonight

Clare and Limerick’s battle for Munster U21 honours features some outstanding participants...

Bobby Duggan (Clare)

Put simply, Clare would not be contesting this decider were it not for Bobby Duggan’s exploits in Cusack Park a fortnight ago.

The left half-forward hit 13-points in the victory over Waterford and was remarkably accurate off the left, right and from the placed ball.

There’s no doubt he’ll be closely watched by John Kiely’s rearguard, but having already fended off Austin Gleeson, not to mention Tadhg de Búrca standing also in his shadow, he’ll relish the attention of a few extra green shirts.

Darragh O’Donovan (Limerick)

The Doon midfielder turned in a superb shift at the Gaelic Grounds in their win over Tipperary, toiling relentlessly between the respective 45m lines. A most effective conduit he proved between defence and attack.

Clare’s midfield partnership of David Conroy and Kevin Hehir not so much shone against Waterford as they did carry out an excellent containment job on Colin Dunford. O’Donovan can expect to be similarly targeted.

Shane O’Donnell (Clare)

Four Clare forwards were on the mark in their semi-final triumph. Shane O’Donnell was not one of them. Indeed, aside from a winning a late free, his role was peripheral.

Problem for O’Donnell is Clare’s sweeper system leaves them with a two-man full-forward line and the Éire Óg forward was guilty of straying out the field in search of possession, thus removing the goal threat he possesses.

Moreover, Clare’s insistence on hitting Duggan and Ian Galvin in the half-forward line significantly reduces the amount of ball filtering through.

David Dempsey (Limerick)

It would have been easy to mention Cian Lynch here, but, in fairness, you’re going to have the entire 14,500 present at Cusack Park watching his every move, never mind just the Clare team.

Dempsey heads Limerick’s supporting cast and is the most likely to deliver should his forward colleague struggle to break from the Clare defence’s leash.

The Na Piarsaigh native struck four points against Tipperary and although named at centre-forward, presumably he will return to the right wing, with Ronan Lynch holding the centre.