Brendan Bugler: Beating Waterford was 'a non-negotiable' for Clare

“We're kind of expecting them to perform," Bugler said about Clare's young players. "It's a great thing when you're naming a team."

Clare coach Brendan Bugler: “We have our own little goals set among ourselves in our own group this year that we will be keeping to ourselves." Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

Clare coach and selector Brendan Bugler said the win over Waterford on Sunday was “a non-negotiable”.

Speaking to Clare FM , the 2013 All-Ireland SHC winner acknowledged work had to be done to shore up their defence before Limerick come to Ennis on Sunday week.

Nevertheless, he was delighted with the team’s display. “You have to win in this game. It was a non-negotiable as far as we were concerned.

“We have our own little goals set among ourselves in our own group this year that we will be keeping to ourselves. It's important that we reach those goals and reach those standards.

“Look, the standard of hurling there, the skill level out there and the shooting, the shot selection, even how we were performing on puck-outs for large periods of the game, we were doing really, really well.

“Let's be honest, it was goals that were keeping them in the game for a long, long time. We're really thrilled with the performance.” 

The likes of tyros Seán Rynne and Niall O’Farrell impressed from the off against Waterford while Diarmuid Stritch picked off three points after coming off the bench.

“Those are the lads who have been playing really well all season in Division 1B,” Bugler pointed out. “We're kind of expecting them to perform. It's a great thing when you're naming a team.

“It's hard to get into this team and you can see on the bench, the likes of David Fitzgerald and John Conlon who have been stalwarts the last how many number of years. For them to sit it out and hand over the baton for this match and the lads performed really, really well. I thought they were terrific.” 

Meanwhile, James Owens has been appointed to take charge of Sunday’s Cork-Limerick Munster SHC Round 2 game in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. That same afternoon, Chris Mooney will referee the Waterford-Tipperary game in Azzurri Walsh Park.

Wexford man Owens was the man in the middle for last Saturday’s Offaly-Dublin Leinster SHC opener in Tullamore. Limerick’s Johnny Murphy will officiate the Kilkenny-Wexford Leinster SHC Round 2 game in UPMC Nowlan Park.

Elsewhere, Armagh’s Box-It Athletic Grounds will host the Derry-Monaghan Ulster SFC semi-final on Saturday week (5pm throw-in). Depending on the outcome of this weekend’s Donegal-Down and Fermanagh-Armagh quarter-finals, the other semi-final on Sunday week (4.15pm) will be played in Clones’ St Tiernach’s Park for three of the potential pairings and Cavan town’s Kingspan Breffni if Donegal and Fermanagh win through.