by Daragh Ó Conchúir
Clare manager, John Carmody feels that there is huge improvement to come from his young panel, with many players having made their top-level debuts in last weekend’s nine-point victory over Down as the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship got under way.
Next up for the Banner girls in Group 2 is a trip to St Peregrine’s to meet a Dublin team that will replace them in Division 1A of the Very League.
The Division 1B champions come into the tie having pushed Galway to three points last Saturday but though Carmody labels them as favourites this weekend, he was buoyed by his young side’s response to falling behind against Down.
As well as liking what he saw from his charges when everything wasn’t going their way, the Clare boss also believes that despite picking up some significant injuries to important individuals, he now has a squad capable of competing at this level.
“What pleased me most was the response to going four points down,” said Carmody of the Down game on Clare FM. “We relaxed. We actually started to hurl well and reeled off I think the next four to go in two points up at the break.
“Lorna McNamara is a long-term absentee. She’s a big loss up front. It looks like Abby Walsh is out now four or five weeks so it’s going to be a big loss at the back but that’s what we’ve a panel for… We’ve built up a panel now and that panel will be needed over the coming weeks.
“It’s a young team, maybe eight or nine maybe playing senior camogie championship for the first time (against Down), all acquitting themselves very well.
“We know the importance of the Dublin game… Dublin will be firm favourites. We feel we have nothing to lose so we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
