Three Clare Minors hoping to follow in hurling footsteps of their fathers

THE sons of three members of Clare’s All-Ireland winning teams from 1995 and 1997 are following in their father’s footsteps and are set to wear the saffron and blue for the county minor hurlers.

Clare take on Tipperary in the Munster minor championship opening game on Tuesday evening in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge at 7pm.

Matthew O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge), Mark O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) and Fred Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona) are set to emulate their fathers, Michael, Jamesie and Fergal and, hopefully, steer Clare to victory over the Premier outfit, the defending All-Ireland champions.

The counties met in the Munster final last year when a penalty shootout was required to separate the sides, Tipperary winning on a 3-0 scoreline. They went on to break Offaly hearts in the All-Ireland final when they struck for an injury time goal to claim the title.

Former Clare senior captain Brian O’Connell from Shannon is the Clare manager again this season and his backroom team includes Donal Moloney (Scariff), Damian O’Halloran (Inagh/Kilnamona), Fintan Leamy (Clooney/Quin) Liam O’Reilly (Banner) Gerard Hickey (Broadford); Hugh O’Neill from Cork on S&C and Thomas Barry from Inagh/ Kilnamona on stats.

The team manager is happy with this year’s format which is the same as the under 20 hurling. The top team at the end of the round robin series will go through to the final with the second and third placed teams meeting in a semi-final.

“For the most part we have a new bunch this year which is the nature of things at this