Clare manager Colm Collins.
**By Cian O'Connell **
The third weekend of Allianz Football League matches carry significance with Clare’s trip to Salthill for a clash with Galway a critical contest for both counties.
The two teams have both registered three points from their opening two fixtures so another revealing encounter looms at Pearse Stadium.
Clare boss Colm Collins has confirmed that Gary Brennan will be unavailable due to Ballyea’s involvement in next month’s All Ireland Club Hurling Final.
“He is concentrating on the All Ireland Club Final, so he won't be available to us for the next two games,” Collins told GAA.ie.
“It is an opportunity for somebody else to step up to the plate, to get game time. We are lucky this year that we have a really good panel. Somebody else will hopefully step up to the plate, I expect us to be quite strong against Galway on Sunday. It is something that we have worked really hard on.”
Clare followed up their opening weekend draw in Derry with a convincing victory over Down at Cusack Park Ennis.
“Yeah, it isn't a bad start to have three out of a possible four,” Collins says about Clare’s early season form. “Not a bad start at all, we are happy out. There is a lot of football to be played in the Division, we are looking forward to our next day out against Galway.”
Gary Brennan is a key player for Ballyea.
Collins accepts that the Galway match can be deemed a critical fixture. “Absolutely, it is very important,” Collins admits.
“Division Two, no more than a lot of the Divisions in Football is very tight. Every game is so important, we are totally focused in on next weekend.
“I think there is an evenness in standards, in Gaelic Football especially. I think top teams in Division Four are quite capable of maybe taking on a team at the bottom of Division One. That evenness of standards is very apparent in Divisions Two and Three.”
Returning to Division Two Clare were keen to make an impact in Feburary. “Of course it was very important, our approach to the League has been quite simple. We've just concentrated on playing one game a time, we did what we could, to give our level best against Derry.
“Then the same thing against Down, that is the way we have approached it. There is nothing bothering us next weekend only one match, that is the game against Galway. We will be giving everything to that game, hopefully we can get something out of it, but I'm sure the Galway boys will be thinking the same too.”
Alan Flynn, who managed Galway to All Ireland Under 21 glory in 2013 is involved in Collins’ backroom set-up. “We've been blessed with the coaches we've had in Clare really,” Collins states.
“This group has come across some really good coaches and Alan Flynn is another one of those. He is doing an excellent job, really positive guy, who is interested in playing good football. The lads are really doing well under him, we are delighted with the way things are going.” Clare are blessed to have Collins directing operations too.
