Ikem Ugwueru of Clare shoots to score a goal despite the efforts of Sean O'Shea of Kerry during the 2024 Munster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Kerry and Clare at Cusack Park in Ennis, Clare. Photo by John Sheridan/Sportsfile
Sunday, May 4
Munster SFC Final
Kerry v Clare, Fitzgerald Stadium, 1.45pm (RTE)
For the third year in a row, Kerry and Clare contest the Munster Senior Football Final.
Kerry won by 14 points in 2023 and seven points last year so the big question is whether Clare can continue that trend of being increasingly competitive.
They’ll take some encouragement from the trouble that Cork gave Kerry in a Munster semi-final that went to extra-time.
The Kingdom looked quite vulnerable defensively in that game, though the inclusion of the returning Tom O’Sullivan and Mike Breen for this match should tighten things up.
It’s not all positive news on the player availability front for the Kingdom though.
Paudie Clifford is ruled out through suspension while Shane Ryan (knee), Paul Murphy (calf), and Graham O’Sullivan (groin) are all injured.
Clifford, in particular, is a big loss because he’s their creative hub in attack and has been in sparkling form.
Sean O’Shea isn’t a bad replacement though as he returns from injury to start his first game since February.
Clare have made two changes to the team that defeated Tipperary in their semi-final as Ikem Ugwueru and Daniel Walsh come in for Ciaran Downes and Fionn Kelleher.
The return of Ugwueru from injury is a big boost because his athleticism and ability to beat players brings a lot of dynamism to how Clare transition from defence to attack.
Clare should field a greater attacking threat than they did in last year’s Munster Final with both Keelan Sexton and Eoin Cleary returned to the fold having taken a year out in 2024.
It’s still a big ask though for the Division Three team to win what would be just their third ever Munster title and first since 1992 because Kerry’s firepower with David Clifford leading the line will be difficult to resist.
KERRY: Shane Murphy; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Joe O'Connor, Barry Dan O'Sullivan; Tony Brosnan, Seán O'Shea, Micheál Burns, David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Dylan Geaney. Subs: Seán Coffey, Tadhg Morley, Damien Bourke, Killian Spillane, Ruairi Murphy, Mark O'Shea , Armin Heinrich, Seán O'Brien, Conor Geaney, Evan Looney, Keith Evans.
CLARE: Eamon Tubridy; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Cillian Rouine, Ikem Ugweuru, Alan Sweeney; Brian McNamara, Daniel Walsh; Aaron Griffin, Emmet McMahon, Dermot Coughlan; Keelan Sexton, Eoin Cleary, Mark McInerney. Subs: Tristan O'Callaghan, Fionn Kelleher, Conor Meaney, Shane Griffin, Gavan Murray, Darragh Burns, Rory McMahon, Evan Cahill, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Cormac Murray, Darren Nagle.
