Clare have been handed a home tie against Offaly in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup, with Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg set to host the familiar pairing.

The sides met in Ennis last year where the Banner came out on top, despite Mickey Harte’s men going on to secure promotion to Division Two on score difference. Clare’s recent record against the Faithful County has been encouraging, including that five-point win at home in the 2025 league and a narrow victory by the very minimum the year before, sealed by a dramatic injury-time goal.

It’s a new challenge for Paul Madden and his side as they enter the Tailteann Cup for the first time. There were plenty of positives to take from last weekend’s Munster semi-final defeat to Kerry, where Clare,  troubled the All-Ireland champions with a stubborn and defiant display.

The Banner had reached the last three Sam Maguire series through Munster final appearances, but missed out this year after running into Kerry at the semi-final stage.

Madden will be looking for a similar level of intensity as last weekend here and will be hoping for the added boost of a few players back from injury. On the flip side they will be sweating over the availability of talisman Eoin Cleary who was withdrawn injured against Kerry. 

Offaly, meanwhile, will be intent on turning the tables and will arrive in Ennis following a League campaign where they battled their own injury concerns and were unable to avoid the drop back to Division Three and a subsequent Leinster Championship defeat to their neighbours Laois. 

All signs point to another tight encounter in Ennis.

The Tailteann Cup First Round Draw.  (Clare v Offaly expected to be played on the weekend of the 9th/10th May)

Fermanagh vs Longford
Laois vs Wicklow
Clare vs Offaly
Carlow vs Antrim
Wexford vs Limerick
Down/Westmeath/Cavan vs Leitrim
Sligo vs Tipperary
Waterford vs London