Shane Meehan who will line out at corner forward for Clare this Saturday. Picture : John Sheridan - Sportsfile
The Clare management have named their side for Saturday evening's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final showdown with Dublin in FBD Semple Stadium, with a different look to the Banner defence and the welcome return from injury of some key players.
The spine of the Clare rearguard sees Corofin's Conor Leen introduced to the full-back line at no.3 while Tulla’s David McInerney is named at centre-back.
Neither man is lacking experience when it comes to championship hurling's big days. Leen announced himself on the inter-county stage at the midpoint of Clare's Munster Championship campaign in 2024, quickly becoming an integral figure in a defence that helped drive the county to All-Ireland glory later that summer.
McInerney's return is another major boost for the Banner. The Tulla clubman has been one of Clare's most consistent performers over the past decade, whether operating across the half-back line or in the pivotal number six role. Injury disrupted the early part of his 2026 campaign, but his return to full fitness comes at an ideal time as Clare prepare for another high-stakes championship encounter.
There is further good news for Clare supporters in the attacking half of the field with Mark Rodgers making his return from injury. The Scariff attacker has not featured since suffering a heavy knock during Clare's crucial victory over Tipperary when the sides met in Thurles five weeks ago. His recovery provides an additional scoring threat from both play and frees and valuable experience to the Clare forward unit.
Rodgers is not the only familiar face returning. Ryan Taylor is back in the starting fifteen after also missing the Páirc Uí Chaoimh Round Five encounter. The Clooney-Quin man has recovered from injury and is named alongside Seán Rynne at midfield.
There is also the nod of approval for Shane Meehan in Clare's inside forward line. The Banner GAA clubman has impressed whenever called upon during Clare's Munster Championship finding the net against both Waterford and Cork. Despite those contributions, Meehan has found opportunities to nail down a regular starting berth difficult to come by in a highly competitive Clare forward division. Saturday evening presents another major opportunity. The pacey attacker will be hoping to make his mark with Rodgers and Shane O’Donnell as part of a formidable trio that looked particularly threatening during April's Division 1A League Final victory against the Dubs.
