The Clare and Kilkenny teams have been named ahead of Sunday's Round Two fixture in the 2017 Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A at Cusack Park, Ennis.
Both sides started off their 2017 campaign with a loss with Kilkenny losing out by 1-15 to 0-17 to Waterford at Nowlan Park, while Clare were beaten 0-21 to 0-11 in Pairc Ui Rinn.
The Clare team shows three changes from the side that started against Cork in Pairc Uí Rinn last weekend. Oisín O'Brien (Clonlara), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) and Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones na Sionna) come in for Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge) and Ballyea's Jack Browne and Tony Kelly who have returned to the Ballyea club ahead of the All Ireland Senior Hurling Club Championship Final.
Crusheen's Cian Dillon captains the Clare team in the absence of the absent Vice-Captain Kelly and Captain Pat O'Connor (Tubber) who is recovering from a shoulder injury.
Brian Cody meanwhile, has made four changes from the team that started out against Waterford with Evan Cody making his debut and Kevin Kelly making his first start of 2017. Pat Lyng, Ollie Walsh, Sean Morrissey and Jonjo Farrell all miss out while Walter Walsh and Richie Leahy, make the starting 15.
Clare Starting 15 versus Kilkenny (Allianz NHL 2017):
1. Donal Tuohy (Crusheen)
2. Oisín O'Brien (Clonlara)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen) Captain
4. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
5. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
6. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
7. Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge)
8. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona)
9. David Reidy (Éire Óg)
10. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
11. Podge Collins (Cratloe)
12. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
13. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones na Sionna)
14. John Conlon (Clonlara)
15. Shane O Donnell (Éire Óg)
Substitutes:
16. Andrew Fahy (Whitegate)
17. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
18. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin)
19. Pat Donnellan (O'Callaghan's Mills)
20. Jason McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
21. Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle)
22. Cathal McInerney (Cratloe)
23. Shane McNamara (Clooney-Quin)
24. Conor O Donnell (Crusheen)
25. Eoin Quirke (Whitegate)
26. Kevin Hehir (Inagh-Kilnamona)
Kilkenny Starting 15 v Clare:
1. Eoin Murphy
2. Evan Cody
3. Padraig Walsh
4. Conor O'Shea
5. Joey Holden
6. Paul Murphy
7. Kieran Joyce
8. Conor Fogarty
9. Cillian Buckley
10. Liam Blanchfield
11. TJ Reid
12. Richie Leahy
13. Richie Hogan
14. Walter Walsh
15. Kevin Kelly
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
Speaking after last weekend's defeat to Cork, Clare Joint Manager Gerry O'Connor said "“It is February the time to be learning lessons, whilst it is disappointing to lose we’d much rather be learning these lessons in February than in June, that’s ultimately where we’re looking at this."
“We tried out a lot of players in the Munster League and some of those players started on merit of their performances in training and the Munster League, some of them played really well and some of them won’t be happy with their performances," he added.
Cusack Park, Ennis, Clare, 2.00 p.m. (event details here).
GAA.IE preview here.
Deferred coverage on TG4 at 3.45 p.m.
