GAELIC GAMES:MANAGER MATTIE Murphy has guided Galway to five All-Ireland crowns, and has built this team with 13 of the panel beaten well by Kilkenny at this stage last year. However, he played down expectations after their 8-26 to 0-12 quarter-final win over Antrim.
But there was much to admire in the work of forwards Shane Maloney, Jonathan Glynn and Billy Lane – while second-half substitute Jack Carr scored a hat-trick.
Munster champions Clare are favourites with half of the squad available from the 2010 vintage who were narrowly beaten by Kilkenny in the final. They’ve beaten Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford and a lot of attention will be on their impressive half-back line with Galway’s half forwards posing a physical threat.
Both teams delayed naming their sides but Clare are expected to show no change from the Munster final. They look the more settled team with the better build-up.
CLARE (Probable): E Quilligan; J Browne, N O’Connor, S Morey; J Colleran, J Shanahan, G O’Connell; T Kelly, C Galvin; C O’Connell, A Cunningham, P Duggan; S O’Donnell, O Hickey, E Enright.
GALWAY (Probable): S Mannion; P Mannion, P Killeen, C Diviney; J Hansbury, S Sweeney, D Burke; D Higgins, P Flaherty; J Flynn, J Glynn, A Tuohy; B Lane, S Maloney, K Cullinane.
Referee: S Cleere (Kilkenny).
