NHL Division 1B final: Clare v Dublin, Gaelic Grounds, 1.45pm – Live on TG4
After a winter spent in the second tier, neither Clare nor Dublin can be sure of where they stand. Clare won all their games, but excluding their matches against Wexford and Dublin – the only teams in the division from their peer group – they beat everybody else by an average of 15 points.
In that climate, Clare gave significant game time to half a dozen emerging players. The hugely promising Diarmuid Stritch started four matches and Jack O’Neill – who was named on the Fitzgibbon Cup team of the year – started a couple of times. Dylan McMahon was also given a good run at corner back.
The sense, though, is that Clare will start the championship in a fortnight with a host of familiar names. Having been slaughtered by injuries last year but they have no such concerns now; Tony Kelly has been flying, Shane O’Donnell is primed for his now customary spring comeback. Diarmuid Ryan managed just 20 minutes last year, but he is back in harness too.
There is still a question about centre back, though. John Conlon turned 37 in February, and is still in extraordinary physical condition, but Clare tried others at number six during the league and it will be interesting to see what way they turn.
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Dublin nearly blew their promotion chances with an undisciplined performance against Wexford in Croke Park, but they were extremely competitive against Clare on the opening weekend and were comfortable against everybody else.
If they were looking for breakthrough players during the league, they probably didn’t find them. At 36, Liam Rushe has returned from a four-year sabbatical and Cian Boland has come back after three years out, but neither of them appeared in the league.
If Dublin are serious about winning the Leinster title, this is the kind of game they should be winning. Unlikely, though.
Verdict: Clare
