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Davy Fitzgerald has more problems on his hands as he battles to keep Clare in hurling's top flight Donall Farmer/INPHO

Trouble for Clare hurlers ahead of must-win clash with Dublin

Davy O’Halloran and Nicky O’Connell have left Banner County set-up after alleged breach of discipline

THERE’S TROUBLE IN the Clare senior hurling camp ahead of Saturday’s must-win Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Dublin. The Banner County have lost their first three fixtures and are rooted firmly at the bottom of the table ahead of the Cusack Park crunch.

And the Irish Times reports this morning that preparations for the game have been hampered by an alleged disciplinary breach that has reportedly led to the departure of Nicky O’Connell and Davy O’Halloran.

The newspaper also suggests that O’Halloran could now link up with the county’s senior football squad. Fitzgerald may also have to plan without midfielder Colm Galvin for the summer, as the Clonlara man is considering a trip to the US.

And combative forward Peter Duggan could also miss the remainder of the Allianz League campaign as he continues his recovery from hip surgery.

These are headlines that manager Davy Fitzgerald could do without as he battles to preserve Clare’s top-flight status. Clare were also involved in a relegation shootout in Cork but after winning that game, they also went on to claim an historic All-Ireland title.

Nicky O’Connell was a Clare senior panellist since making his debut in 2010 but proved last month that his talents don’t just lie on the playing fields when he and his model girlfriend Esther Woods performed the duet ‘Love is an Open Door’ from the blockbuster movie Frozen.

The42 Video / YouTube

O’Halloran, meanwhile, played in both of Clare’s Waterford Crystal Cup games this year but had not figured at all in the League.

Despite scoring 1-3 last weekend, Declan Hannon is centre back for Limerick hurlers this weekend

Joe Canning returns to Galway starting line-up for Cork visit

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14 Comments
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    Mute Gunneros
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    Mar 13th 2015, 4:33 PM

    I agree it looks and sounds bad but not sure you can banish him off panel for it, she’s as much to blame.

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    Mute Aideen Thornton
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:22 PM

    It doesn’t say anywhere in the article that his youtube video has anything to do with him being dropped from the panel. It just mentions he has other talents.

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    Mute John S
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    Mar 13th 2015, 11:29 PM

    If players get dropped off the panel over a video like that then the GAA needs to seriously look at the expectation of amateur players. What next, laughing bans?

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    Mute Pepper Brooks
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    Mar 14th 2015, 2:29 AM

    Aideen and john, get a dictionary and look up the meaning of the word “sarcasm”

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    Mute John S
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    Mar 14th 2015, 4:52 PM

    I was just making a general point rather than responding to any of the points above

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    Mute Gazza
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    Mar 13th 2015, 4:48 PM

    Davy has lost the team

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    Mute Hon D Mines
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    Mar 13th 2015, 5:07 PM

    Davy is going to save a fortune on Mi Wadi and biscuits

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    Mute RobsonKeane
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    Mar 13th 2015, 4:29 PM

    Everyone is writing them boys off, so they are. But I know what them boys are like. So I do.

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    Mute Paul Friday Shannon
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    Mar 13th 2015, 4:50 PM

    It’s a disaster now cold Galvin is off as well 3 of them gone playing football, it’s not looking good, he’s obviously lost the dressing room, but judge him after this year, it would be such a shame to waste that amount of talent

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    Mute Genesis
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    Mar 13th 2015, 9:30 PM

    Simple answer, bring back Kinnerk! And if need be oust Fitz

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    Mute sean nihill
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    Mar 13th 2015, 5:28 PM

    When words like United and tight bunch get bandied about you just know trouble is not far away. I hope I’m wrong . Come on the banner

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    Mute kenobi :)
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    Mar 14th 2015, 7:30 AM

    Clare people would want to get a grip of themselves. 2013 was a freak year, how many all irelands are won by beating laois galway limerick and cork.
    Or rather not tipp or kk? I’ve the height of respect for a talented bunch of hurlers, but my god the rubbish hand passing puke hurling they are being made play is Sh**

    It’s evident in their body language that they don’t like it, and also evident that it does not work. Clare should be going man for man and playing the style of hurling that goes out to win. They haven’t won a game in a full year..The manager is a divisive figure and obviously did not have his work appraised sufficiently because not winning a game in a year is marching orders for me.
    If the Clare people were honest about it, he is not the man to lead them. Sparrow built that team. Now get are demoralised by a garbage style of hurling and rubbish management. Lads have already jumped ship, not because they don’t want to hurl, it’s because they don’t want to hurl under current management.

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    Mute Genesis
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    Mar 19th 2015, 3:55 AM

    Il agree with you to a point. Management don’t look good no, but 2013 was no freak year or was it a fluke. Limerick took care of Tipp and Dublin took out Kk. Both heavyweights played out a thriller in nowlan pk in the qualifiers where Kk came out the stronger after a terrific contest. Cork took Kk out of the championship after that. Clare beat Munster champs limerick in the semi’s and went onto an epic win over cork in the final. By no means was it freak! It just happened to be a different year to the hurling calendar and a welcome change to who we usually see. And mark my words clare will be there or there abouts again this year. Iv 100% belief and faith that those young guys got many more all Ireland’s left in the tank to win. An Clár abu!

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    Mute StandOff10
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    Mar 14th 2015, 2:04 PM

    Kinnerk leaving was liking a head falling off and leaving the b*llocks to make the decisions!

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