One of the Clare Celtic Challenge teams has made the Division 2 All-Ireland Final which takes place this Saturday 7th June at 12 in Thurles Vs Dublin. 2025 is the 1st year that Clare have 3 teams competing at U17 level. Our Minors have an All-Ireland semi final V Cork to look forward to and our Clare Saffron panel beat our Clare Blue panel in the semi final 2 weeks ago in Cusack Park on their path to the final.
Over the past number of years we entered 1 panel into the Celtic Challenge with a panel of 30-32 players each year. The result of this that when the competition started it was impossible get meaningful game time for players outside the top 24. Brian Culbert and his management team deserve huge credit for the work they have done with the 41 players on their panel who have been training together since January as one panel but playing their games as seperate panels. Keeping these players in the development squads system is crucial to allow them to keep developing to make the jump up to County U20.
6 out of Terence Fahy's 24 (25%) against Tipperary in the Munster final this year did not play County Minor: Eoin McMahon, Seán Boyce & Daniel Costelloe all started with Liam Crotty, Joe Casey & Fionn Morgan on the bench that evening and Cathal Lohan on the panel also. The Celtic Challenge is an excellent competition which gives players that still need time to keep developing and improving the opportunity to do so in a proper meaningful competition.
All of us involved with Clare Hurling Development Squads wish Brian & his management team and players the best of luck this Saturday in Thurles” Micheál Duffy, Head of Coaching and Games, Clare GAA
