JUST MADE IT: Clare supporters change a flat tyre outside St Conleth's Park ahead of Kildare clash
Pit crew Tom Sheehan and Tom Keogh from Sixmilebridge in Clare are two of many that made the trip to Newbridge with over 2,500 expected in Cedral St Conleth's Park
Pit crew Tom Sheehan and Tom Keogh from Sixmilebridge in Clare are two of many that made the trip to Newbridge with over 2,500 expected in Cedral St Conleth's Park. The pair were forced into a tyre change outside the grounds before their county's Allianz Hurling League Division 1B meeting with Kildare.
Happy to have made it and ready for the trip home after the 6:30pm throw-in's conclusion, the Clare contingent have travelled superbly for this game with Newbridge packed with those donning saffron and blue.
Home fans will no doubt be excited to see the likes of Tony Kelly in action against The Lilies, but it's a big night for Brian Dowling's men who get to test themselves against one of the best teams in the country and the 2024 All-Ireland champions.
The starting teams for the game are as follows;
KILDARE: Paddy McKenna; Liam O'Reilly, Rian Boran, Dan O'Meara; Paul Dolan, Cian Boran, Daire Guerin; Simon Leacy, Conan Boran; Cathal McCabe, Cathal Dowling, Jack Sheridan; David Qualter, Muiris Curtin, Gerry Keegan.
CLARE: Eamonn Foudy; Dylan McMahon, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, Niall O'Farrell; Diarmuid Stritch, Ryan Taylor; Colm O'Meara, Mark Rodgers, Senan Dunford; Shane Meehan, Tony Kelly, David Fitzgerald.