| Cleary ready to play after card
By David Thorpe
Tir Chonaill Gaels bid for an historic victory in the All-Ireland Club
championship quarter-final on Sunday received a major boost this week with
the news that talented forward Francis Cleary will be available to play.
It had been reported that Cleary received a straight red card for dissent
in the Gaels drawn Tipperary Cup clash with St. Brendans last weekend which
would have resulted in him missing Sunday’s historic game through suspension.
But Tir Chonaill Gaels club secretary Seamus Carr told The Irish Post
Cleary had in fact received two yellow cards in the game against St. Brendans.
As a result he would therefore be eligible to line out for the biggest
day of his footballing career at Ruislip on Sunday against the Galway and
Connacht champions who are among the favourites to claim All-Ireland glory
on St. Patrick’s Day in Croke Park.
Carr said: “At the end of the game against St. Brendans there was a bit
of confusion about Francie’s situation.
“One or two people had asked me whether he was suspended for the Salthill
game but we checked with the referee and he clarified that Francie had been
booked in the first-half and therefore was sent off for two bookable offences.
“A lot of people I think missed the fact that he had received a yellow
in the first-half but once the referee confirmed that it was just a matter
of getting everything clarified to ensure Francie was eligible.
“We are delighted to have him as he is a fine player who has always tried
his best for the club and it would have been terrible for him to miss a
massive game like this.”
Cleary has been one of the consistently best performers from the wing-forward
position as the Gaels swept all before them in London this year.
His absence would have been a real blow to the London champions hopes
of overcoming a star-studded Salthill/Knocknacarra side. Several Gaels players
are carrying niggling injuries and it won’t be known until later in the
week whether Tir Chonaill will have a full squad to choose from.
However club sources confirmed that none of the injuries are serious
and no one is definitely ruled out at this stage.
Salthill also report no injury concerns as they bid to reach the All-Ireland
club semi-finals for the first time in their history.
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