*Daithí Burke tries to block Keith Smyth’s shot. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
BACK TO BACK defeats in the Allianz National Hurling League have Clare bottom of Division 1A alongside Wexford.
Galway 2-21
Clare 0-20
Venue: Pearse Stadium, Salthill
With a high amount of injuries and absent personnel, Clare fielded just four of their All-Ireland winning starting team. For the second game in a row, Brian Lohan’s side produced a strong opening quarter but once again they dipped in the second quarter, this time allowing Galway to raid for two goals in the space of three minutes.
Galway who suffered a first round twelve point loss to Tipperary have bounced back with successive victories, overcoming Kilkenny and now Clare. They possessed the much more experienced side but were also able to make the ball stick in their attack.
On the far too few occasions when Clare troubled Galway, it was when they were patient on the ball rather than lumping it into their forward line, the long rushed clearances didn’t suit this youthful Banner side whereas opportunities were created when they focused more on off the shoulder running and making themselves available as potential options.
More disappointing than the result is that from Clare’s second outing in the League, none of the players yet to establish themselves at senior inter-county hurling put their hands up to warrant selection when it comes to championship.
Clare’s year will not be defined by a February evening in Salthill but the so-called fringe players will need to learn from this outing.
Both of Galway’s corner backs, Dan Loftus and Darren Morrissey scored from play, their combined tally was just under half of the return from play of Clare’s starting forward line.
Micheál Donoghue’s side also happened to find a lot of space down the spine and were given ample time to find their inside line who certainly caused problems with the total return from the hosts’ full-forward line amassing 2-14, 2-6 of which was from play. It was difficult for Clare’s full-back line to defend against this and they struggled.
For the second game in a row, Clare started well, their opening quarter was their best spell and there was well-taken scores from David Reidy, Patrick Crotty and Cian Galvin, all coming to fruition because of smart play.
By the thirteenth minute, Clare led by three points after Crotty scored his second point of the evening but Galway replied with two scores on the bounce, both from Evan Niland to narrow the deficit to a single point. Ryan Taylor aided by Cian Galvin and Jack O’Neill hit the next score but then Galway landed 1-3 without reply.
Corner forward Anthony Burns scooped the ball nicely into his hand and left Ian Macnamara in his wake before firing the opening goal of the contest, Clare manager Brian Lohan seemed to be frustrated with Macnamara’s clubmate Keith Smyth at the other end of the field for allowing the ball leave their attack.
Burns had a second major, less than three minutes later, this time Conor Whelan left Darragh Lohan in his path before popping to Burns who made no mistake with his finish. Prior to both goals, netminder Éamonn Foudy had made a fine save from Whelan and was alert to make an interception to avert danger early on.
Effectively even though only twenty five minutes were played, it was game over as Clare never recovered from the concession of both goals and it vanished any bit of fire from this inexperienced side. They also lost Lohan to injury for an off the ball incident with Burns for which the Loughrea man didn’t receive a caution but Clare manager Brian Lohan is understood to have been booked by referee Michael Kennedy at half time for airing his views on the matter in what match stewards described as “a hot and heavy exchange”.
There was no real life or bite to the second half, Clare needed a goal to make a game of it but it never looked likely.
It took Clare twelve minutes to make a change in the second half, the only positive from the bench was the return to action of All Star Tony Kelly.
Throughout the entire first half there was a total of six wides, this figure was reached, sixteen minutes into a dull second half. Crucially for Galway, they maintained their lead as Clare didn’t make sufficient inroads to see the neighbours occupy opposite ends of the Division 1A table.
For Clare, Cian Galvin, David Reidy and Aidan McCarthy were best while Galway had strong performances from Conor Whelan, Anthony Burns, Tom Monaghan, Tiernan Killeen, Dan Loftus and Páraic Mannion.
Scorers Galway: E Niland (0-9 7f 1’65), A Burns (2-3), T Monaghan (0-2), C Whelan (0-2), D Loftus (0-1), D Morrissey (0-1), P Mannion (0-1), J Flynn (0-1 1f), S Linnane (0-1).
Scorers Clare: A McCarthy (0-9 7f), D Reidy (0-3), P Crotty (0-2), C Galvin (0-1), J O’Neill (0-1), T Kelly (0-1), R Taylor (0-1).
Galway:
1: Darach Fahy (Ardrahan)
2: Dan Loftus (Turloughmore)
3: Daithí Burke (Turloughmore)
4: Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields)
5: Páraic Mannion (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
6: Gavin Lee (Clarinbridge)
7: Cillian Travers (Turloughmore)
8: Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan)
9: Tom Monaghan (Craughwell)
10: John Fleming (Meelick Eyrecourt)
11: Tiernan Killeen (Loughrea)
12: Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)
15: Anthony Burns (Loughrea)
14: Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
13: Evan Niland (Clarinbridge)
Subs:
17: Fintan Burke (St Thomas’) for D Burke (12) (inj)
26: Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins) for Niland (45)
23: Kevin Cooney (Sarsfields) for Concannon (45)
22: Seán Linnane (Turloughmore) for Fleming (62)
20: Eoin Lawless (St Mary’s Athenry) for Travers (65)
Clare:
16: Éamonn Foudy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
4: Adam Hogan (Feakle)
5: Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
2: Ian Macnamara (Killanena)
7: Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
6: Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
17: Jack O’Neill (Clooney/Quin)
8: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
21: Paddy Donnellan (Broadford)
9: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
10: Patrick Crotty (Scariff)
12: Seán Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona)
15: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
18: Keith Smyth (Killanena)
20: Aidan McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
Subs:
24: Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones) for Lohan (36) (inj)
14: Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Smyth (48)
19: Colm O’Meara (Clonlara) for Rynne (52)
25: Tony Kelly (Ballyea) for Donnellan (54)
11: David Conroy (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Malone (60)
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)
