*Brian McNamara in action for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE’s footballers were comprehensively beaten by Down to start their All-Ireland SFC campaign with a massive disappointment.
Down 3-27
Clare 1-16
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg
In what was only the second ever championship meeting between the counties, Down were deserving winners in a very one-sided contest while Clare produced one of their most disappointing championship displays.
This seventeen point loss is all the more tougher to swallow given it was Clare’s only home game of the All-Ireland series with an away trip to Clones to face Monaghan and Leinster champions Louth to come in the final round.
For their third championship game running, Clare started very poorly, conceding a goal in the opening six minutes, by this juncture of the provincial decider they had coughed up two goals to Kerry.
Adding to the frustration was how similar the first goal was with goals conceded against Laois and Kildare in the Allianz National Football League were high balls dropped around the square and were palmed to the net.
Down had far too much time on the ball and did not have enough pressure applied on them which allowed them to kick from distance and collect four two pointers over the seventy minutes.
Danny Magill particularly punished Clare in this aspect while Daniel Guinness at midfield proved to be a handful with Pat Havern also effective for the winners.
Losing Cillian Brennan to injury in the first quarter was a blow to Clare but the captain’s loss was not to blame for their margin of the victory.
Clare were first to register a score via Emmet McMahon from a free but Down hit back with 1-3 in succession to take control of a contest and they didn’t loosen the grip for the remainder of the tie.
John McGeough got the goal on five minutes, Odhran Murdock’s shot dropped short and Clare were caught napping allowing the corner forward to palm the ball to the net.
Dermot Coughlan pointed from play on eight minutes but again Down came back with the next four scores, including Danny Magill’s first two pointer.
By the twenty fourth minute, Down led by ten points. They struck for goal number two on thirty two minutes after punishing a Clare turnover and working the ball up field via Daniel Guinness and Odhran Murdock before Guinness hit the net.
Aaron Griffin cancelled this out when gaoling at the other end but Down landed another two pointer before the break, this time from Pat Havern to hold a 2-16 1-7 half-time lead.
Matters didn’t improve on the restart with a Brian McNamara goal chance repelled, Down kicked two points without reply to extend the distance.
A rally of five points in a row including a two pointer from Mark McInerney saw Clare have their sunniest spell in the third quarter but Down were still intent on inflicting pain for their journey south with substitute Caolan Mooney bagging goal number three as the game entered the final fifteen minutes.
Paddy Neilan’s final whistle was met with relief by all sides as a very poor contest drew to a close.
An attendance of 1,556 were in Cusack Park for the clash and those in the Saffron and Blue corner left deflated. The margin of this loss is greater than that experienced in the Munster Final yet the opposition were not of the same quality and home advantage is also in the mix, all factors which should have reduced the deficit not add to it.
Peter Keane’s side lacked fire, energy and a plan for this game which is very disappointing considering the confidence of Clare supporters of getting a result in this outing. Results must be obtained in Clones against Monaghan or at a neutral venue versus Louth to try have any chance of qualifying from Group 3 for Clare.
Jamie Stack kicked a point when introduced, showing that his electric Garry Cup form with St Breckan’s is not just limited to the club scene and also strengthening the belief that Brendy Rouine who is doing likewise with Ennistymon and offers options in midfield and attack should definitely be seeing game-time.
Clare struggled in too many sectors to hurt Down and even their third quarter effort didn’t inspire confidence that Cusack Park would witness yet another dramatic comeback.
Keane and his management now need to ensure Clare respond by issuing strong performances in their remaining two games.
Scorers Down: P Havern (0-10 2TP, 5f), D Magill (0-7 2TP), J McGeough (1-1), D Guinness (1-1), A Cremins (0-3), C Mooney (1-0), J Guinness (0-2), M Rooney (0-1), R McEvoy (0-1).
Scorers Clare: M McInerney (0-6 1TP 1f 1’45), E McMahon (0-5 1TP 2f),A Griffin (1-1), D Coughlan (0-2), E Cleary (0-1), J Stack (0-1),
Down:
1: Ronan Burns
3: Peter Fegan
2: Patrick McCarthy
4: Ceilum Doherty
6: Pierce Laverty
5: Ryan Magill
7: Michael Rooney
13: James Guinness
8: Daniel Guinness
10: Danny Magill
11: Odhran Murdock
14: Pat Havern
15: John McGeough
9: Ryan McEvoy
21: Adam Cremins
Subs:
23: Caolan Mooney for Doherty (37)
25: Patrick Brooks for Magill (45)
20: Shay Millar for McEvoy (54)
24: Finn Murdock for J Guinness (60)
26: Conor McCrickard for McGeough
19: Donal Scullion for Murdock
Clare:
1: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg)
4: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
6: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
9: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
11: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
20: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg)
15: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
10: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
12: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s) for Brennan (16)
18: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Murray (37)
17: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Meaney (HT)
19: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey) for McNamara (60)
25: Jamie Stack (St Breckan’s) for Cleary (62)
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)
