*Seán McMahon on the attack for Clare.
PAUL Madden’s first inter-county challenge match as Clare football manager ended in a narrow one point loss to an under-strength Galway.
Galway 0-16
Clare 1-12
Venue: Galway GAA Centre of Excellence, Laghtgeorge
Annaghdown’s exhibition game to mark the installation of their new floodlights between Clare and Galway didn’t go as planned. Excess water at their Cregg facility deemed the pitch unplayable but all was not lost, Junior Minister Charlie McConalague (FF) was greeted by a large attendance for the official ceremony but the match itself was moved to the nearby Galway GAA Centre of Excellence.
Two completely different sides lined out in either half for Clare with the audition process of trying to stake a claim on the panel for 2026 is well and truly underway.
Clare could have easily left with a win but kicked two wides in their final two attacks while Galway’s last score of the evening, a point from Jack Mullen arose after Thomas Kelly was turned over following a long passage of play, where Michael Nash was the launchpad.
Established players like Dermot Coughlan, Brian McNamara and Aaron Griffin started from the off for Clare. Coughlan at centre-back in the saffron and blue for the first time, having impressed for Kilmurry Ibrickane in the new position during the Clare SFC.
McNamara was in top form and joined in the middle of the pitch by the returning Darragh Bohannon who didn’t show any inter-county rustiness after a year away from the Clare cause, kicking two points, one off either boot in the opening half.
For Pádraic Joyce’s Galway, it was a very inexperienced side which took to the field. Only Seán Fitzgerald at full-back featured from their starting team that lost out to Meath in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals in the summer just gone. Fitzgerald is a rare commodity in the inter-county scene at present, in that he is not afraid to show that he is a personality with his colourful online presence. He brought energy to their side in this outing through his tackling and turnovers in defence.
Caoilfhionn O’Dea was very comfortable in the county colours, he struck for Clare’s opening score, a goal on three minutes with a well-taken finish. The move began when Tristan O’Callaghan played a precision pass to Brian McNamara who took off on a trademark run.
O’Callaghan had an excellent showing with two saves to deny Galway from raising a green flag.
Level six times in the first half, there was a slight dip from the visitors in the second half but they still managed to put themselves in a position to win the game but passed up on the chances that fell their way.
There was also a bit more aggression to Clare’s opening half efforts with Fionn Kelleher in particular producing well-timed physical hits while Brendy Rouine when tracking back made one particularly excellent block, diving in to win back possession for Clare.
Outings like this challenge match will help Madden and his management form their strongest squad for 2026.
Scorers Galway: O McDonagh (0-4), J Mullen (0-4 3f), S McGrath (0-3), P Egan (0-2), M Barrett (0-2 1’TP), C Ó Curraoin (0-1).
Scorers Clare: C O’Dea (1-0), D Bohannon (0-2), A Griffin (0-2 2f), D Coughlan (0-2), B Rouine (0-1), S Griffin (0-1 1f), G Cahill (0-1 1f), M Tubridy (0-1), S McMahon (0-1), E Byrne (0-1 1’45)
Galway:
1: Eamonn McGrath
2: Aaron Kavanagh
3: Sean Fitzgerald
4: Jack Folan
5: Dara Heneghan
6: Darragh Burke
7: Brian Cogger
9: Maitiais Barrett
12: Ryan Roche
10: Shane McGrath
11: Charlie Power
8: Patrick Egan
13: Jack Nolan
14: Oisin McDonagh
15: Cillian O Curraoin
Subs:
16: Jack Donnellan
17: Liam Costelloe
18: Conal Gallagher
19: Jack Mullen
20: Cian Hernon
21: Colm Costelloe
22: Jack Glynn
23: Jonathan McGrath
Clare:
1: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckan’s)
4: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
3: James Killeen (Doonbeg)
2: Ciarán McMahon (Ennistymon)
6: Seán McAllister (Clondegad)
7: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
5: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
9: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
8: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
12: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
11: Caoilfhionn O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
10: James Curran (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
27: Diarmuid O’Donnell (Kildysart)
13: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
16: Eoin Byrne (St Breckan’s) for O’Callaghan (HT)
14: Morgan Garry (Clondegad) for Curran (HT)
17: Eoghan Casey (Wolfe Tones na Sionna) for McMahon (HT)
18: Fergal Ginnane (Kildysart) for Killeen (HT)
19: Liam Cotter (Ennistymon) for Walsh (HT)
20: Colin Hehir (Raheny) for Kelleher (HT)
21: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad) for Coughlan (HT)
22: Michael Tubridy (Doonbeg) for McAllister (HT)
23: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Bohannon (HT)
24: Michael Nash (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for McNamara (HT)
25: Thomas Kelly (Shannon Gaels) for O’Dea (HT)
28: Darren Keane (Lissycasey) for A Griffin (HT)
29: Seán McMahon (Banner) for O’Donnell (HT)
30: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg) for Rouine (HT)
31: Gearóid Cahill (Corofin) for S Griffin (HT)
26: Luke McGrath (Kildysart) for Burns (45)
32: Cian Corry (Killimer) for Byrne (45)
Referee: James Murray
