*Brian McNamara in possession.
CLARE’s bright start to their 2026 National Football League campaign was not enough to overcome Down in Newry with a dip in performance in the second half depriving Paul Madden of a winning start as manager.
Down 2-19
Clare 2-15
Venue: Páirc Esler, Newry
Facing into the long journey home from Newry, Clare’s footballers will be rightly frustrated to be heading back to the Banner County empty-handed in their first Division 3 outing of the year.
This is intensified by the fact Clare had put themselves in such a commanding position at half time when creating a five point advantage, putting together some fine scores including two pointers from Brian McNamara, Aaron Griffin and Mark McInerney.
Matters dipped in the third quarter, the concession of a soft goal to John McGeough a real turning point in the tie. Down would outscore Clare 2-9 0-5 in the entire second half, buoyed by their first major, a score which was certainly preventable.
Following a close contest with a strong Mayo outfit in a recent challenge match, Clare entered the league in high spirits despite the absences of captain Cillian Rouine along with attackers Emmet McMahon and Colm Walsh O’Loghlen, the two forwards will miss the entirety of the league.
Down steadied quicker and had the first two points via Daniel Guinness and Shane Arnett. It took Clare seven and a half minutes to get on the board, Mark McInerney scoring off his right boot. He had a two pointer shortly after but Down kicked three points to lead 0-5 0-3 by the end of the first quarter.
A well-worked score which finished in an Aaron Griffin two pointer, involved Brian McNamara, Eoin Cleary and Dermot Coughlan to go on level terms.
Clare took the lead for the first time from the most unlikely of players, Cillian Brennan sticking the ball to the roof of the net after he found himself at the edge of the square. Ronan Lanigan who has replaced Brennan at full-back drove forward with the ball, Aaron Griffin’s shot dropped to Brennan who turned and buried the ball to the roof of the net on twenty three minutes.
Down replied with the next two points but Clare finished the half with four of the final five scores including a Mark McInerney major and a two pointer from Brian McNamara to hold a 2-9 0-10 interval lead.
That lead was stretched to six on the restart thanks to Darragh Bohannon but Down kicked 1-6 without reply to put the game on its head. The goal could have been avoided, a Pat Havern free was brought down to goalkeeper Stephen Ryan attemping not to give away a point and instead put the ball in the direction of John McGeough who put it over the line.
Dermot Coughlan ended Clare’s twenty four minute scoring drought to equalise before Pat Havern pulled back a free for the hosts. Stephen Ryan then kicked a two pointer in what was Clare’s only score from a free pushing them back ahead by the smallest of margins.
Another soft goal fell Down’s way in additional time, Stephen Ryan could do little to keep out Odhran Murdock’s shot, the midfielder’s task made easier by the poor tracking from Clare players. Murdock added a white flag as did Daniel Guinness to see Down record a five point win.
Over the past three seasons, Down have emerged victorious at Clare’s expense on each occasion winning by eleven points when Mark Fitzgerald was manager in 2024, eighteen points during Peter Keane’s ill-fated reign last season and now four under Paul Madden.
It’s a sign that Clare are moving in the right direction but they must pick up victories against Westmeath and Fermanagh in their next two games to have any hope of securing promotion.
Regardless of the route Clare are taking, they can be under no illusions that round one is a game where they should have returned with something better than a five point loss, especially when they were six points in front at the beginning of the second half.
Scorers Down: P Havern (0-6 2f), D Guinness (0-5 1TP), O Murdock (1-2), J McGeough (1-1), C Doherty (0-3), A Crimmins (0-1), S Annett (0-1).
Scorers Clare: M McInerney (1-3 ITP), C Brennan (1-0), A Griffin (0-2 1TP), D Bohannon (0-2), D Coughlan (0-2), B McNamara (0-2 TP), S Ryan (0-2 TPf), C Murray (0-1)
Down:
1: Ronan Burns (Drom Gaith)
4: Finn Murdock (Caisleán Ruairi)
3: Pierce Laverty (Naomh Phadraig Sabhall)
2: Peter Fegan (Boireann)
6: Ryan Magill (Boireann)
5: Pearse McPolin (Drom Gaith)
7: Patrick McCarthy (Boireann)
8: Odhran Murdock (Boireann)
9: Ryan McEvoy (Cill Chua)
10: Daniel Guinness (Ceathrú Aoidh Dhuibh)
11: Ceilum Doherty (Cill Chua)
24: Shane Annett (Droichead Mhaigh Eo)
13: Adam Crimmins (Droichead Mhaigh Eo)
14: Pat Havern (Sabhall)
15: John McGeough (Ceathrú Aoidh Dhuibh)
Subs:
20: Tom Close (Chluain Daimh) for Crimmins (46)
17: Micael Rooney (Cill Chua) for Magill (57)
12: Donal Scullion (Clann na Banna) for McCarthy (57)
22: Barry O’Hagan (Chluian Daimh) for McGeough (64)
18: Patrick Brooks (Gleann) for Annett (68)
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
6: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
7: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
11: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
12: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
13: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
14: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
15: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Subs:
19: Michael Nash (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Kelleher (blood) (2)
Kelleher for Nash (12)
17: Caoilfhionn O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for McInerney (42) (inj)
23: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg) for Brennan (54)
20: Joe Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for C Murray (59)
25: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Griffin (67)
Referee: Conor Doureen (Cavan)
