*Brendy Rouine in action for Clare. Photograph: Ruth Griffin./
CLARE’S National Football League campaign is finally off the ground after they picked up a vital two points at the expense of Fermanagh.
Clare 2-18
Fermanagh 0-18
Venue: Brewster Park, Fermanagh
It is the second year in a row that Clare have overcome Fermanagh in Division 3 of the NFL. Fermanagh with three defeats in as many matches are now very vulnerable to relegation to the bottom tier and only as recently as 2024 competed in Division 2.
This bottom of the table tie was must-win for Clare following defeats to Down and Westmeath. They dealt with adversity, notably the losses of captain Cillian Rouine and midfielder Darragh Bohannon to injury in the first half while in the third quarter of the game, the free count was ten to three in favour of the hosts.
Five points in a row including a Mark McInerney two pointer meant Ronan McCaffrey’s late score and the loss in personnel was not too noticeable as the hooter sounded in Enniskillen, Clare holding a 1-10 0-10 advantage at this juncture.
Aaron Griffin goaled for Clare on eleven minues after captain Rouine made an excellent interception with a fine Ronan Lanigan run putting Griffin through.
A shaky start to the second half saw Fermanagh take control as Clare really struggled on their own kickout. The hosts kicked five points without reply to nudge ahead.
Another McInerney two pointer settled Clare, he followed with a point from play with Aaron Griffin and Eoin Cleary also on target to see the visitors regain their three point advantage.
This margin was reduced to one until Daniel Walsh stepped up with his first score of the league and Clare’s second goal, his Kilmurry Ibrickane clubmate Dermot Coughlan putting him through.
Fermanagh failed to score for the final eleven minutes of the encounter while Clare kicked 1-2 without reply, Walsh’s major followed by scores from Shane Griffin and Eoin Cleary.
Griffin’s score was created following an exceptional hit by Brendy Rouine, a tackle that released four weeks of pressure felt by the footballers due to their poor league start.
Rouine was one of the standout performers for Clare along with Ikem Ugwueru, Mark McInerney and the full-back line of Ronan Lanigan, Alan Sweeney and Manus Doherty.
SCORERS – Clare: M McInerney 0-8 (1 tp, 1 tpf, 1f), A Griffin 1-4 (1f), D Walsh 1-0, B McNamara, E Cleary 0-2 each, B Rouine, S Griffin 0-1 each.
Fermanagh: R McCaffrey 0-4, G Jones 0-4 (1tpf, 1f), Josh Largo Elis 0-3, C O’Hanlon (1tp), D McGurn (1tp), J McDade 0-2 each, C Love 0-1.
MORE TO FOLLOW
All photographs by Ruth Griffin.
Scorers Clare:
Scorers Fermanagh:
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
12: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
20: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
6: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
10: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
5: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
26: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon)
13: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
14: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
11: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
7: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad) for Bohannon (15) (inj)
22: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey) for C Rouine (29) (inj)
24: Shane Griffin (Lisseycasey) for Vaughan (58)
23: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg) for Walsh (62)
15: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown) for A Griffin (66)
Fermanagh:
1: Jack Kelly
18: Ronan McCaffrey
2: Jonathan Cassidy
3: Oisin Smyth
5: Fionan O’Brien
6: Shane McGuillon
7: Josh Largo Elis
20: Joe McDade
9: Brandon Horan
10: Declan McCusker
11: Darragh McGurn
12: Paul Breen
22: Conor O’Hanlon
14: Garvan Jones
21: Jack Largo Elis
Subs:
13: Conor Love for Breen (HT)
15: Ciaran Corigan for O’Hanlon (49)
8: Stephen McGullion for McCusker (53)
24: Keelan Fitzpatrick for Jack Largo Elis (59)
25: Oisin Kelm for O’Brien (63)
Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)
