*Diarmuid Stritch with Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
MORE CLARE hurlers are putting their hand up for coveted championship minutes with the county’s fifth win in a row sealing promotion back to Division 1A.
Saturday’s 1-28 0-18 win over Carlow saw Clare qualify for the Division 1B final but more importantly secure their return to the top tier of the Allianz National Hurling League.
Diarmuid Stritch is leading the charge to shake-up the established Clare starting fifteen while Conor Cleary and Mark Rodgers delivered powerful displays.
Seamus Hayes dishes out the player ratings following Saturday’s game in Cullen Park.
1: Eibhear Quilligan
The Feakle custodian got little to do in this outing but he was called on to react sharply just before the half time whistle when making a good stop from Darragh Murphy. He found a team mate with the majority of his twenty four puckouts on the evening and was regularly available to take a pass from a defender if the need arose.
Rating: 7
2: Dylan McMahon
In his third successive outing in this position the Clonlara player delivered another solid display. His direct opponent for much of the tie was the Carlow captain Chris Nolan, one of the Midlanders’ leading hurlers. McMahon’s display suggests that he will be challenging strongly for a place in the starting team come championship time.
Rating: 7
3: Conor Cleary
The Miltown Malbay native who plays his club hurling with Kilmaley, delivered another strong performance and showed his aerial power with a number of great catches. The team’s vice captain led by example and delivered some good clearances to team mates who converted
Rating: 8
4: Conor Leen
Penalised on three occasions in the opening half the resultant frees led to scores for the home side. That said he held the upperhand on his direct opponent Ted Joyce who was replaced early in the second half. Joyce’s replacement John Doyle got little joy against the Corofin man who missed some of the early season action due to injury.
Rating: 7
5: Cathal Malone
The Ennistymon native who has played most of his Clare hurling at midfield on in attack is settling in well to the wing back role. He dominated his position and his direct opponent for much of the tie, Eric English, was replaced during the second half. It remains to be seen if management will continue with the Sixmilebridge player in defence or restore him to midfield.
Rating: 7
6: David McInerney
Making his first start this year having only returned to the match day squad a week earlier, David McInerney got some valuable game time in the 55 minutes that he was on the field. One of the team’s most experienced players, speculation is rife that he will be handed the centre back role come championship time. As part of a half back trio that dominated this tie, he got in some good clearances.
Rating: 7
7: Jamie Moylan
The highly rated young Cratloe player was another to get some valuable game time under his belt on Saturday in what was his starting debut. His direct opponents in the early stages, Jon Nolan caused him a few problems but the Clare man quickly got to grips with his role and he regularly alternated positions with David McInerney.
Rating: 7
8: Diarmuid Stritch
Four points from play in the opening half from Clonlara’s Diarmuid Stritch helped Clare take control of this tie. In addition he helped set up a number of scores for his team mates as he gave Clare the upperhand at midfield, his pace causing plenty of problems for the opposition. He certainly has put his hand up form selection come championship time in April.
Rating: 8
9: Ryan Taylor
An early second half point was the only score from Clooney/Quin’s Ryan Taylor but that doesn’t mean that he had a poor game. He helped set up some good scores and regularly, in the early stages in particular, dropped back to help his defence.
Rating: 7
23: Jack Kirwan
In from the start in place of Tony Kelly, he fired over the opening score inside the opening minute but didn’t trouble the scoreboard after that. His lack of experience at this level was evident on a few occasions. Fifteen minutes into the second half he was replaced by Sean Rynne who was returning from injury.
Rating: 6
10: Jack O’Neill
Following a busy Fitzgibbon cup campaign in which he helped UL to win the title, Clooney-Quin’s Jack O’Neill who started at centre forward scored a point in each half. Constantly on the move, he struggled at times against his direct opponent Kevin McDonald who was one of Carlow’s better players on the evening.
Rating: 6
12: David Fitzgerald
The two time All Star was guilty of a number of missed chances for scores in the opening half when he registered four of Clare’s ten wides in this period. Matters improved in the second half when he split the posts three times. He was fortunate to escape with a yellow card on the hour mark following a clash with Jon Doyle who was the instigator of the incident which led to Fitzgerald’s reaction.
Rating: 6
13: Shane Meehan
A contribution of 1-3 was a good reward for the busy Banner club man. He struck for the game’s only goal in the third minute pouncing when the home side’s defence spilled possession. He added two points before the break and completed his tally when landing the final score of the tie in injury time having seen little possession in the second half. Two fouls on the corner forward resulted in points from freetaker Rodgers.
Rating: 7
14: Mark Rodgers
Scariff’s Mark Rodgers once again emerged as Clare’s top scorer this time with 0-11, 9 of which came from placed balls from a variety of angles and distances. He proved a handful throughout for a number of different opponents
Rating: 8
21: David Reidy
The skillful Éire Óg man was as busy as ever during his 45 minutes on the pitch. The second of his two points which came in the space of a minute ten minutes before half time, showed his skill as he deftly flicked the ball past an advancing defender before splitting the posts. As usual he roamed outfield and helped set up scores for team mates before being replaced by Ian Galvin
Rating: 7
Subs:
20: Ronan Kilroy
Recent addition to the panel Ronan Kilroy worked hard during his twenty five minutes in action. After successful seasons at minor and under 20 level, he is growing in experience all the time and he is sure to benefit from his game time with the seniors.
Rating: 6
15: Ian Galvin
Clare followers were glad to see the Clonlara clubman make his first appearance of the season. He has played a key part in Clare’s successes of recent years. While he didn’t see much ball in this game the expectation is that he will be pushing hard for a lot of game time in the coming weeks
Rating: 5
22: Sean Rynne
The talented Inagh/Kilnamona man has been hit with a number of injuries in recent time. From his introduction in the 20th minute of the second half he was busy and contributed a point to the team’s tally. He is one of a number of skillful and talented young players to come through the underage ranks in Clare in recent years and he is expected to be very much in the running for game time at senior level
Rating: 6
24: Aidan Fawl
After an outstanding season with his club O’Callaghans Mills in 2025 when they reached the Munster intermediate final, he was called into the Clare panel and made his debut in this tie. He didn’t see much of the ball during his fifteen minutes in Saturday’s game.
Rating: 5
26: John Conneally
Clooney/Quin’s John Conneally is another who has been beset with injuries during the past year. His return to action from his latest injury is warmly welcomed by hurling fans throughout the county. Wasn’t in the game on Saturday long enough to receive a rating.
