*Peter Duggan leads the chase for Clare. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
QUALIFYING for the Division 1B final with a game to spare and safely back to the top tier, Clare finished their group phase of the league in style defeating Wexford.
Once again it was a mix of players desperately vying to break into the side and a sprinkling of the experienced cohort who stood tallest for Clare. The latest win seeing them overcome Wexford by three points in in front of 6,575 in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg.
Eoin Brennan reviews the game with our latest batch of player ratings.
1: Mark Sheedy
It was a hugely encouraging redemptive performance from the Under 20 star. Looked a little jittery in his Munster League debut against Limerick but was much more assured in his National League bow. Didn’t have many aerial targets outside of Jack Kirwan for long puck-outs but his puck-outs were crisp and he was alert off his line. The angled shot for the goal was powerful but he fully made up for it by standing firm to an injury-time Lee Chin piledriver that would have levelled the tie.
Rating: 7
2: Ronan Kilroy
It’s been a big transformation for the Clare Under 20 to go from play-making to player-shaking but the Banner man has made the switch rather seamless alongside Niall O’Farrell. Didn’t have much last ditch defending to do though as he tended to follow the roving third inside forward. However, was effective going forward as he initiated the move for Jack Kirwan to almost grab the opening goal and even got on the scoresheet himself with a superb 25th minute point from halfway.
Rating: 7
3: Adam Hogan
Great to have the 2023 National Young Player of the Year back in action and also interesting to see how authoritative he was as the last line anchor at full-back. While Clare had the wind in the opening period and their defence wasn’t overly tested, Feakle’s finest kept his markers at bay and even forced Simon Roche to switch out to the half-forward line to get on ball. Unfortunately, his return would be short-lived as an injury ensured that he didn’t re-emerge after half-time.
Rating: 7
4: Conor Leen
The 2024 All-Ireland winner was sharp and had to be in what were two contrasting halves. Had a commanding opening period predominantly shadowing Tomas Kinsella who would be withdrawn by the break after an ineffective half. Found new marker Kevin Foley much more of a handful as within the first two minutes, both had been pulled for a foul on each other. As the half developed, Simon Roche came into his orbit but he physically matched the Wexford talisman all the way.
Rating: 7
5: Cathal Malone
Has become an instrumental fixture in Clare’s half-back line over the course of the league campaign and it will be interesting to see if that continues in the championship or is this a relocation to shadow and curb big opposition influencers. Regardless, excelled against predominantly Ross Banville, won three frees, two of which Peter Duggan converted while Malone also directly teed up David Reidy for the penultimate point if a wind-assisted opening period.
Rating: 8
17: John Conlon
With David McInerney having to vacate through injury at the eleventh hour over the weekend, Clare’s most experienced performer relished the opportunity to impress and reinforce his value to the side following a lengthy recovery process. Played his longest match of the new season and it turned out to be his best display too as he controlled the back-line especially in the opening period, Was quieter in the second period but he wasn’t alone in that department.
Rating: 7
7: Niall O’Farrell
The assimilation process at senior level has been smooth, made more impressive by the fact that former Croke Cup winner O’Farrell is also learning a new position at wing-back. Is incrementally becoming a viable championship option but in arguably the most competitive line for starting berths that currently includes Diarmuid Ryan, David McInerney, Malone and Conlon, he’d require a big League Final. Held Darren Codd well and initiated the move for a Shane Meehan point.
Rating: 7
8: Seán Rynne
A first start for the versatile Inagh/Kilnamona man following a prolonged hand injury and he certainly gave Brian Lohan and his management team plenty of food for thought after a strong first 50 minute performance. Combined well with Diarmuid Stritch to score a brace of first half points and grabbed a third on the restart after starting and finishing the move. Also earned successive frees that Peter Duggan converted but fatigue did eventually set in and he was withdrawn late on.
Rating: 8
9: Ryan Taylor
Normally the attacking midfielder of the pair, Taylor’s recent partnerships with Diarmuid Stritch and now Seán Rynne have forced him tactically or subconsciously to become the defensive-minded one in the engine room which may take a while to adjust to if persisted. However, while he did hit two first half wides. when others were flagging amidst Wexford’s inevitable wind-assisted fightback, It was Taylor that stood up, scored a point and also aided Keith Smyth for another.
Rating: 7
10: Jack Kirwan
Made his championship debut in 2023 but this year has been his best in a senior jersey as he’s a real option to vie for a place at wing-forward due to his aerial ability along with his movement. Directly set up three first half points for Diarmuid Strich, David Reidy and Shane Meehan and was perhaps too unselfish at times. Indeed, the only thing missing was a score, something he came very close to achieving early on with a superb shot that had to be tipped away by Mark Fanning.
Rating: 7
11: Diarmuid Stritch
Only played a half due to an injury but packed a lot into that cameo to easily be Clare’s most influential player. Seemed better suited to that roaming centre-forward role where he got onto overlapping passes to pick off three points while also directly assisting in three more for Seán Rynne (twice) and the opening point for Jack O’Neill. The mere fact that the management were eager to whip him off as a precaution spoke volumes about his current value.
Rating: 9
12: Jack O’Neill
Also enjoying the velvet revolution in Division 1B is Jack O’Neill who on Sunday reached the level of performance that catapulted him into the senior spotlight last year. Set the tone by scoring the opening point and setting up Peter Duggan for the second and repeated that feat at the end of the first half too. Grabbed the first point of the new half too and subsequently initiated the move for Keith Smyth’s goal sighting. Only downside at wing-forward is his lack of aerial prowess.
Rating: 8
15: David Reidy
As was the case in most home sectors, the Éire Óg playmaker was at his threatening best in the opening period when picking off two superb points. Instinctively shortened the stick to ensure he wasn’t hooked for the first before firing over from an acute angle in the right corner just before the break. Had a hand in Ronan Kilroy’s point fro, halfway and almost set up the clinching goal too at the turn of the final quarter when unleashing Keith Smyth through on goal.
Rating: 7
14: Peter Duggan
A real crowd favourite and not only for his impressive arsenal of stickwork either. Showed a real appetite to his play too, epitomised most by chasing down goalkeeper Mark Fanning early on and doing the same in the final quarter. Took over the freetaking duties with ease and nailed some impressive long rangers, most notably the pair after Wexford sashed the gap to just one, Set up Kirwan for early goal chance, ended with eight points and showed great leadership when needed most.
Rating: 9
13: Shane Meehan
His touch was razor-sharp early on which resulted in two first half points, winning a free for Peter Duggan to convert and also make an inspirational interception for Duggan to score Clare’s second point. Also had a hand in a third quarter point for Sean Rynne but unfortunately passed up a glorious opportunity too halt Wexford’s resurgence and ended up getting a yellow card out of frustration which probably accelerated his early withdrawal at the three quarters mark.
Rating: 7
Subs:
20: Conor Cleary
if the previous ever-present was hoping for a well earned break, he would be mistaken as first he came on as a brief blood sub for Cathal Malone before having to leave the tracksuit in the dressing room at half-time to replace Adam Hogan. Was relatively quiet until late on when defiantly batting the last Wexford delivery clear.
Rating: 6
22: Keith Smyth
It would have been a sensational return had he managed to convert that glorious goal chance at the turn of the final quarter. Recovered well from a defensive swipe and would be somehow denied by Mark Fanning. Admirably persisted to win a free that was scored by Duggan before scoring a beauty of his own from the right corner.
Rating: 7
19: Ian Galvin
Has been dogged by injury over the past year but if any reminder of his scoring prowess was required, this was it as when Wexford put the squeeze on the home side, Peter Duggan’s frees would be surpassed by a rousing pair of Galvin eye-catching points from the left that really impressed the Shed.
Rating: 7
26: John Conneally
Was catapulted into the side when the Banner were most under pressure in place of John Conlon and had to dig deep from the outset to keep a desperate Wexford at bay.
Rating: 6
18: David Fitzgerald
Replaced his flagging Inagh-Kilnamona club-mate Sean Rynne for the last ten minutes and did offer some much-needed stability to relief the pressure valve.
Rating: 6
