*Clare’s Rian Cotter in action. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE’s minor footballers have brought their championship campaign back to life after leaving Limerick with a one point win on Easter Monday.
Clare 0-14
Limerick 1-10
Venue: Mountcollins, Co Limerick
With a much improved performance following their three point opening round loss to Waterford in Quilty last week, Clare bounced back to overcome Limerick by a single point in Mountcollins.
There was much more determination and hunger from Clare in how they fought for the ball, they were more committed as they chased and harried for possession. The Clare defence stuck to their men and gave away few shooting under opportunities despite coming under savage pressure in the final ten minutes of the tie.
Limerick had a late chance to win the game. Five minutes of additional time had been signalled, the hosts had really piled on the pressure in the final four minutes of the game, Clare had worked hard to hold onto the ball and kept possession in their own half forward line for ninety seconds before getting turned over and then conceding a free.
Cork official Ciaran Murphy had first allowed advantage before pulling back for the free which was just outside the 45m line. The home supporters were hopeful that Charlie McCarthy was going to convert a two pointer at the death to snatch victory, with a huge kick at his disposal he had to aim for the left post and allow the wind push the ball over, he had the distance but his shot curled across and went wide at the right post allowing Clare hold on for a one point win.
Liam Keane who was Clare’s standout forward landed a two pointer after three minutes to put the visitors in front. There was a strong wind which was mainly cross-field. Limerick levelled with two points in a row before Michael Normoyle converted a free to restore the lead for Clare on nine minutes.
McCarthy put Limerick in front with a two pointer free, this was the only time in the game that the Treaty County led with Clare responding with two Liam Keane frees to be 0-5 0-4 ahead with twenty one minutes on the clock but Limerick got back on level terms once again.
Four points in a row for Clare via a Normoyle free, two Keane efforts and a Seán O’Callaghan score put them back in a commanding spot before substitute Daniel Healy was harshly shown a black card with a 13m free awarded to Limerick which McCarthy duly converted making it 0-9 0-6 for half-time.
Within the first three minutes of the second half, the sides exchanged points. Liam Keane landed a marvellous two pointer from a free, forty metres out to make it 0-12 0-7 on thirty five minutes.
Murphy then gave a black card to Limerick wing forward Cian Barry and yellow cards to Jamie McAuliffe at midfield and Clare wing back Stephen O’Neill. The Éire Óg defender had been caught by the throat by the Limerick duo right in front of the linesman, eventually after breaking up the incident, Murphy spoke with the official and dished out one black card and two yellows.
Momentum then shifted towards Limerick with McAuliffe firing 1-1 on the bounce to make it a one point game with fifty four minutes on the clock. His goal was a rocket of a shot from his left boot.
A response was needed from Clare and it arrived with substitute Thomas Dillon kicking a free off his left boot and then Keane adding an excellent score from play with four minutes of normal time remaining. Limerick pulled another point back before five minutes of additional time were signalled and the late chance from McCarthy went abegging, much to the relief of the travelling Clare support.
Though Limerick came within inches of claiming the win, such an outcome would have been very harsh on Clare who had delivered a much-improved display within the space of a week.
Caelum Killeen at centre back was excellent for the winners as he directed operations from the heart of defence. Liam Keane was brilliant as the side’s main attacking threat, finishing the hour with nine points to his credit. Between the posts, Conor Griffin did very well, he caught great ball under pressure and made three saves, the Ennistymon custodian could not be faulted for the concession of McAuliffe’s major. Rian Cotter at wing forward handled a lot of ball with Jack Lavin on the opposing wing offering a lot of help to defence when tracking back.
Overall the workate of Clare’s team helped to separate the sides, they worked their socks off and ran themselves into the ground, using their subs to strong effect when needed. They appeared to work better when down to fourteen men following Healy’s black card.
Joe Hayes’ side can claim second spot in phase one if they defeat Tipperary in Quilty next Monday and if Waterford record a third win at the expense of Limerick.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers Clare: L Keane (0-9 2TP 1TPf 3f), M Normoyle (0-3 2f), S O’Callaghan (0-1), T Dillon (0-1 1f)
Scorers Limerick: J McAuliffe (1-2), C McCarthy (0-4 3f 1TPf), T Gavin (0-2 2f), R O’Dwyer (0-1), C Murphy (0-1).
Clare:
1: Conor Griffin (Ennistymon)
2: Tristan O’Loughlin (St. Breckans)
22: Tadhg Bane (Banner)
3: Siney Neenan (Kildysart)
5: Darren Fitzpatrick (St. Breckans)
4: Caelum Killeen (Lissycasey)
23: Stephen O’Neill (Éire Óg)
6: Shane Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
9: Paddy Neylon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Rian Cotter (Kilrush),
11: Robbie Kelly (Kildysart)
7: Jack Lavin (Ennistymon)
13: Michael Normoyle (St. Breckans),
14: Liam Keane (Lissycasey)
15: Sean O’Callaghan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
Subs:
12: Daniel Healy (Liscannor) for Neylon (14)
24: Thomas Dillon (Doonbeg) for Normoyle (50)
20: John Greene (Corofin) for Kelly (55)
19: Eoin Soff (Kilrush Shamrocks) for Fitzpatrick (57)
Limerick;
1: Dean Ryan (Na Piarsaigh)
2: Luke McDermott (Monaleen),
3: Aaron Murphy (Fr. Caseys),
4: Ronan Conneely (Ballybricken / Bohermore);
7: Rory O’Dwyer (Monaleen)
6: Eoghan Murnane (Camogue Rovers)
5: Cian Lonergan (Ballylanders)
8: Cillian Murphy (Askeaton/Ballysteen/Kilcornan),
9: Jamie McAuliffe (Fr Caseys)
10; Cian Barry (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
11: Jack Moynihan (Monaleen)
12: Sean O’Flynn (Dromcollogher/Broadford)
13: Charlie McCarthy (Adare)
14: Eoghan Hogan (Mungret St. Paul’s)
15: Tom Gavin (Monaleen)
Subs:
21: Conor O’Dwyer (Rathkeale) for Lonergan (HT)
19: Ollie Stokes (Oola) for Barry (47)
22: Kevin McNamara (Ahane) for Hogan (47)
20: Cathal Donnelly (Camogue Rovers) for Conneely (55)
23: Ben Haugh (St Kierans) for Gavin (57)
Referee; Ciaran Murphy (Cork)
