*Gearoid Madden celebrates a goal. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
CLARE’S minor hurlers kept their All-Ireland campaign alive after overcoming a spirited Dublin challenge to book their place in next weekend’s quarter-finals.
Clare: 3-17
Dublin: 2-17
Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles
Ger O’Connell’s side were pushed all the way by a determined Dublin outfit, but three second-half goals ultimately proved decisive as The Banner showed their attacking quality when the contest entered its defining stages.
The Dubs could hardly have wished for a better start. Barely a minute had elapsed when wing-back Derry Ware surged through the centre of the Clare defence before coolly firing to the net past Patrick Murphy. Dublin threatened another major score moments later, only for Murphy to react sharply and deny them a dream opening burst.
Despite that early setback, Clare gradually settled into the game. Colm Daly led the response with a superb long-range point before Max Sheehan and Tom O’Dea added scores of their own to edge Clare in front.
Richie Hession was pin-point accurate from placed balls all afternoon while midfielder Paul Batten chipped in with an excellent solo effort after collecting a puckout and driving down the old stand side.
Team captain Daly again showcased his leadership qualities late in the half. The St Flannan’s student stormed forward from centre-back, saw his initial effort blocked, but was able to notch over a point at the second time of asking.
Still, Dublin carried a narrow 1-08 to 0-10 advantage into the break after a tightly contested opening period.
James O’Donnell got off the mark and opened the second-half scoring four minutes after the interval with a close-range point, before Hession immediately replied with another free.
For a spell, the game developed into a shootout between the free-takers as Hession and Ben Talty traded scores. Both players also added respective points from play.
The turning point arrived midway through the second half when Talty elected to go directly for goal from a close-range free. His strike unexpectedly flew through a crowded goalmouth and rattled the top corner of the net to hand Clare a crucial two-point lead.
That score injected fresh belief into the Banner challenge and they struck again just two minutes later. O’Donnell’s blistering pace carved open the Dublin defence and although his initial effort was saved by Dara Stynes, the sliotar fell perfectly into Gearóid Madden’s path who slotted the rebound to the net. Talty followed with another point from play as Clare suddenly opened daylight between the sides making it a two score affair.
Dublin refused to fold and continued to rely heavily on the ever-present Hession, but to their credit, Clare’s defence had shored up significantly in the second half.
The decisive moment appeared to arrive three minutes from time. A dropping Talty free caused confusion inside the Dublin square and after Stynes spilled possession, Madden forced the sliotar over the line amid a frantic scramble for his second green flag of the afternoon.
Talty stretched the lead to six points moments later and while Dublin did manage to grab a late consolation goal through a Hession penalty in injury time, Clare had done enough to secure a hard-earned victory and can now turn their attention to an All-Ireland quarter-final in seven days time.
Talty finished with an impressive 1-9 tally while Madden’s two goals proved vital. Colm Daly, Seanie Connellan and Odhran Perrill impressed in defence for the winners.
For Dublin, Hession was outstanding in attack with 1-12, while their midfield duo of Paul Batten and Corey Kelly also produced strong performances.
All photographs by Ruth Griffin.
Scorers Clare: B Talty (1-9, 1-6f), G Madden (2-2), C Daly (0-2), S Connellan (0-1), J O’Donnell (0-1), T O’Dea (0-1), M Sheehan (0-1)
Scorers Dublin: R Hession (1-12, 1-0p, 0-9f, 0-1 ‘65), D Ware (1-0), C Kelly (0-2), P Batten (0-1), B Farrell (0-1), E Forde (0-1)
Clare:
1: Patrick Murphy (Tulla)
2: Odhran Perill (Crusheen)
3: Cian Maxted (Clooney-Quin)
4: Marcas Fitzpatrick (Clooney-Quin)
5: Isaac Hassett (Clooney-Quin)
6: Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
7: Seanie Connellan (Kilmaley)
8: Oran Duignan (Banner)
9: Darragh Moran (Corofin)
12: Cian Mullins (Sixmilebridge)
11: Ben Talty (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
10: Gearóid Madden (Scariff)
13: James O’Donnell (Broadford)
14: Tom O’Dea (Ballyea)
15: Max Sheehan (Ruan)
Subs:
22: Conor Coffey (Banner) for C Mullins (43)
24: Fionn Daffy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for T O’Dea (45)
18: Harry O’Donoghue (Clarecastle) for D Moran (54)
21: Donnacha McKenna (Scariff) for for M Sheehan (54)
Dublin:
1: Dara Stynes (Erin’s Isle)
2: Deimhne Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes)
3: Conor Nevin (St Vincent’s)
4: Finn Reville (Clontarf)
5: Tommy Dillon (Balinteer St John’s)
6: James O’Keeffe (Round Towers Lusk)
7: Derry Ware (Lucan Sarsfields)
8: Paul Batten (Kilmacud Crokes)
9: Corey Kelly (Trinity Gaels)
10: Seán Gavigan (Crumlin)
11: Henry Greene (Lucan Sarsfields)
12: Jack Ledwidge (Balinteer St John’s)
14: Richie Hession (St Vincent’s)
13: Brian Farrell (Kilmacud Crokes)
15: Dan Ward (Round Towers Clondalkin)
Subs:
19: Evan Forde (Naomh Mearnóg) for S Gavigan (40)
18: Conn McCluskey (Ranelagh Gaels) for B Farrell (49)
21: Joey Davy (Kilmacud Crokes) for D Ward (49)
Referee: Nicholas O’Toole (Waterford)
