*Mark McInerney tries to get away from Ronan Sweeney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
BACK TO back defeats have ended Clare’s year with a first run in the Tailteann Cup coming to a halt at the first hurdle.
Longofrd 2-17
Clare 1-18
Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiósóg, Ennis
Another below par showing from Clare resulted in defeat but this brought the curtain down on Paul Madden’s first year in charge of the county senior footballers.
Having competed in the All-Ireland SFC series for the past three seasons, hopes were high that Clare would give the Tailteann Cup a real rattle under a management team widely praised by the panel of players and management. This promising run didn’t come to pass with flat displays produced against Offaly and then to Longford, a side promoted from Division 4 this season.
Energy was lacking once again from Clare and this scuppered them from getting any real momentum. Even when captain Cillian Rouine struck for goal to put the hosts in front for the first time on forty six minutes, Clare could never kick on while their inability to win breaking ball was a real concern with Brian McNamara far too often outnumbered when competing in 3v1 scenarios.
Emmet McMahon made a welcome return to inter-county action in his first appearance since sustaining an ACL injury last July. He made an immediate impact off the bench but it underlined how slow Clare were to make changes. That only three substitutions were made is slightly baffling considering how much a bit of freshness and vigour was required.
Longford raced into a 0-2 0-0 lead by the fifth minutes with points from Dylan Farrell and Daniel Reynolds. Mark McInerney put through by a Ronan Lanigan pass and Aaron Griffin levelled matters for Clare but the winners were two points ahead again thanks to a two pointer from Oran Kenny.
Efforts from McInerney, Dermot Coughlan and Fionn Kelleher who was found with an excellent Griffin pass tied the sides for the second time only for Longford to reply with a Farrell two pointer. Griffin had the final score of the half to leave Clare 0-8 0-7 adrift when the hooter sounded.
With Clare chasing the game, the lack of purpose to drive forward was astounding and in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, a Mark McInerney score was their only contribution on the board.
Rouine’s goal gave Clare the much sought after lead but instead of pushing on, a two pointer was immediately conceded. Unanswered scores from Kenny and Farrell left the visitors two ahead on fifty three minutes as a substitute was finally made from the Clare line.
Heading into the final ten minutes, Clare had four points without reply and were two clear. Alan Sweeney who was really coming into the game, started the run with Brendy Rouine providing the assist, then Emmet McMahon made his presence known with two points and Griffin continued to add to his tally.
Needless mistakes again were the downfall for Clare. Reactions were too slow to allow Longford firstly get a chance on goal and it was finished to the net by Dylan Farrell on sixty two minutes, putting them ahead by one.
This was not the fatal blow, that arrived on sixty six minutes when a Clare kickout went straight to Oran Kenny who pounced to rifle the net.
Even a brace of two pointers from Aaron Griffin and Emmet McMahon which came in response could not rescue Clare and the outcome was an incredibly disappointing two point loss. Griffin was one of Clare’s best players, Ronan Lanigan led throughout, McMahon made an impact when introduced while Alan Sweeney and Cillian Rouine had their moments of influence.
Reflections and learnings, there are plenty, will be reflection on from Paul Madden’s first campaign by all involved with Clare football. Teams that start their year in Division 4 should not be defeating Clare. There was no joy when it came to league promotion or success in the championship and unfortunately it wasn’t deserved.
All photographs by Gerard O’Neill.
Scorers Longford: D Farrell (1-7 2f 1TP), O Kenny (1-4 1TP 1f), D Reynolds (0-2), M Flynn (0-2 1TP), P Moran (0-1), A Farrell (0-1).
Scorers Clare: A Griffin (0-7 1TP), M McInerney (0-4 1f 1’45), E McMahon (0-4 1TP), C Rouine (1-0), D Coughlan (0-1), F Kelleher (0-1), A Sweeney (0-1)
Longford:
1: Eoin McGuinness (Longford Slashers)
2: Patrick Fox (Mullinalaghta St Columba’s)
4: Bryan Masterson (Abbeylara)
5: Cian Brady (Abbeylara)
18: Daire Duggan (Sean Connolly’s)
3: Ronan Sweeney (Clonguish)
7: Peter Lynn (Longford Slashers)
6: Oisin O’Toole (Dromard)
9: Niall Farrelly (Killoe Young Emmets)
12: Daniel Reynolds (Seán Connolly’s)
11: Joseph Hogan (Dromard)
10: Matthew Flynn (Clonguish)
14: Dylan Farrell (St Brigid’s Killashee)
13: Paddy Moran (Killoe Young Emmets)
15: Oran Kenny (Rathcline)
Subs:
25: Aaron Farrell (Dromard) for Hogan (49)
17: James Moran (Killoe Young Emmets) for Flynn (56)
8: Matthew Carey (Clonguish) for Moran (59)
24: Conor Smith (Clonguish) for Sweeney (63)
Clare
1: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckans)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
11: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
2: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
6: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
5: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
10: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
24: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
7: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
14: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
26: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart) for Murray (54)
25: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Brennan (66)
22: Josh Vaughan (Ennistymon) for Kelleher (67)
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)
