*Dermot Coughlan was one of Clare’s top performers. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior footballers came agonisingly close to recording one of the results of the year against the kingpins of Dublin.
Dublin 0-16
Clare 1-12
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Forty nine years ago, Clare played Dublin in the National Football League in Croke Park, winning on a scoreline of 4-09 2-09. For large spells of Saturday’s tie, it looked as though the class of 2023 would emulate this and carve out a historic win on Jones Rd.
Ultimately a powerful Dublin finish whereby they scored 0-07 without reply saw them snatch a one point win. Dessie Farrell sprung Jack McCaffrey and Eoin Merchan from the bench as the Sky Blues began to feel the pressure.
It is the second week in a row that Clare have let a six point lead slip, something Colm Collins and his management will be very keen to address and simply must if they are to retain their Division 2 status ahead of clashes with Cork, Derry and Limerick.
Matters were evenly balanced in the opening half but Clare headed into the dressing room leading by three points after closing out the half with 1-01. Confidence gained a further boost on the restart as they continued to impress but when push came to shove at the final furlong a vital score proved too hard to find.
Dermot Coughlan for the second game in a row produced a fine display in the saffron and blue, he opened the scoring inside three minutes. Dublin responded with three in a row via Dean Rock on the double, Sean Lowry and Brian Fenton.
Rock then traded efforts with Eoin Cleary and Emmet McMahon. McMahon and Gavin Cooney pointed from play to level matters on twenty five minutes, frees were exchanged by Cleary and Rock before James McCarthy and the reliable dead ball expert extended the gap to two points.
Closing out the half with a bang, Clare kicked 1-02 without reply. The points came courtesy of Cleary and Podge Collins while the goal was an Éire Óg special – Manus Doherty made a lung-busting run up the field, he found Ciaran Russell with a handpass and his delivery fell perfectly into the path of Gavin Cooney who calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Emmet McMahon steadied Clare on the restart while a Cleary free hit the post. Lee Gannon hit Dublin’s first score of the half on forty one minutes before Cleary and McMahon extended the gap to six points.
Sadly for Clare, McMahon’s forty ninth minute score would be their last contribution on the scoreboard as Dublin’s dominance took over and the visitor’s inability to tap over a score of any description ensured the tide would not be kept out.
When Colm Collins’ men excelled at stages, it was when their timing was bang on the money. Instances like Cillian Brennan’s goal-saving turnover in the opening half and Jamie Malone’s clever flick in defence in the second half both resulted in scores at the other end with Eoin Cleary and Emmet McMahon the men scoring from these examples. A superbly timed Alan Sweeney shoulder dented a Brian Fenton attack in the second half and served as the opening segment of a fine counter-attack
That was Clare at their best. Worryingly was their failure to score and allowing a six point lead to vanish for the second weekend in a row. Mistakes increased when players didn’t make support runs and allowed their teammates run into cul de sacs, gifting Dublin the chance to outnumber them and win back possession.
They leave Dublin empty-handed, it’s not what they deserve but it’s the outcome all the same. On the bigger picture, it showed that Clare can match the best and though it won’t be etched in history it will be an outing referenced by future county footballers as a game that helped to instil further belief in them regarding the football credentials of the Banner County.
Among those to impress for Clare were Darragh Bohannon, Gavin Cooney, Dermot Coughlan, Ronan Lanigan, Emmet McMahon, Eoin Cleary and Manus Doherty while Stephen Ryan and his defence can take pride in the fact that they kept a clean sheet.
For Dublin their class and self-belief shone through when the game was in the melting pot. They benefitted from the addition of fresh legs, making five substitutes in comparison to Clare’s three. They received a hell of a scare but the standings show that they have four wins from four games and are on course to secure promotion to the top tier. James McCarthy and Brian Fenton stood out but Dean Rock’s reliability up front was vital.
Scorers for Dublin: Dean Rock 0-8 (0-5f, 0-1 45), Con O’Callaghan 0-1, Sean Lowry 0-1, Brian Fenton 0-1, James McCarthy 0-1, Lee Gannon 0-1, Colm Basquel 0-1, Ciaran Kilkenny 0-1, Cormac Costello 0-1.
Scorers for Clare: Gavin Cooney 1-2, Emmett McMahon 0-4 (0-1f), Eoin Cleary 0-4 (0-1f), Dermot Coughlan 0-1, Padraic Collins 0-1.
Dublin:
1: David O’Hanlon (Na Fianna)
6: John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
2: Daire Newcombe (Lucan Sarsfields)
3: Seán MacMahon (Raheny)
4: Lee Gannon Whitehall (Colmcille)
17: David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)
5: James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
8: Brian Fenton (Raheny)
9: Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s)
10: Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock)
7: Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis)
21: Sean Lowry (St Vincent’s)
11: Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
15: Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)
14: Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
Subs:
12: Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street) for Lowry (HT)
13: Cormac Costelloe (Whitehall Colmcille) for McGarry (HT)
22: Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf) for Lahiffe (44)
18: Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s) for Gannon (50)
24: Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna) for Murphy (60)
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
4: Ronan Lannigan (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
6: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
8: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
10: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
15: Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
12: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
14: Emmett McMahon (Kildysart)
Subs:
19: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey) for Collins (HT) (inj)
24: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon) for Russell (60)
25: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Griffin (69)
Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)
