*Keelan Sexton. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior footballers have picked up their first Allianz National League defeat of 2022, a setback which could come back to haunt their attempts to win promotion.
Derry 2-13
Clare 0-10
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Much of the gloss and positivity which accompanied Clare’s start to the 2022 NFL appeared to fade in what was their most disappointing showing of the campaign to date, their six point defeat may not end their aspirations for promotion to the top tier but is likely to prove costly in this attempt.
Missed chances served as the main complaint from Clare in the first half, had they converted every scoreable opportunity, they would have been ahead at half-time but in fact they never managed to get on level terms with an impressive Derry side.
When it came to the second half, the biggest flaw from the Banner was their inability to win their own kickouts. Indeed, both of Derry’s second half goals came from Clare kickouts with Benny Heron and Gareth McKinless raising the green flags. In their draw with Roscommon last weekend, Clare completely bossed the Connacht side in the air so how they seemed to fall apart in this sector is a concern.
Early on, both sides found it testing to break down their opposing defence, Clare more so with a Keelan Sexton free on eleven minutes following a sequence of play which lasted close to four minutes and saw players in saffron and blue work the ball from sideline to sideline in an attempt t make inroads.
Sexton and Cleary pointed the final scores of the opening half to leave Clare trailing by a single point, a more clinical approach would have had the hosts leading at the break.
A strong restart saw Clare kick an excellent Darren O’Neill point but any momentum from this truly vanished when the kickout from a Shane McGuigan free ended up with Benny Heron sticking a rocket past Stephen Ryan. From here, Rory Gallagher’s Derry never looked back and a second goal from Gareth McKinless in similar circumstances confirmed the result with fifty three minutes played.
Sitting at top of the table is the reward for Derry off the back of this win while Clare though they sit in fourth position are caught between a fight of still battling for promotion and to maintain their Division 2 status.
Scorers Derry: S McGuigan (0-04 4f), B Heron (1-00), G McKinless (1-00), E Bradley (0-02), P Cassidy (0-01), O McWilliams (0-01), P McGrogan (0-01), L Morris (0-01), N Loughlin (0-01 1f), E Doherty (0-01), C McFaul (0-01).
Scorers Clare: K Sexton (0-05 3f), A Griffin (0-01), E Cleary (0-01 1f), D O’Neill (0-01), C O’Connor (0-01), E McMahon (0-01)
Derry:
1: Odhran Lynch (Magherafelt)
4: Conor McCluskey (Magherafelt)
2: Christopher McKaigue (Slaughtneil)
3: Brendan Rogers (Slaughtneil)
7: Conor Doherty (Newbridge)
6: Padraig McGrogan (Newbridge)
5: Ethan Doherty (Glen)
8: Conor Glass (Glen)
9: Emmett Bradley (Glen)
10: Paul Cassidy (Bellaghy)
11: Niall Loughlin (Greenlough)
12: Oisin McWilliams (Swatragh)
13: Benny Heron (Ballinascreen)
14: Shane McGuigan (Slaughtneil)
15: Lachlan Murray (Desertmartin)
Subs:
26: Gareth McKinless (Ballinderry) for Murray (33)
25: Ciaran McFaul (Glen) for McWilliams (45)
24: Niall Toner (Lavey) for Heron (54)
19: Matthew Downey (Lavey) for Loughlin (59)
20: Ben McCarron (Steelstown) for Doherty (67)
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
5: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
6: Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis)
9: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
8: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
13: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
10: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
14: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
17: Podge Collins (Cratloe)
Subs:
20: Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks) for E Collins (46)
15: David Tubridy (Doonbeg) for P Collins (48)
24: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart) for Malone (55)
19: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil) for Griffin (64)
21: Dan Keating (Kilmihil) for O’Neill (71)
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
