*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Clare’s senior footballers opening outing of the year has ended in defeat.

Cork 2-09
Clare 0-10
Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay

Conditions were wild by the Atlantic as Miltown Malbay hosted the meeting of Clare and Cork in the McGrath Cup.

It marked the first competitive outing for Keith Ricken as Cork boss while it was game number one of Colm Collins’ ninth season in charge of Clare.

Little else from the game will be referenced over the coming months, except the fact that a total of ten players made their senior debuts for Clare, namely Mark McInerney, Darragh Conneely, Manus Doherty, Ronan Lanigan, Padraig Kelly, Maccon Byrne, Dan Keating, Tom McDonald, Brian McNamara and Andrew Shannon.

With the elements at their back, Clare needed to have a strong advantage at the break but only led by two points. The concession of 1-03 in the final five minutes of the first half costly in this regard.

Cork kicked on at the restart and slotted 1-03 without reply. Keelan Sexton kicked Clare’s first score of the half on sixty six minutes, their late revival was insufficient to change the outcome.

Arguably the eight half-time substitutes could be pointed to when assessing why along with the elements that Clare’s performance on the resumption was slightly off. However, the principle objective of the pre-season provincial competition is to try out new players and experiment which Collins and his management team duly did.

Match sharpness will improve over the coming weeks for Collins’ side, it simply has to as far as their League aspirations are concerned. Aaron Griffin was as lively as ever in attack and stood out as Clare’s best over the afternoon.

Scorers Cork: B Hurley (1-06 3f), D O’Connell (1-00), M Cronin (0-02 1f), R Maguire (0-01)

Scorers Clare: A Griffin (0-03), M McInerney (0-03 2f), K Sexton (0-03 2f), E McMahon (0-01).

Cork:

1: Christopher Kelly (Éire Óg)

19: Kevin Crowley (Millstreet)
3: Sean Meehan (Kiskeam)
4: Paul Ring (Aghabullogue)

30: Rory Maguire (Castlehaven)
2: Seán Powter (Douglas)
5: Cian Kiely (Ballincollig)

9: Joe Grimes (Clonakilty
17: Paul Walsh (Kanturk)

10: Daniel O’Connell (Kanturk)
25: Fionn Herlihy (Dohenys)
12: Colm O’ Callaghan (Éire Óg)

15: Damien Gore (Kilmacabea)
11: Brian Hurley (Castlehaven)
13: Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers)

Subs:
22: David Buckey (Newcestown) for O’Connell (HT)
18: Paudie Allen (Newmarket) for Allen (HT)
23: Blake Murphy (St Vincents) for Gore (40)
7: Tadhg Corkery (Cill na Martra) for Crowley (40)
20: Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers) for Kiely (50)
21: Cillian O’Donovan (Macroom) for Walsh (50)
26: Luke Fahy (Ballincollig) for Maguire (57)
27: Kevin Cremin (Bothar Buí) for O’Callaghan (62)
6: Diarmuid Phelan (Aghada) for Powter (62)

Clare:

1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)

2: Darragh Conneely (Ennistymon)
3: Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis)
4: Ciaran Morrissey (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

5: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora) (Capt)
6: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
7: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

9: Darren O Neill (Éire Óg)
8: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)

12: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
11: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
10: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)

13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
14: Joe McGann (St Breckans)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)

Subs:
16: Tom O’Brien (St Josephs Doora Barefield) for Ryan (HT)
17: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg) for Conneely (HT)
19: Maccon Byrne (St Breckans) for McMahon (HT)
20: Dan Keating (Kilmihil) for McGann (HT)
21: Padraig Kelly (St Breckans) for Downes (HT)
23: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg) for Morrissey (HT)
24: Andrew Shannon (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Walsh (HT)
26: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen) for O’Neill (HT)
22: Tom McDonald (St Josephs Doora Barefield) for McInerney (54)
18: Jack Sheedy (St Breckans) for Collins (54)
25: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare) for Bohannon (54)

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry)

Related News

Lunch Time Lifestyle with the Clare Echo Contributers (8)
Welcome July: time to deadhead & bloom on
bus éireann shannon 343 ennis
NTA to announce launch details of Ennis town bus service
tuam national play day 1-2
Tuam to host National Play Day event
Photograph by Eamon Ward
NPWS Discovery van to serve as mobile visitor centre in The Burren

Advertisement

Latest News
1 DSC_9129
Clare will have 'one hell of a shot' in quarter-final with Waterford - Carmody
Lunch Time Lifestyle with the Clare Echo Contributers (8)
Welcome July: time to deadhead & bloom on
inagh kilnamona v clonlara 05-09-21 30 kevin hehir paraic o'loughlin
Inagh/Kilnamona chase first senior title & Clonlara aim to regain silverware
bus éireann shannon 343 ennis
NTA to announce launch details of Ennis town bus service
tuam national play day 1-2
Tuam to host National Play Day event
Premium
1 DSC_9388
'If he wants to stay he will' - seventh season likely for Lohan
ballymacaula 1
Plans lodged for Ennis' largest single-housing development
01052025_Council_Cliffs_of_Moher_0059
Rita represented West Clare 'with integrity & dignity' during term as Cathaoirleach
Éire Óg v ballyea 07-09-24 1 aaron griffin liam corry 1
Finding new players & promotion was primary focus for Ballyea & Éire Óg
waterford v clare minor 28-06-25 tommy kennedy ian o'brien ger o'connell 1
All-Ireland final defeat won't overshadow year for Clare minors

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement