*Photograph: Páraic McMahon
CLARE’s minor footballers produced a strong second half to kickstart their championship on a winning note.
Clare 1-17
Limerick 1-9
Venue: Páirc Naomh Mhuire, Quilty.
Joe Hayes’ charges were the more dominant side and emerged as deserving winners in a sunny Quilty.
Captain Donncha O’Dwyer excelled for the winners, he was fouled eight times over the course of the contest, five of these which resulted in converted frees from the lively Conor Burke.
O’Dwyer and his midfield partner Ruben Fallon were also to the fore in Clare ruling supreme on Limerick kickouts, aided of course by quick reactions from their colleagues in the half-back and half-forward lines.
An opening half which was a bit lacklustre saw Limerick go ahead on one single occasion after full-forward Jamie Crowley goaled on twenty five minutes. The goal arising after Limerick who had been double marking Conor Burke on occasion, managed to overturn the corner forward, possibly a symptom of Clare trying to overburden Burke instead of finding the free man.
When the ball was at the other end of the field, Ryan Sheehan played a nice ball to Crowley, who was initially expertly blocked by Aidan O’Connell but the ball fell back into his lap and he calmly finished beyond Oisin Tierney.
With an immediate response, Clare regained the lead when Burke fired over a two pointer from a free. He and Crowley traded scorers once more to leave it Clare 0-8 1-4 at the interval.
Prior to this, Burke was the scorer in chief with Liam Keane also landing a nice score after it bounced off the crossbar and over. Another bounce fell Clare’s way with the opening score from Burke, it bouncing over Limerick netminder Jack Noonan but over the posts to return a two pointer.
There was more urgency and a greater direct approach from Clare on the restart as they would go on to outscore Limerick 1-9 0-5 in the second half. O’Dwyer had an excellent finish for the green flag, going on a powerful run after wing back Ajay Daly won a turnover further back the field.
Scorers for Clare: C Burke 0-12 (1tpf, 1tp, 7f); D O’Dwyer 1-0; L Casey 0-2; L Keane, C McNamara, A Kelly 0-1 each
Scorers for Limerick: R Sheehan 0-5 (3f); J Crowley 1-2 (2f); A O’Kelly, J Higgins 0-1 each
Clare:
1: Oisin Tierney (Corofin)
2: Cian Corry (Cooraclare)
3: Aidan O’Connell (Éire Óg)
4: James Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
5: Eoin Murphy (Cooraclare)
6: Shane Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
7: Ajay Daly (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
8: Donncha O’Dwyer (St Breckan’s)
9: Ruben Fallon (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
10: Liam Keane (Lissycasey)
11: Jack O’Loughlin (St Breckan’s)
12: Danny Lyne (Éire Óg)
13: Conor Burke (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
14: Liam Casey (Kildysart)
15: Cathal McNamara (St Breckan’s)
Subs:
20: Aaron Kelly (Cratloe) for Keane
22: Ollie Sherlock (Cratloe) for O’Loughlin
19: Rian O’Neill (St Breckan’s) for Murphy
21: Gareth Murphy (Cratloe) for Casey
23: Seán Hegarty (Banner) for Lyne
Limerick:
1: Jack Noonan (Dromcollogher Broadford)
2: Matthew Cox (Ballybricken/Bohermore)
3: Ronan Butler (Ahane)
4: Aaron Murphy (Fr Casey’s)
5: Olin Ryan (Galtee Gaels)
6: Markus Vang (Cappagh)
7: Jake Higgins (Kildimo/Pallaskenry)
8: Keelan Lonergan (Glin)
9: Shane Gill (Ahane)
10: Aaron O’Kelly (Fr Casey’s)
11: Ryan Sheehan (Dromcollogher Broadford)
12: Oisin Healy (St Senan’s)
13: Ben Kiely (Monaleen)
14: Jamie Crowley (Monaleen)
15: Leon Curtin (Fr Casey’s)
Subs:
22: Eoin Williams (Monaleen) for Curtin (inj)
23: Paddy Ryan (Oola) for Kiely
18: James Browne (Fr Casey’s) for O’Kelly
17: Amhlaoibh Browne (Mungret St Paul’s) for Cox
21: Ryan Downey (Ballylanders) for Healy
Referee: Evan Horan (Kerry)
