*Action from the final third in Clareabbey.
CLARE’s senior footballers continued their pre-season preparations with another challenge match, this time dishing out a comprehensive beating to the county’s U20 side.
Clare Seniors 5-23
Clare U20s 1-7
Venue: Clareabbey
With three halves of twenty five minutes each, the seniors as expected dominated in each section.
Both panels will be cut next month but the desire to stay playing inter-county football was more evident in the senior set-up where the stakes are higher.
From the senior perspective, Clare moved through the gears well but their movement of the ball was more impressive. When they applied speed to their offloads, they brought a pace that the U20s were unable to match and quick movement through the hands was a feature for the majority of their green flags. Off the shoulder runs were well-timed and it was at these junctures, that they punished their opponents.
Gearoid Cahill at full-forward had a hand to play in four of Clare’s five majors. Soft turnovers from the U20s did of course aid them on their way to hitting the net on some occasions.
Making a welcome return to the senior side was Eoin Cleary, the most experienced member of the squad. His radar was in and he kicked 1-4, scoring off either foot.
His first-cousin Dermot Coughlan moved from defence to his more familiar role in the half-forward line and was heavily involved in creating scores and inflicting a heavy defeat on an U20 outfit managed by his father Dermot.
Coughlan set up James Curran for a goal with four minutes played and they led 1-4 0-0 by the eleventh minute. Eoin Byrne converted a two pointer free in what was the U20’s only contribution to the scoreboard in the opening half, by the conclusion of which it was 2-8 0-2, the second goal arriving from Coughlan.
Donnacha O’Dwyer with a well-taken goal saw the U20s stick one past Stephen Ryan but at the other end there was two goals within the space of forty five seconds when Cleary finished home and then the resulting kickout was turned over and Diarmuid O’Donnell was on hand to bag a goal. O’Dwyer’s major was the last score from the U20s in the second period but Michael Nash replied with a point at the other end making it 4-11 1-6.
Introduced for the final period and offering plenty of energy at wing back was Manus Doherty. He was the only Éire Óg footballer to line out with the seniors and he kicked two points in this window. He replaced James Curran who was also very prominent and clocked up a tally of 1-1.
Cian Corry wasn’t busy with kickouts when brought on for Stephen Ryan and only had to sort his kicking tee twice from a wide and a point. Fergal Guinane was alert to get a touch to the ball to collect goal number five.
Insignificant in the overall scheme of things but each challenge game is an opportunity, from Paul Madden’s side there was nobody to damage their chances of staying on the panel any harm. Whereas it was definitely a chastening but learning experience for the U20s who struggled on their own kickout and to keep pace with their more seasoned opponents.
Scorers Clare Seniors: E Cleary (1-4), D O’Donnell (1-4 3f), D Coughlan (1-1), J Curran (1-1), F Guinane (1-0), G Cahill (0-2 1f), M Nash (0-2), M Doherty (0-2), J Rafferty (0-2), C O’Dea (0-1), F Kelleher (0-1), S Griffin (0-1), S McNamara (0-1), D Burns (0-1).
Scorers Clare U20s: D O’Dwyer (1-1), E Byrne (0-2 1TPf), S Fennell (0-2 1f), D Culligan (0-1 1f), C Darcy (0-1)
Clare Seniors:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
4: Morgan Garry (Clondegad)
3: James Killeen (Doonbeg)
2: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
5: Liam Cotter (Ennistymon)
6: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
7: James Curran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Michael Nash (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
10: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon)
11: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
12: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
13: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
14: Gearoid Cahill (Corofin)
15: Caoilfhionn O’Dea (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Subs:
25: Ciaran McMahon (Ennistymon) for Killeen (HT)
17: Diarmuid O’Donnell (Kildysart) for Coughlan (30)
19: Fergal Guinane (Kildysart) for Cotter (34)
20: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg) for Cleary (45)
28: Darren Keane (Lissycasey) for Cahill (45)
24: Seán McNamara (Michael Cusacks) for McNamara (46)
Eoghan Casey (Wolfe Tones) for Kelleher (50)
29: Joe Rafferty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for O’Dea (50)
18: for Griffin (50)
30: Thomas Kelly (Shannon Gaels) for Rouine (50)
23: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg) for Curran (50)
Liam Cotter for Garry (50)
16: Cian Corry (Killimer) for Ryan (50)
Clare U20s:
1: Eoin Byrne (St Breckans)
2: Aaron Killeen (Lissycasey)
3: Conor Hill (Lissycasey)
4: Charlie Hannan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
7: Oisin McNamara (Michael Cusacks)
6: Diarmuid Boyle (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
5: Christian Cummins (Corofin)
8: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
9: Colm Downes (Shannon Gaels)
12: Darragh Townsend (Cooraclare)
11: Seán Fennell (Kilrush Shamrocks)
10: Donnacha O’Dwyer (St Breckans)
13: Simon Culligan (Cooraclare)
14: Daire Culligan (Lissycasey)
15: Diarmuid McMahon (Lissycasey)
Subs:
22: Aidan Weaver (Lissycasey)
20: Daniel Brody (Ennistymon)
21: Stephen Murphy (St Joseph’s Miltown)
16: Harry O’Gorman (Cooraclare)
23: Eoin Garrihy (St Breckans)
Ewan Wragg (Lissycasey)
Cillian Darcy (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Cillian Kelly (Kildysart)
Ralph Whelehan (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)
