*Shane Meehan races onto the ball. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
CLARE’s hurlers have as expected sealed promotion back to Division 1A in the Allianz National Hurling League and secured an upcoming spot in the 1B final.
Clare 1-28
Carlow 0-18
Venue: Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow
On Saturday evening, Brian Lohan’s charges comfortably disposed of the home side to make it five wins from five outings in this season’s campaign.
The outcome of this tie was clear long before the final whistle as Clare dominated in most areas.
Ten minutes from the end Carlow were reduced to fourteen as wing forward Jon Nolan picked up a second yellow card following a clash with David Fitzgerald who was shown a yellow in the same incident. After being guilty of shooting a number of wides in the opening half, the Inagh/Kilnamona man had just landed a brace of points.
Clare showed two changes to the starting team from what had been named. Jack Kirwan came into the half forward line in place of team captain Tony Kelly while David Reidy replaced Ian Galvin.
Clare made a blistering start racing 1-4 to 0-0 ahead inside the opening ten minutes, the goal coming from Shane Meehan in the third minute. He pounced when the Carlow defence failed to clear their lines and he first timed the ball to the net. The visitors had opened the scoring inside the opening minute, Jack Kirwan pointing.
Carlow made a brief rally outscoring Clare 0-5 to 0-3 in the middle period of the half. During this time Clare missed a golden chance of a second goal when Mark Rodgers found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat but Brian Tracey advanced smartly to clear the danger.
Carlow had a great goal chance just before the short whistle but Eibhear Quilligan saved from Donagh Murphy.
Despite being guilty of shooting ten wides in the opening half Clare went to the break leading on a score of 1-15 to 0-9.
The visitors hit the opening four points of the new half and comfortably controlled maters from here to the finish.
The visitors hit the opening four points of the new half putting paid to any lingering hopes amongst home side followers that they might rally and Clare comfortably controlled maters from here to the finish.
With the game in the final quarter, Carlow continued to battle and they fired over three unanswered points as the game reached the one hour mark.
To their credit the Pat Bennett managed side continued to battle to the end but Clare had safely secured the points from an early stage.
Mark Rodgers top scored for the winners on an evening when nine players got on the scoresheet.
Chris Nolan, the team captain, was Carlow’s chief score-getter with 0-11 of their tally.
Scorers; Clare; Mark Rodgers (0-11, 0-8 f); Shane Meehan (1-3); Diarmuid Stritch (0-4); David Fitzgerad (0-3) Jack O’Neill (0-2) David Reidy (0-2). Ryan Taylor, Jack Kirwan, Sean Rynne (0-1) eaxh
Scorers Carlow; Chris Nolan (0-12, 8f); Jon Nolan (0-2) Jack reach (0-2) Eric English, Colm Beck (0-1) each
All photographs by Ruth Griffin.
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2: Dylan McMahon (Clonlara)
3: Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4: Conor Leen (Corofin)
5: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
6: David McInerney (Tulla)
7: Jamie Moylan (Cratloe)
8: Diarmuid Stritch (Clonlara)
9: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
23: Jack Kirwan (Parteen/Meelick)
10: Jack O’Neill (Clooney/Quin)
12: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
13: Shane Meehan (Banner)
14: Mark Rodgers (Scariff)
21: David Reidy (Éire Óg)
Subs:
20: Ronan Kilroy (Banner) for D. McInerney (44)
15: Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Reidy ((45)
22: Sean Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona) for J. Kirwan (49)
24: Aidan Fawl (O’Callaghans Mills) for J. Moylan (53)
26: John Conneally (Clooney/Quin) for C. Leen (59)
Carlow
1: Brian Tracey (Naomh Eoin)
2: Paul Doyle (Naomh Moling)
3: Dion Wall (Ballinkillen)
4: Lorcan Doyle (Burren Rangers)
5: Fiach O’Doyle (Naomh Brid)
6: Kevin McDonald (Mount Leinster Rangers)
7: Paidi O’Shea (Naomh Moling)
8: Kevin Kavanagh (Ballinkillen)
9: Fiachra Fitzpatrick (Mount Leinster Rangers)
10: Jon Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers)
11: Donagh Murphy (Mount Leinster Rangers)
12: Eric English (Ballinkillen)
13: Ted Joyce (Mount Leinster Rangers)
14: Jack Treacy (Ballinkillen)
15: Chris Nolan (Mount Leinster Rangers)
Subs:
19: Richard Coady (Mount Leinster Rangers) for O’Shea (half time)
20: Tadhg O’Neill (Naomh Brid) for L. Doyle (half time)
21: John Doyle (Naomh Moling) for T. Joyce (40)
24: Colm Beck Namh Eoin for K. Kavanagh (50)
Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin)
