*Podge Collins pushes off the challenge of Eoin O’Brien. Photograph: Ruth Griffin
REIGNING CLARE SFC champions Cratloe got their bid for back to back titles off to a winning start on Friday but their first round showing won’t win any championship, manager Colm Collins has stressed.
By Ross O’Donoghue
Cratloe led by a 2-5 return from Cathal McInerney had a 2-9 0-10 win over St Joseph’s Miltown on Friday evening.
Pleased to secure a victory in their opening round, Colm Collins was adamant big improvements are needed from the county champions. “It’s great to the get the two points and start off with a win. That’s mighty. The other big positive for us is that there’s no serious injury, which is very important. We need to improve. There’s a lot of areas we need to tidy up on. Miltown had us on the rack there at times and just didn’t convert. We need to be a lot more efficient”.
He continued, “Today’s performance won’t win any Jack Daly. Miltown will be saying the same thing. It’s tough on them without the Clearys, their two main players. Hopefully we can improve and if we do, please god we can progress”.
Collins was full of praise for leading forward McInerney who steered the ship on a scoring sense for the winners who also welcomed back All-Ireland winner Diarmuid Ryan. “I don’t think you can teach Cathal McInerney a whole pile. He just has it. He’s a lovely finisher and he’d a fine game today. Delighted for him. Diarmuid Ryan is a fantastic player and he caught a beautiful ball there in the second half when we needed it. They’re clever footballers. The important thing to get into players’ heads is that they can think for themselves. They’re well able to do that”.
Three of the four teams will qualify for the knockout stages from Group 3 so starting with a win puts Cratloe in a strong position. “The fact that three go through in the group means at the end of the day, it’s not fatal for anybody. That’s a definite factor. But you need to be improving and hopefully we can”.
