*Photograph: James Downes
CLARE’s minor footballers are keen to issue a response when they vie to win the Daryl Darcy Cup this Monday evening.
Following their lost championship loss of 2025 to Tipperary on Monday last, Clare are once again heading for the Premier County but instead of Templetuohy the destination is FBD Semple Stadium.
Also on the line is the chance to win successive Daryl Darcy Cups.
Speaking to The Clare Echo in the aftermath of their controversial loss to Tipperary, Clare manager Joe Hayes outlined, “We just have to respond. This week we will just be preparing for the Daryl Darcy final, there is a lot at stake, there is a cup and then there are different tiers, we have to look at that but at the end of the day we have to go out and win the game. We have a bit of work to do in the next seven days to get things right”.
Leading 1-12 0-9 when the signal went up for four additional minutes, Clare ended up conceding 1-5 without reply to come out on the wrong side of a two point loss. “I’m disappointed, I’m disappointed in the manner in which we lost but that’s life and we probably have only ourselves to blame, we were comfortable. Tipp are a very good side and they got a couple of runs on us”.
A big talking point was the decision of referee Jack Bray from Waterford to give Tipperary a penalty in the seventh minute of added time on an evening when the signal was for four minutes.
“I can’t comment on the penalty, I didn’t see it and I haven’t had a chance to view the video yet”, the Clare manager said. Asked about the additional time allowed by the match official, Hayes said, “we had the ball in the fifth or sixth minute on the far side. It’s at the referee’s discretion when it goes to injury time. I am not going to be looking for excuses”.
Hayes was also frustrated that Clare did not maintain their half-time lead of nine points. “With the wind we kicked a few wides. We defended quite well, in fairness to the boys, a good few blocks and turnovers in the first half, maybe we should have been another three or four points up at the break. Look we had a nine point lead and to be honest we tuffed it away”.
Tipperary will be boosted by the manner of their comeback, the Lissycasey native said. “It’s the same as last year. We just have to prepare now and get the bodies right for the rest of the week, bodies will be sore, Tipp finished much stronger than us. We looked very leggy for the last few minutes, particularly some of our main lads. We have to look at that. Overall they are in good shape. Tipp will, of course, be boosted by that result why wouldn’t they, it’s a great win for them, they kept going and they are going to be on high”.
