*PICTURED: Fionn Kelleher in action for Clare in the McGrath Cup at Clarecastle GAA grounds last night against Kerry. Photo by Gerard O’Neill
DESPITE a strong second half showing, Clare came up just short in this round 2 McGrath cup football tie played at Clarecastle on Tuesday evening.
Kerry 0-16 Clare 0-14
This was the first competitive senior football game played under the new floodlights at the impressive Clarecastle facility.
Clare started well and the sides were level at 0-3 each after ten minutes, the home side having wasted a couple of good scoring chances in that period.
Kerry then took a grip on matters and they outscored Clare 0-8 to 0-1 in the next 15 minutes, opening an eight point lead which could have been greater but for a couple of good saves from Clare goalkeeper Stephen Ryan.
Six points separated the sides at the half time whistle when the score was 0-12 to 0-6.
There was more urgency from Clare on the resumption and in the opening ten minutes of the new half they outscored the visitors 0-4 to 0-1, three of those points coming from Eoin Cleary and one from substitute Aaron Griffin.
In a half in which both teams made a lot of changes the home outfit created more chances and were a little unlucky with a number of efforts, a couple of which wee from he two point range.
Somewhat surprisingly, the game produced just one two-pointer on the night and this came a minute from the end when Clare’s centre forward Dermot Coughlan converted a free.
With Kerry expected to account for Waterford in the final game in he group, this result ends Clare’s involvement in the competition this year and their focus now switches to their opening game in the Allianz league when they will travel to Newry to play Down on Saturday, January 14.
Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan, Manus Doherty, Dermot Coughlan and Eoin Cleary were prominent in this tie in which 24 players saw action.
A number of players were unavailable and these included Mark McInerney, Brian McNamara and Tristan O’Callaghan who have Sigerson cup (Third level Colleges) games on this Wednesday.
Scorers; Kerry; Cian O’Grady (0-5, 4f); Thomas O’Donnell (0-3); Darragh O’Connor (1f), Gearoid Hassett (0-2) each; Sean Broderick (‘45), Charlie Keating, Danie Kirby, Tomás Kennedy (0-1) each
Clare; Eoin Cleary (0-6, 4f) Dermot Coughlan (1tp), Aaron Griffin (0-2) each; Alan Sweeney, Darragh Bohannon, Brendy Rouine, Cormac Murray (0-1) each.
Kerry
1; Sean Broderick
2; Tadhg Morley
3; Jason Foley
4; Enda O’Connor;
5; Charlie Keating
6; Mike Breen
7; Cillian Trant
8; Sean O’Brien
9; Liam Smith
10; Daniel Kirby
11; Darragh Lyne
12; Thomas O’Donnell
13; Cian O’Grady
14; Tomás Kennedy
15; Gearoid Hassett;
Subs; 17; Darragh O’Connor for M. Breen (half time); 21; Cathal Brosnan for D. Kirby (half time); 23; Ciaran Collins for G. Hassett (45); 25; Darragh O’Connor for C. O’Grady (45); 18 Dan Murphy for E. O’Connor (47); 24; Liam Evans for C. Keaing (50); 26; Sean O’Connell for L. Smith (50); 19; Paul O’Shea for T. O’Donnell (56)
Clare
1; Stephen Ryan, Kilrush;
2; Alan Sweeney, St. Breckans
3; Fionn Kelleher, St. Josephs, Doora-Barefield
4; Manus Doherty, Eire Og;
5; Ronan Lanigan, Eire Og,
6; Ikem Ugeueru, Eire Og
7; Morgan Garry, Clondegad;
8; Cillian Brennan, Clondegad
9; Darragh Bohannon, Shannon Gaels
10; Gavan Murray, Eire Og
11; Dermot Coughlan, Kilmurry-Ibrickane
12; Brendy Rouine, Ennistymon;
13; Eoin Cleary, Miltown St. Josephs
14; Joe Rafferty, St Josephs, Doora-Barefield
15; Cormac Murray, Miltown St Josephs;
Subs; 23; Liam Cotter (Ennistymon) for M. Garry ( inj. 18); 22; Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey) for J. Rafferty (half time); 20; Michael Nash (St Josephs, Doora-Barefield) for F. Kelleher (half time); 24; Evan Cahill (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for D. Bohannon (inj) 38); 17; Jamie Stack (St. Breckans) for G. Murray (45); 21; Caoifhlionn O’Dea (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for C. Murray (50); 18; Ciaran McMahon (Ennistymon) for M. Doherty (inj. 54); 19; Conor Meaney (Lissycasey) for A. Sweeney (55); 25; Shane Griffin (Lissycasey) for D. Coughlan (63)
Referee: James Regan, Cork
