*Philip Talty keeps his eyes firmly on the ball. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Securing a place in the semi-finals of the Clare SFC marks an “important” step for Éire Óg.
This weekend, the Ennis club will line out in the semi-finals of the senior football championship for the first time since 2014 when they go toe to toe with St Breckans.
Éire Óg boss, Paul Madden detailed that it was vital for them to make this juncture having fallen short in the last four quarter-finals prior to their win over Ennistymon this year. “Getting to the last four was the target. We haven’t been able to do that for the last few years. We just about did it today. It was a tough battle. There was some pretty and some not so pretty football. I would have taken a one point win any day just to get to the semi-final. We are there now but there is nothing achieved but it’s important to be there”.
Assessing their quarter-final win, the hotelier felt the side that raided for the green flag was always likely to be the victors. “Ennistymon are a good strong up and coming team as well so there was never going to be loads of chances and loads of scores. A goal was always going to be important and we managed to get it and we probably had that little bit of a cushion.
“We had a couple of frights near the end when they pushed forward. At the end we put some good defensive tackles in which helped to keep them out. It was energy sapping stuff out there, big hits and big tackles. There were lots of turnovers on both sides”.
