*Clare’s U20 footballers. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
CLARE’s run in the Munster U20 football championship concluded with one win from six outings.
By Murt Murphy
Apart from March 22nd five point win over Limerick in Miltown Malbay, Clare suffered defeats to Waterford, Cork, Kerry and Tipperary on two occasions during their provincial campaign.
Nonetheless, Maurice Walsh is confident and optimistic that a number of the squad will progress to the senior ranks at inter-county level such as Luke Pyne and Seán Fennell. “We have even said it to the group that we expect at least four or five of them to play for Clare at senior level. Now we had two seniors missing at midfield (Seán McAllister and Evan Cahill), they are involved next Saturday and one lad has a dislocated shoulder. But I still believe there are four or five of those lads in the group that played tonight will play for Clare at some stage”.
Since March 8th, Clare have played six championship games and Walsh believed the timeline requires a review. “Development of players is what it’s all about for us really. The two phase system is great for development. It’s a little bit long in regards to playing six games in six weeks. I think that might have to be looked at. Listen, Kerry were excellent tonight and our lads did their best but look we were not as strong as Kerry and Kerry do what Kerry do best”.
He admitted that the fact Tuesday’s game versus Kerry was a dead rubber did make a difference. “When you look at our results in relation to the other teams except for Kerry, we have done quite well. I am proud of the lads for doing that as our average scores per our last five games was 0-18 a game which is very good. Tonight we ended up with 0-11 but that was more about the strength of the opposition and the Kerry keeper denied us three goals from chances created”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo following Clare’s 3-23 0-11 loss to Kerry, Walsh acknowledged that they were greatly hurt by Kerry’s explosive start where they kicked 2-6 in the first quarter and limited Clare to a point. “Two early goals are nearly going to decide the result for you. We were disappointed in relation to that poor start because to the lads before they went out and we said we needed to start strong. We didn’t start strong against Tipperary and we didn’t start strong again tonight but full credit to Kerry, they showed intent from the throw in and they are the best team in the group in my opinion”.
Maurice continued, “We are positive despite a fair beating tonight but of this group, there are fifteen and sixteen underage again next year which is a huge positive and if the knuckle down, because it’s all about hard work, like the best teams in the country do, then you will get the results and we are learning that up in Clare and the lads will have learning’s from tonight that should stand to them against a top side”.
Peter Keane’s role as Clare senior manager was praised by the Éire Óg clubman who manages Kildysart’s senior footballers this season. “Peter Keane is great football man and he is doing a great job “he laughs “He is a real footballing man and he knows his stuff. He brings experience and that bit of wisdom around the pitch and I think that was evident in the league. So all good in Clare and I hope the seniors do well on Saturday”.
