This article is from page 62 of the 2011-03-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
A CLEARLY delighted Clare manager Mike Moloney said his side’s stunning 5-1 victory over Galway exceeded all expectations.
As he left the pitch in the County Grounds in Doora on Saturday, Moloney hailed the performance of his players.
He said, “It’s exceeded what we would have expected. Galway, coming down as holders, had a lot to play for. We’ve got great confidence in our own lads. The preparation was unbelievable. But to end up 5-1, it’s beyond what we could have expected.”
A two-goal lead at half time duly reflected Clare’s dominance and the margin could have been more had the home side been more clinical on front of goal.
Moloney highlighted the importance of Clare’s second goal, scored by Niall Whelan.
“You’re always concerned that you’re not putting away your chances and you’re going to suffer for it. And then Ciarán (MacMathuna) made an absolutely fantastic save just before at half time and then the goal we got just before half time was a gift,” he said.
Moloney added, “Niall chased it down and slipped it under the keeper. We needed it that considering that they got such an ideal start to the second half.”
Galway struck back at the start of the second half but Moloney was hugely impressed with Clare’s ruthless response.
He said, “There is always that sense when you go in 2-0 up at half time, that it is a dangerous lead and that you might fall asleep a little bit. I think it was just a lack of communication at the back and they slipped one in. We responded straight away and soon as we got that third goal, I think it was downhill after that”.
Clare prepared intensively for the quarter-finals, training in Tulla and Gort and playing high profile friendlies against reigning FAI Junior Cup champions Fairview Rangers (a game that ended 3-3) and League of Ireland side Athlone Town
Moloney explained, “I think we’ve built a club atmosphere because we’ve been together for five months and maybe a lot of Clare sides haven’t had that before. There is great commitment given by the lads and you could see that there today. They were fighting for each other.”
He added, “We played Athlone Town up in Athlone and they gave us a bit of a lesson. They had a lot of their League of Ireland side out. I think they are type of games that we need to get us up to the level that we’re at now.”
Clare should have Daragh Corry available for selection for next month’s semi-final against Kilkenny. The talented Tulla United man was forced to sit out Saturday’s win with a chest infection.