This article is from page 63 of the 2011-05-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 63 JPG
Clare 1-10 – Sligo 1-08 at Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown
IT was a challenge game, but the fists that were thrown just before the break gave this game to mark the opening of the new stand at Hennessy Memorial Park a championship feel to it.
Therefore, it was a good workout for Micheál McDermott’s side as they edged out last year’s Connacht finalists by two points thanks in the main to a strong first half display when they were playing with the strong breeze blowing down towards the town end goal.
Clare built up a 1-7 to 0-3 interval lead, with Graham Kelly’s goal in the 16th minute being the catalyst for a strong first half performance. Wingback Martin McMahon opened the scoring in the first minute with a point from play, while Adrian Marren and David Tubridy swapped points by the 13th minute.
Kelly’s goal, which he palmed to the net after being put through by Gary Brennan, was followed by points by Davide Tubridy and Joe Dowling as Clare forged well clear by the break.
Sligo’s only resistence was points from Adrian Marren and David Maye as Clare rattled off points from David Tubridy (2) and Martin McMahon to move seven points clear by the break.
Graham Kelly didn’t re-appear for the second half after the dust-up before half-time, but points by Rory Donnelly in the 36th and 55th minutes, that sandwiched to Adrian Marren efforts for Sligo ensured Clare’s seven-point lead was intact entering the last 15 minutes
A blast of scoring from Adrian Marren between the 57th and 62nd minutes that yielded 1-2 did make it interesting and reduced the marging to two points, while it was down to the minimum when Tony Taylor pointed in the 65th minute.
However, Clare held firm and substitute Darragh Blake 67th minute point sealed victory and a good workout for Clare.
Clare
Joe Hayes, Kevin Hartnett, Laurence Healy, MarkTubridy, John Hayes, Gordon Kelly, Martin McMahon, Gary Brennan, Niall Browne, Darren O’Neill, DavidTubridy, GrahamKelly,Alan Clohessy, Joe Dowling, Rory Donnelly. Subs Ger Quinlan for O’Neill, Michael Foran for GrahamKelly, Shane Brennan for Dowling, Darragh Blake (0-1) for Clohessy.
Sligo
Philip Greene, Charles Harrison, Ross Donovan, Brian Kennedy, Paul McGovern, Brian Curran, Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, Stephen Gilmartin, TonyTaylor, Eamon O’Hara, Frank Quinn, Mark Breheny, David Maye,Adrian Marren.