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Clare 1-10 – Limerick 0-10 at The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick

IN Clare’s darkish hour when they had been bested by Cork by five points in Páirc Uí Rinn in their maiden voyage in this year’s championship, players, management and everyone involved made a contract with one another.

Together they vowed to bounce back to have another crack at Cork in a provincial semi-final in Cusack Park – so it has happened after they won this Munster play-off game from the front which ensures they are only 60 minutes away for a first Munster final appearance in 17 years.

It was no more than this Clare side deserved too thanks to withstanding what Limerick could throw at them at various intervals of both halves before edging home with three points to spare thanks to a storming last ten minutes.

It had looked very good for Clare in the first half as they opened up a 1-2 to no score lead when playing with the breeze, but by half-time things had taken a turn for the worse by the break as Clare’s advantage had been peared back to a point.

Then the initiative swung either way in the second half before Niall Hickey kicked Clare into the penultimate round with a closing burst of three points in the closing ten minutes to bring his tally for the hour to an match-winning contribution of 0-5.

It was Hickey’s clubmate Adrian Murrihy who helped Clare get off to a flier when goaling in the eighth minute after Eoin Cleary had opened the scoring with a fifth minute point. However, Murrihy’s goal was his final contribution of the game as he got injured in the act of scoring, but this all-important strike, allied to a further points from Hickey and helped Clare exert early dominance against a flatfooted and lethargic Limerick.

However, Danny Frewen’s opening point for the Shannonsiders on the 17th minute was a sign of things to come as the impressive left-corner- forward proved to be a thorn in Clare’s side all evening.

Suddenly Clare’s early supremacy evaporated, as did their lead as three more Frewen points and another from Francis O’Riordan had the sides level by the 25th minute in Limerick’s purple patch that yielded five points in ten minutes turned this tie on its head.

Clare did stop the rot before the break with points from Cleary and Hickey, while Frewen was on the mark once more for Limerick, but a 1-4 to 0-6 lead for Clare scarcely seemed enough.

Frewen’s sixth point had the sides level inside a minute of the restart, but not for the first time in the half Clare’s battling qualities emerged as good points from play from Martin O’Leary and Eoin Cleary helped them forge 1-6 to 0-7 clear by the 40th minute.

Those points were crucial and buttressed Clare for another Limerick comeback that saw that man Frewen, with his seventh point, and Darren Roche set up a battle to the last when bringing the sides level by the 51st minute.

As it transpired, it was as if Limerick had expended all their energy to get back on terms that they hadn’t got much more to give in the closing minutes and into that vacuum gladly stepped Clare to close out the game.

A mix of fitness, that contract they’d made between themselves in Cork on May 13 and Niall Hickey’s marksmanship got them there as they out-scored Limerick by 0-4 to 0-1 in those closing minutes to seal that semi-final spot.

Clare
Darren Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Conor Gavin (Clondegad), Jamie Malone (Corofin), Oisin Vaughan (Ennistymon), Stan Lineen (Kilmihil), Darragh McDonagh (St Joseph’s Miltown), Craig O’Brien (WolfeTones),Alan O’Neill (ST Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown) (0-2), Eoin Cleary ((St Joseph’s Miltown) (0-2, 1f), Ciaran Devitt (Ennistymon),Adrian Murrihy (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (1-0), Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil) (0-1), Niall Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (0-5, 4f), Dara Bolton (Kilrush Shamrocks).

Subs
WilliamFlynn (WolfeTones) for Murrihy, Joey Rouine (Ennistymon) for Bolton, Jack Scanlan (O’Curry’s) for Flynn, James Sweeney (Éire Óg) for O’Brien.

Limerick
David Condron; Kevin Brosnan, Brendan McCarthy, Kevin O’Donoghue; Eoin O’Donnell, Shane O’Connor, Sean Barrett; Dara Tracey,Tommy Griffin; Dean Lillis, Denis O’Dea, Francis O’Riordan (0-1 free); Danny Neville (0-1), WilliamShanahan, Danny Frewen (0-7, 3f)

Subs
Jamie Quaid (0-1) for Francis O’Riordan (injured), Eoin Roche for WilliamShanahan, Kieran Larkin for Danny Neville, Kevin Meade for Denis O’Dea

Man of the Match
Niall Hickey (Clare)

Referee
Joe Lynch (Kerry)

Parteen 5-12 Feakle/Killanena 3-09 at Dr. Daly Memorial Park, Tulla

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THE CLARE Ladies Football Minors had a very busy week playing two Munster Championship games with mixed results. On Wednesday, they met Cork in the magnificent Mallow Sports Complex and though short several key players in Laurie Ryan, Aoife Clohessy and Sinead Sexton, they held Cork to within a couple of points after twenty five minutes. The defence had their hands full, leaking 2-6 to Cork in the first quarter against Clare’s solitary goal by Niamh O’Dea. During a great spell from the Saffron and Blues, Edel McMahon, Aoife Martin, Ellie O’Gorman and Shauna Harvey closed ranks as Cork found themselves under massive pressure and conceded two quick penalties against Niamh O’Dea and Aoife O’Gorman who ran at them incessantly. Both were converted by O’Dea bringing the teams within two points but Cork responded with two three pointers of their own in the closing seven minutes. A converted free on Clare’s Eleanor Carey was negated by another point for the Reds. After the restart, Clare were eclipsed completely by a dominant home side whose tally of 3-9 smothered Clare’s and O’Dea’s three points. Clare just didn’t have the firepower on the field or on the side line to match the Reds . Final score 3-5 to 7-17.

When the Manager James Lafferty surprisingly resigned the following day, citing unfair criticism, he was followed by two of his three selectors, leaving JJ O’Dea two days to assemble the panel for the Tipperary game on the Saturday and once again the never say die character of the Clare panel shone through. When they turned out to meet Tipperary in Doora-Barefield GAA Grounds two days later, a resolved Clare panel launched attack after attack to dominate the game completely.

Clare’s Niamh Pender and Niamh O’Dea had put up two points before Tipp responded with one of their own. As Aoife O’Gorman went for a certain goal, an illegal foot block by Tipp custodian Imelda O’Donovan resulted in a well-taken penalty by Sinead Sexton.

Sexton was called upon minutes later to repeat the feat when Eleanor Carey was brought down but not before Tipperary had goaled at the end of a well executed movement that started from the kickout.

This would be the only hiccup from an otherwise impenetrable half-back line of Ellie O’Gorman, Shauna Harvey and the outstanding Roisin Howley. Midfielders Eleanor Carey and Kayleigh McCormick worked hard to keep the ball in the Tipp half. Clare 3-4 to Tipp 1-2 at half time.

A staunch full back line that included Kayleigh McCormick (switched with Aoife Martin who went into midfield), Edel McMahon and Aoife Clohessy rebuffed several Tipperary attacks but were caught out when the visitors started the half with two good points. Captain O’Dea pointed first for Clare and Ashling Torpey who came on for the injured McCormick, followed suit minutes later. The Banner were hunting in packs at this stage which was noticable by the deep forward position that Aoife Martin was in when she got the touch just ahead of goalie O’Donovan to push 4-6 to 1-4 ahead.

The impressive Aoife O’Gorman goaled again and O’Dea pointed from a free to finish the game Clare 5-7 to Tipp 1-4.

Clare
Ciara O’Malley (Fergus Rovers),Aoife Martin (Banner Ladies), Edel McMahon (Kilmihil), Aoife Clohessy (Fergus Rovers), Eleanor O’Gorman (Kilmihil), Shauna Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Roisin Howley (Burren Gaels), Kayleigh McCormick (Burren Gaels), Eleanor Carey (Banner Ladies), Niamh Pender (Miltown), Karen O’Brien (Doorabarefield ), Niamh O’Dea (Banner Ladies), Megan Byrne (Burren Gaels), Sinead Sexton (Miltown),Aoife O’Gorman (Cooraclare) Subs AislingTorpey (Liscannor ),Tara Sheehan (Eire Og), Ciara Burke (Miltown) Panel members Laurie Ryan, NiamhWalsh, Orlaith Lynch, (Banner Ladies), Roisin Looney (Cooraclare),Alana O’Brien, Shaunagh O’Brien (Eire Og), Eimear O’Shea (Fergus Rovers), Roisin Rouine,Threase Shannon (Liscannor), Shauna Crowley (Miltown), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels). Manager JJ O’Dea.

Clooney/Quin 1-18 Whitegate 2-07 at Whitegate

SURPRISINGLY straightforward for Clooney/Quin who expected a battle but came away from fortress Whitegate with all two points intact with little fuss. That said, it could also be seen as a pyrrhic victory of sorts as the two points came at a cost of five injuries to Cillian Duggan, Conor Harrison, Derek Ryan, Mike Daffy and Joe O’Loughlin and only weeks away from the championship, it is worrying for Clooney/Quin.

On the scoreboard, they had little problems though, opening up an early five point lead, with Mike NcNamara grabbing three of those. When Whitegate did finally open their account, Clooney/Quin simply upped the ante once more with another four point burst and repeated the dose once more after Whitegate’s second point in the 19th minute to hold a 014 to 0-02 interval advantage.

Whitegate were better after the break but still made hard work of splitting the posts. Substitute Ruairi McNamara cancelled out Whitegate’s hard earned points with a goal in the 56th minute but there were consolation goals from Ian Fahy and an Andrew Fahey penalty to cushion the blow of Whitegate’s defeat as Clooney/Quin secured their first win of the competition.

Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran, Joe O’Loughlin, Conor Harrison, Shane McNamara, Derek Ryan, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrison, Sean Conheady, Padraig Ward, Ronan Gallagher, Mike McNamara, Cathal Egan, Martin Duggan, Fergal Lynch, Mike Daffy

Subs
Tony McMahon for O’Loughlin (inj), John Earls for C. Duggan (inj), Brian McInerney for Ryan (inj), SeanWard for Daffy (inj), Ruairi McNamara for C. Harrison (inj)

Whitegate
AndrewFahey, Cathal Mulvihill, John Bugler, John Minogue, Jason Malone, Brendan Bugler, Christy Jones, Shane O’Rourke, George Waterstone, Stephen Malone, Ian Fahy, Michael O’Brien, Niall Hayes,Terence Fahy, Eric Minogue

Subs
Tomas McNamara for Hayes, Eoin Quirke for O’Rourke,Trevor Kelly for T. Fahy, Gary McClearn

Referee
Johnny Healy (Smith O’Briens)

LIMERICK manager Donal O’Grady has highlighted the need for his side to be playing a higher level of hurling than the Division Two grade, but says there’s no point in winning Saturday’s shoot-out with Clare in Cusack Park only to become the whipping boys in Division One in 2012.

Speaking to The Clare People ahead of Saturday’s eagerly awaited clash, O’Grady admitted that his side learned little about themselves in some matches during their sevengame unbeaten run to the final, apart from giving all 33 panel members some game-time.

“Division Two is a standard below where you want to play. A lot of the games aren’t that competitive. You want to win the games but you’re not learning a great deal by playing teams that are inferior to you,” he said.

“Having said that we struggled in a lot of matches. We struggled against Laois, we struggled against Westmeath, we struggled at times against Carlow and struggled in the second half against Clare.

“It doesn’t do Limerick any good to be hurling against the likes of Kerry and Down, because it brings nothing to the table.”

Now ahead of the second meeting between the sides this year, O’Grady says that home advantage tips the scales in Clare’s favour, albeit that Limerick were decisive 2-9 to 0-6 winners in the first game of the campaign.

“With all local derbies you can’t predict what’s going to happen. It’s all on the day with these matches. It doesn’t matter how you prepare or how up for it you are. The other side are going to up for it as much, because there’s a huge Shannonside rivalry. Local derbies take on a life of their own.

“We went for the toss because we thought it was practical from supporters’ viewpoint, but I think the home team have a two or three point advantage before the throw-in because home advantage is worth a head start any time.

“Only one team can win, but the difficulty there is that the last thing you want to do is win the game, go up into Division One and get hammered next year and find yourself back down again yo-yo style,” he added.

FOR TWO players who have won practically everything in the game, the one piece of sliverware that has eluded Clarecastle pair Anthony Daly and Ger O’Loughlin has been the National League. Fittingly considering this weekend’s opponents, Kilkenny have proved a constant thorn in Daly’s side in the National League final of ‘95 as a player and in 2005 as manager of Clare while the Sparrow was on the losing side in both the 1986 and 1995 finals and of course in last year’s Division 2 final against Wexford as manager.

Daly is the first to admit that while National League’s weren’t high on Ger Loughnane’s priority list in the 90’s, the breakthrough would mean everything to his emerging Dublin side this weekend in their first Division 1 final in 65 years.

“It is a little bit weird I suppose not to have picked up a National League after all the success we had in the 90’s. In Clare terms anyway, we had a fair bit of success so it was one that got away, it was one I suppose that Ger [Loughnane] never put massive emphasis on. The biggest disappointment for us in the league was in ’95 but then when we went on to win the All-Ireland, I suppose the league did become secondary.

“This is a bit different for Dublin because it would be a huge one for us to win and it would be a massive boost for hurling in Dublin so we will be going absolutely all out for this on Sunday. To get into the final has been great because it has been such a long time but it will mean nothing if we don’t give a performance so it would be a massive one for us to pull off alright.

“In saying that, we are realistic enough to know it’s going to be very difficult as well. You could see from the last day Kilkenny were anxious to show us that the pecking order hadn’t changed. Now we fought it out well the last day, even though it was only a run of the mill league game for them while for us it was a bit bigger being on in Croke Park and all that. So they will be anxious again to put us in our place and we know that but we will also be anxious to perform anyway, that’s the main thing.

“That may not be good enough to win and if we can say we got the best out of ourselves I’d be happy with that because that’s the way we have looked at it all year. We are not putting any pressure on ourselves to say we have to win the league, we have to win this match or that match. Out attitude is ‘let’s play our best and see where that takes us’, you’d never know where that will bring us.”

If Kilkenny have had a hoodoo over Dublin in the past few years, then Limerick have emerged as Clare’s equivalent this year, having put them to the sword with relative ease in the opening game of the league in February. Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin is confident that Clare can use that disappointment to their advantage when they return to the scene of the crime on Saturday evening for the winner-takes-all decider.

“Without doubt, the lads are motivated to rectify that game this weekend. We have spoken about it at length, we realise what’s involved and we realise that we have to play way above what we have been playing to date against better opposition. But we have our homework done, we are expecting a huge challenge from Limerick because they are the team to beat in it and while we are going in as underdogs, I know from the encounter we had in February that every lad is looking forward to going in and putting the wrong right.”

The one niggling doubt surrounding Clare this year has been their inconsistency, not only from game to game but often within the same game but having gone through similar traits with his Dublin side, Anthony Daly isn’t unduly worried and feels that Clare will never get a better opportunity to get back to the top tier, having received home advantage.

“That fading in and out of games just seems to be a tendency that needs to be ironed out and I think that comes with inexperience of young players. “What will help Clare is that the game is on in Cusack Park. It’s been a massive break for Clare having it in the Park and I’d say, you’ll have 12-15,000 there including a huge Limerick crowd because they are all excited with the Donal O’Grady era starting. I just think it’s a massive chance for our lads to stand up and be counted.

“I have read a bit of criticism and of course it always turns to the management when things are going wrong. I felt sorry for Sparrow, Doyler and Danny for the few weeks there because I know what it’s like myself. The Clare hurling public; the diehards can be great but there is a small crowd there that can be very fickle. I am expecting a huge Clare performance on the night and I’m looking forward to being there myself. I would be very hopeful we can get the win and get back to Division 1.

“For the progression of a young team like we have, getting back up to Division 1 and retaining that status next year is the key. That’s the way you have to build. The fellas who want automatic success or ‘The Keyboard Warriors’ as I call them are not being realistic.

“Most people out there realise it’s a job of work, it’s going to take time and the boys are working fierce hard. I know how much work they are putting in from chatting away to Sparrow every so often and how frustrating it has been for him and how upsetting at times but it is. We [Dublin] know last year that we have no doubt that we could beat Antrim most of the time we play them but on the day they caught us. I have no doubt Clare could beat Laois in championship hurling nearly all the time but on the day they just got caught. What a fantastic chance now for the boys on Saturday and I hope the players realise that.”

Let the games begin.

THE CLARE minor hurlers start the defence of their Munster Championship on Wednesday evening as they travel to Tralee to take on Kerry in their opening quarter-final game.

There are several players still involved from last years Munster winning team that went on to contest the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park and they will be looking to emulate such a successful run in 2011. The Clare People spoke with manager Gerry O’Connor to get his views on Clare’s upcoming minor campaign.

Although there is a team there capable of capturing a Munster title for the second year in a row Gerry isn’t shy to the difficulties his side are finding themselves in as of late.

“We’ve two problems really, one is that we’ve had a lot of injuries and the other problem is that the under 21 championship has been going on bang in the middle of our campaign.”

Injuries to players such as Aaron Cunningham, Frank Melody, Shane McGrath and Martin Moroney have been a big blow to preparations.

Another restriction has been the ongoing competitions that many of the panel have been participating in over the last number of weeks which has made preparation difficult.

“We would have been expecting to have the bones of 30 plus people training flat out for the last month and it just hasn’t happened because Ard Scoil Rís had just finished up with their participation in the colleges and then the under 21 started in full flow.”

After getting what some would consider an easier opening round, O’Connor was still quick to dismiss any idea of capturing a Munster title again so early in the year.

“We don’t tend to speculate in any way about how far we’re going to go we just take it one game at a time and the team that is in front of is on Wednesday is Kerry so that’s all we’re focusing on at the moment.”

They met last night for the final time before Wednesday’s match to assess any injuries with the hope of having a full panel to pick from.

Clare travel to Tralee to take on Kerry in the Munster quarter-final and they will be looking to players such as Ballyea man Tony Kelly, Jamie Shanahan and Sheadha Morey from Sixmilebridge along with dual star Jarlath Colleran from DooraBarefield for big performances on Wednesday evening.