Category: Sport

Tulla 1-20 – Clarecastle 1-15 at Dr Daly Park, Tulla

A PRECURSOR to their second round championship meeting at the end of May and it was the home side who continued their recent good form with a second successive win while subjecting the Magpies to their third straight defeat in the process.

The writing was on the wall for Clarecastle when finding themselves 1-11 to 0-09 in arrears at the break despite having the aid of a slight breeze. Danny O’Halloran was the goalscorer for the home side midway through the half and it meant that Tulla was always that bit ahead of their group rivals on the turnover. Jonathan Clancy made it interesting when striking a late goal to reduce the deficit to three but Tulla had in vested too much in the game to let it slip at that stage and upped the ante once more to cement another confidence boosting victory ahead of their championship opener against the Mills.

Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, Sean Torpey, John Fahy, Donnacha McNamara, Mark Quinn, Paul Lynch, Conor O’Halloran, Cathal Dinan, EannaTorpey, David McInerney, Daragh Corry, Danny O’Halloran, Kieran Brennan,Aidan Lynch

Subs
Raymond Stewart for D. O’Halloran, Trevor Vaughan for McInerney, Mike Murphy for K. Brennan (Inj)

Clarecastle
Donnagh Muprhy, Seanie Moloney, Conor Plunkett, Ollie Plunkett, Stephen O’Halloran, Patrick Kelly, Fearghus Ryan, Eric Flynn, Danny Scanlon,Tyrone Kearse, Kieran O’Dwyer, Darragh Moloney,Aaron Considine, Derek Quinn, Jonathan Clancy

Subs
Kevin Clohessy for C. Plunkett (inj), Jamie O’Connor for Flynn

Referee
Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus)

Clooney/Quin 0-13 – Crusheen 0-12 at Crusheen

WHAT WAS expected to be little more than shadow boxing ahead of the championship clash at the end of May actually turned out to be quite costly for both sides in terms of injuries which overshadowed the narrow victory for the traveling side. After suffering several injuries against Whitegate last time out, Clooney/ Quin’s jinx continued on Monday, albeit that it spread to the county champions as well with a total of five players being forced to retire early due to injury.

Otherwise, it was a typically tight derby game that was somewhat dour until the final 20 minutes when the tension heightened with the game in the balance. Indeed, the sides were locked on nine occasions during the game before Fergal Lynch continued his recent good form to pop up with the winning point in the 61st minute and break Crusheen’s unbeaten record in the process.

Inbetween the injuries, the visitors opened up a 0-5 to 0-4 half-time advantage with substitute Peter Duggan and John Earls scoring a brace each and Lynch got the other point while the home side looked to Joe Meaney to keep them within a point while David Forde also got in on the scoring action.

The second half continued in the same vein with never more than two points separating the sides at any stage. Ciaran O’Doherty converted three frees that were equalled by Peter Duggan’s placed balls skills including a sideline and as the game moved into injury-time, a draw seemed like the most logical outcome. Up stepped Fergal Lynch however to take the spoils and give his side a welcome boost ahead of their championship rematch in Round 2.

Clooney/ Quin
Damien O’Halloran,Tony McMahon, Shane McNamara, Brian McInerney, Adrian Fleming, Cillian Duggan, Enda Harrison, Sean Conheady, Padraig Ward, Cathal Egan, Mike McNamara, Ronan Gallagher, Martin Duggan, Fergal Lynch (0-3), John Earls (0-3)

Subs
SeanWard for P.Ward (inj), Mike Daffy for S. Ward (Inj), Peter Duggan (0-7 1/sl) for C. Duggan (inj), Ruairi McNamara for Fleming

Crusheen
Donal Tuohy, John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon,Alan Brigdale, Ciaran O’Doherty (0-3 2f), Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon,Tony Meaney, Fergus Kennedy (0-1), Gearoid O’Donnell, Joe Meaney (0-5 1f), David Forde (0-2), Paddy Meaney, Gerry O’Grady (0-1), Conor O’Donnell

Subs
Jamie Fitzgibbon for P. Meaney,AlanTuohy for G. O’Donnell, Patrick O’Grady for Forde (inj), Jason Greene for Cronan Dillon (inj)

Referee
AndrewMonahan (Tubber)

Clare 6-24 – Kerry 1-08 at Austin Stacks, Tralee

THE CLARE Minor hurlers stormed into a Munster semi-final after a more than convincing win over Kerry as they defended their Munster crown in this opening round tie at Tralee last Wednesday evening.

In a competitive first half the sides exchanged points in the opening ten minutes before Clare took the lead through Aaron Cunningham and Colm Galvin. A goal from Kerry dual star Padraig Boyle meant they actually led the Munster champions in the 13th minute 1-2 to 0-4.

However, Clare pulled clear with a brace of scores from Cunningham, team captain Tony Kelly and Cathal O’Connell before a great Oisin Hickey goal 23 minutes in which meant Clare went in at the break seven points clear, 1-12 to 1-5.

The second half was a dominant Clare display as they pulled away significantly and put the result beyond doubt early on. Two more goals in as many minutes as the half got under- way saw the completion of a hat-trick for Oisin Hickey while Cunningham also added to his tally causing major problems for the Kerry defence.

Clare were able to make use of all five substitutes in this encounter and Alan Mulready added two more goals with another coming from Eire Og’s Shane O’Donnell as Clare made sure there was no hope for the Kingdom.

Clare ran out eventual winners by a 31 point margin, 6-24 to 1-8. They will now look ahead to a Munster semi-final at the end of June where they will play the winners of the losers group involving Cork, Kerry and Tipperary.

Clare
Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Jack Browne (Ballyea), Niall O’Connor (Newmarket), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Martin Moroney (Parteen), Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), Gearoid O’Connell (0-1) (Ballyea); ColmGalvin (0-3) (Clonlara),Tony Kelly (0-3) (Ballyea);Alan Mulready (2-2) (Sixmilebridge), Cathal O’Connell (0-6, 4f)

(Clonlara), Frank Melody (Newmarket);Aaron Cunningham(0-6) (WolfeTones), Oisin Hickey (31) (Meelick), Shane O’Donnell (1-1) (Eire Og).

Subs
Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin) for Melody, Jarlath Colleran (0-1) (Doora-Barefield) for Moroney, Shane McGrath (Feakle) for Cunningham, Damien Moloney (Meelick) for Morey, Dave Barry (Clooney-Quin) for O’Connell.

Kerry
Kieran Fitzgibbon;Tadgh Moore, Dougie Fitzell, Mikey O’Halloran; Daniel Collins,Tommy Barrett, Kevin O’Sullivan; Eric O’Connor, Muris Delaney; Ricky Heffernan, Pa Joe Connelly, Luke Fitzell; David Goulding, Padraig Bolye, Shane Dunne.

Subs
TomMcElligott for O’Halloran, Paul McGrath for Goulding, Darren Leahy for Fitzell.

Referee
John O’Brien,Tipperary.

St Joseph’s Miltown 0-9 – St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield 2-2 at Hennyssy Memorial Park, Miltown

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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.

Sixmilebridge 4-14 – Cratloe 1-10 at Cusack Park, Ennis

A RECORD breaking 13th Under 21A title for Sixmilebridge who banished the ghosts of recent finals to take the honours in the O’Garneyside derby. Having contested the last five minor and Under 21A deciders but only winning one, the pressure was on Sixmilebridge to deliver and they did so in emphatic fashion with an unanswered 2-5 final eight minute flourish to flesh out the winning margin.

In truth, the 13 point difference didn’t reflect the significant role that Cratloe played in the narrative of this often scrappy but tense neighbouring encounter, however there is no doubting that Sixmilebridge deserved their latest silverware on the balance of play.

As expected, the key aspect of this game came down to balance. Sixmilebridge had far more strength in depth and those greater variety of options proved decisive against a Cratloe side that constantly relied on the individual brilliance of all too few.

That said, the near-telepathic understanding between Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath up front kept Cratloe within touching distance until the finale but it was always going to be a huge ask to expect that pair along with Liam Markham, Conor Ryan and Podge Collins to carry the side over the line.

Instead, Sixmilebridge had their homework done on their opponents strengths, altered their side accordingly and utilised their own assets to bounce back to the winner podium. Paidi Fitzpatrick executed a match-winning manmarking role on McGrath; Brian Carey curbed Ryan at midfield while Shane Golden expertly pulled the strings alongside him and up front Seadna Morey and later Jamie Shanahan put the finish- ing touches to the victory.

After a 15 minute delay due to an uneven queue to turnstile ratio, the eager sides got the game off to a blistering pace with Conor McGrath feeding Podge Collins for the opening scoring inside 30 seconds, with an almost immediate reply from Brian Carey. That pace was maintained for the next few minutes but the accuracy dipped dramatically with Sixmilebridge in particular firing from ambitious ranges.

Cratloe took advantage, with a brace of Cathal McInerney points putting them 0-3 to 0-2 in front by the end of the opening quarter until Sixmilebridge pounced for the opening goal in the 18th minute. A Cratloe puck-out was gathered by Pa Sheehan to play a low ball to Declan Morey who made a trademark turn and solo towards goal before firing on the volley to the net.

Sam O’Sullivan followed up with a point but while the ‘Bridge were on top, they failed to hammer home that advantage further and it allowed Cratloe a window of opportunity that Conor McGrath inevitably took just before the break with two points to trail by just two at 1-4 to 0-5.

That fightback was completed by a Cathal McInerney goal only three minutes after the restart when Sixmilebridge failed to clear their lines and McGrath fed the unmarked McInerney to billow the net. Gaining momentum, Joe O’Connor traded points with Seadna Morey before McIner- ney and McGrath again combined for the former to point once more and extend their lead to two at 1-7 to 1-5 by the 36th minute.

Sixmilebridge had to dig deep and they upped their display considerably through Fitzpatrick, Seadna Morey, Golden at midfield and Jamie Shanahan who opened his account in the best possible manner in the 41st minute with a goal from close range after dispossessing goalkeeper Collins. County minors Shanahan (2) and Morey added another three points without reply to open up a five point lead while goalkeeper Stephen Fleming made a full length dive to stop a McInerney shot in the 44th minute.

Still, Cratloe were not done yet and after a Liam Markham ’65, they reduced the deficit to only two points once more by the 49th minute with a superb Conor McGrath point after shrugging off three defenders and another from Conor Ryan.

Cratloe’s hopes of a full recovery was dashed however only minutes later when a Shane Golden burst down the left wing ended with a shot from 40 metres that eluded goalkeeper David Collins and dropped into the net.

From that point, Cratloe’s heads dropped and a buoyant Sixmilebridge took full advantage with Jamie Shanahan coming into his own in that final period, scoring an impressive 1-4 to ease up to victory.

The good times were back for Sixmilebridge and going on the potential shown on this occasion, they should be there for a long while to come.

Sixmilebridge
Stephen Fleming (7), Gerry Quilligan (7), Paidi Fitzpatrick (8), Eanna Burns (7), Barry O’Connor (7), John Fennessy (7),Trevor Purcell (7), Brian Carey (7) (0-1), Shane Golden (8) (1-0), Seadna Morey (8) (0-4), SamO’Sullivan (7) (0-1), Pa Sheehan (7) (0-1), Ronan Mullane (6) (0-1), Declan Morey (7) (1-0), Jamie Shanahan (8) (2-6 4f, 0-1 Pen)

Subs
Noel Purcell (6) for Burns (46 mins), Cathal O’Connor (7) for Mullane (46 mins)

Cratloe
David Collins (6), Joe Conroy (7), Sean Hynan (7), Jack McCourt (7),Wesley Deloughery (6), Liam Markham(7) (0-1 1’65), Enda Boyce (7), Conor Ryan (7) (0-1), Podge Collins (7) (0-1), Patrick Carey (6), Cathal McInerney (8) (1-3), Dean Deloughery (6),Tomás Ryan (6), Joseph O’Connor (7) (0-1), Conor McGrath (7) (0-3 1f)

Sub
David McInerney for D. Deloughery (58 mins)

Man of the Match
Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)

Referee
Rory Hickey (Éire Óg)

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

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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)

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.

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.