This article is from page 105 of the 2008-06-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 105 JPG
A FRUSTRATING game if only be- cause with little between the sides, Clare’s challenge just faded away in the final quarter. Clare had matched Limerick point for point up to that juncture, picking off some impres- sive scores along the way so what were the reasons for this collapse? Well, the goal was obviously crucial, coming as it did in the 42nd minute
from the lively David Moloney when Clare were 0-10 to 0-9 ahead. It gave Limerick renewed confidence and from that point they never looked eae
But it wasn’t the only factor. Sig- nificantly, just as in the Waterford game, Clare had problems in their half-back line and midfield from the off and despite ten different players occupying the five positions includ- ing several substitutions, they never
really resolved the issue. Limerick’s experienced midfield pairing of An- drew Brennan and Alan O’Connor along with wing-forwards David Moloney and Don Hanley were at the heart of all Limerick attacks and Clare’s failure to disrupt the midfield partnership ensured that the sides went in level at the break at eight points apiece despite Clare having the aid of a strong breeze.
Conor Earley was introduced in-
stead of Enda Collins late in the first half but the Tubber man still wasn’t the answer and although he soon moved to midfield, he was replaced late in the game by Clooney-Quin’s Conor Harrisson. Damien Browne was the next to be brought on to fill the void and the Cratloe man did add some industry to the centre but all around him, Clare’s grip on the game was slipping.
Clare did have some impressive per-
formances up front with both Sean Chaplin and Padriag Hickey turn- ing in a hard-working hour but aside from Hickey’s haul of five points and Chaplin’s freetaking, Clare’s other starting forwards only produced one point from play. In contrast all Lim- erick’s forwards scored from open play and that better balance made all the difference in such a tight contest.
Possibly wary of main attraction Ciaran Carey, who’s every touch was greeted by a loud cheer from the Limerick faithful, Clare also failed to puck one ball into the full-forward berth in the first half, starving man- of-the-match from the Waterford game, Padraigh Chaplin but when Hickey moved there in the second half, a better supply yielded two points as Carey allowed Hickey to roam for possession.
TAA Ree Gelato umelon sem seommeloCemmperzue the problems lay however, as after the goal, Clare’s back-line conceed- ed five scoreable frees, four of which were converted and although Clare did try to rally, the needless indisci- pline led to the final nails in Clare’s oy enteF
Much improved from last year but Clare still need to flesh out their op- tions before they are able to seriously challenge for the provincial crown.