This article is from page 71 of the 2011-04-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 71 JPG
Clare 0-20 – Wicklow 1-17 at Aughrim Park, Wicklow
THAT Clare saved best to last is reflected in the score on the board that when broken down looks mightily impressive.
Fifteen of the points came from play in as free-flowing a performance produced under Micheál McDermott’s watch as manager, but it could have still been the same old story of going home empty handed from a game that they dominated for long stretches, yet failed to apply the killer punch they needed to secure the two points.
All because they let Wicklow off the hook when Leighton Glynn got a slip on the defence and stroked home an equalising goal two minutes into injury time.
It was rough justice on Clare to have the win snatched from them in the final seconds, rougher justice still on keeper Joe Hayes, because but for his heroics right throughout the game this could have been another chastening National League experience for Clare.
He came to his side’s rescue on no less than four occasions when Wicklow carved open the Clare defence and created goal chances – he was the human shield that kept the citadel intact for so long and in a way inspired those outside him to produced their best display of the year.
If Hayes was the cog in goal, Gary Brennan was the lynchpin further afield as he showcased once more that midfield is his natural hinterland – whatever about his abilities as a full-forward target man, the engine room is where he has to be for Clare going forward.
And it was Brennan who got Clare off to a flier with a point inside 30 seconds, while they added three more from Cathal O’Connor, Ger Quinlan, making his first start of the season and David Tubridy to lead by 0-4 to no score inside 15 minutes.
Wicklow did hit back with points from Tony Hannon and Austin O’Malley, but Clare drove forward and points by Conor Ryan, Kevin Hartnett and a David Tubridy sideline effort had them 0-7 to 0-5 clear by the 25th minute. Another spurt before half time yield points for Graham Kelly, Gary Brennan, Alan Clohessy and David Tubridy to give Clare a 0-11 to 0-7 interval lead, but not for the first time they were thankful to Joe Hayes in goal as he foiled Dean Odlum with a point blank save in injury time to ensure Clare had a four-point cushion. David Tubridy extended that lead to five soon after the resumption, only for Wicklow to hit back with points from Seanie Furlong (2) and Austin O’Malley, but Clare’s resolve against he wind saw them hit points through Gary Brennan, Gordon Kelly and Michael Foran to lead by 0-15 to 013 by the 55th minute. Brennan’s continued hegemony in midfield ensured a steady of scores didn’t dry up, with Graham Kelly, Alan Clohessy (2), Brennan and David Tubridy making sure that Wicklow were kept at bay despite the scoring efforts of Austin O’Malley and Tony Hannon. Wicklow had got it back the bare minimum, but points Clare looked to have secured their fourth win of the campaign when David Tubridy hit his seventh as the game edged into injury time. However, Leighton Glynn had other ideas with his last gasp effort that left both sides happy with their efforts at the end.
Wicklow
J Flynn; C Hyland,A Byrne, P Higgins; P Dalton, B McGrath, DHayden; J Stafford, R Finn;T Hannon (0-3),A O’Malley (0-4), DSiney; DOdlum(0-1), S Furlong (0-8), L Glynn 1-1).
Subs
S Kavanagh for DSiney (half-time), P Burke for DOdlum(half-time), MMcLoughlin for C Hyland (51 mins)
Clare
Joe Hayes (9) Barry Duggan (6), Laurence Healy (7), MarkTubridy (7), Kevin Hartnett (7) (0-1), Gordon Kelly (7) (0-1), Martin McMahon (7), Niall Browne (7), Gary Brennan (9) (0-4), Graham Kelly (8) (0-2), DavidTubridy (8) (0-5, 1f), Cathal O’Connor (7) (0-1), Conor Ryan (7) (0-1), Ger Quinlan (7) (0-1),Alan Clohessy (8) (0-3).
Subs
John Hayes (8) for B Duggan (half time), Michael Foran (7) (0-1) for C Ryan (40 mins).
Referee
K O’Brien (Tipperary).