Category: Sport

Whitegate 3-11 – Clarecastle 1-12 at Clarecastle

THE EARLY bird did indeed catch the worm on Sunday morning as an alert Whitegate caught the sleepy home side napping to secure a vital first victory of the campaign. The east Clare side had an early start to travel to Clarecastle for the 12 noon throwin but it seemed to brace them for action as they pulled off an impressive victory, despite being without key regulars such as Eric Minogue, Tommy Holland, George Waterstone and Patrick Minogue.

The Magpies can have no complaints as once they were headed near the end of the first half, they failed to recapture the lead despite holding the wind advantage in the second period. That eventuality didn’t appear on the cards in the opening quarter as the home sie eased into a 1-2 to 00 lead after ten minutes, with Tyrone Kearse getting the goal through a 20 metre free which made up for his previous effort minutes earlier that bizarrely thundered off the crossbar from close range and ended up going out for a lineball.

A 16th minute volleyed goal from Niall Hayes injected some belief into the visitors and they were soon ahead in the 20th minute when Ian Fahy soloed through the heart of the Magpie rearguard before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 30 metres to the top corner of the net.

Clarecastle’s standout forward Kearse as well as Darragh Moloney and Patrick Kelly levelled up the game at 2-2 to 1-5 by the 23rd minute but by now Whitegate had the bit between their teeth and with Michael Dooley, Brendan Bugler and Christy Jones, stopping the Clarecastle supply, they finished the half strongly with successive points from Michael O’Brien (2) and Ian Fahy to lead by two at the break.

With the wind to come, the home side wouldn’t have been unduly worried at the break but despite the introduction of debutant Kieran O’Dwyer who was a physical presence around the centre as well as Sean Talty, the expected Magpie fightback never materialised.

The lively Kearse was unlucky with a pull that agonisingly drifted wide of the far post early in the half, a miss that was magnified when Terence Fahy doubled on an Andrew Fahey free in the 40th minute to give his side a 3-7 to 1-8 advantage.

That five point margin would remain more or less until the final whistle, aside from a brief recovery when Danny Scanlon had a shot repelled by Fahey while the follow up from substitute Sean Talty just going the wrong side of the crossbar. Two further goal chances from Kearse failed to billow the net while at the other end, Michael O’Brien capped off a memorable win for Whitegate with a late double.

Whitegate
AndrewFahey (0-4 3f, 1’65), John Minogue, John Bugler, Cathal Mulvihill, Christy Jones, Brendan Bugler, Jason Malone, Shane O’Rourke, Michael Dooley, Michael O’Brien (0-4), Ian Fahy (1-1), Stephen Malone (0-1), Eoin Quirke (0-1),Terence Fahy (1-0), Niall Hayes (1-0)

Clarecastle
Jamie Coughlan, Kevin Clohessy, Garrett Barry, Fearghus Ryan, Patrick Kelly (0-2), Stephen O’Halloran,Anthony Griffey, Jonathan Clancy, Derek Quinn (0-2 1f), Eric Flynn, Darragh Moloney (0-2),Aaron Considine, Danny Scanlon,Tyrone Kearse (1-5 1-1f)

Subs
Kieran O’Dwyer for Griffey (27 mins), Sean Talty (0-1) for Flynn (HT), Jamie O’Connor for Moloney (47 mins), Jason Considine for Scanlon (50 mins)

Man of the Match
Michael Dooley (Whitegate) Referee Ger Lyons (Ruan) Tubber 1-16 Cor ofin 3-07 @ Tubber TUBBER came out victorious against Corofin at home on Sunday hitting 1-1 without reply in the closing stages which put them ahead to seal the win. Tubber went four points to no score up early on but then a scrappy goal from a high ball into the Tubber area brought Corofin back into the game. More points from Mark Early and David O’Donoghue gave Tubber the advantage at the interval as they led, 0-7 to 1-3. Corofin got another goal early in the second half through Stephen Heagney as the ball managed to find to net through a group of players and

a similar goal from Declan Lee fol- lowed 15 minutes later.

Tubber stayed close with points coming from Shane and Barry O’Connor and Clive Early converting four frees. Then with two minutes remaining Barry O’Connor scored the goal that put Tubber ahead and Corofin failed to reply giving Tubber the win.

Newmarket 1-14 – Tulla 1-13 at Dr Daly Memorial Park, Tulla

TWO SIDES that would arguably claim to be a work in progress, with the assimilation of youth into the ranks seemingly the main priority in this evenly matched affair. A draw would have been the fairest result in a game that could have gone either way as evidenced in a tense finale on Sunday evening.

With the teams locked at 1-13 apiece drifting into injury-time, Tulla’s main attacking duo David McInerney and Andrew Quinn combined for what appeared to be the leading score for the recently crowned Fitzgibbon Cup winner but referee Ger Hoey disallowed it for a square ball. And in the next passage of play, it was David Barrett who punished at the other end to hand Newmarket a welcome first victory.

It was that close throughout however as the sides were locked on level terms no fewer than nine times over the hour. All that after James Liddy had given Newmarket the perfect start after 100 seconds with a solo goal after receiving a pass from David Barrett.

It failed to rock Tulla who were back on level terms within five minutes with points from Andy Quinn and a brace from Aidan Lynch who was causing the Blues some discomfort in the right corner. Indeed, from his opening attack, Lynch might have grabbed a goal had it not been for the reflexes of goakeeper Kieran Devitt who somehow tipped his effort over the bar. However, following replies from Martin O’Hanlon and a Colin Ryan free, Aidan Lynch did raise a green flag on his second attempt in the 11th minute with a trademark solo and shot from an acute angle.

Newmarket brought on Niall O’Connor to curb the rampaging forward and it had a settling effect as Colin Ryan converted two placed balls to put his side ahead once more at 1-5 to 1-4 by the 22nd minute.

Ryan’s move to centre-forward coincided with David McInerney’s switch to midfield for Tulla and both would dominate for their respective sides on the way to a half-time deadlock at 1-7 apiece.

Newmarket re-emerged the brighter side on the restart and appeared to be easing away from the home side with successive points from Ryan, substitute Darren O’Connor and Eoin Hayes while the latter also hit the side netting with a shot during the same period.

However, Tulla mustered up a recovery and four unanswered points followed, two from the stick of Andy Quinn at the turn of the final quarter to hold a precarious 1-11 to 1-10 advantage while Trevor Vaughan might have added a goal.

Crucially though, when required, it was county senior Ryan who stepped forward to lead his side with three placed balls in the closing stages in a duel with Quinn who levelled the game in the 58th minute with a free at 1-13 to 1-13.

It was shaping up to end as a draw but it wasn’t to be as events conspired to tip the balance in Newmarket’s favour and get them off the mark.

Newmarket- on- Fergus
Kieran Devitt, Eoin O’Brien, Stephen Kelly, Eoin McInerney, Martin Frawley, James McInerney,Alan Barrett, Enda Barrett, Martin O’Hanlon (0-1), Noel Frawley, David Barrett (0-2), Paraic Collins, James Liddy (10), Colin Ryan (0-9 4f, 1’65), Eoin Hayes (0-1)

Subs
Niall O’Connor for E. McInerney (13 mins), Darren O’Connor (0-1) for M. Frawley (HT), Tommy Griffin for Liddy (49 mins), Enda Kelly for Collins (43 mins), JimMcInerney for N. Frawley (49 mins)

Tulla
Philip Brennan, Eugene Cooney, Mark Quinn, John Fahy, Donnacha McNamara, Sean Torpey, Cian McInerney, Brian Lynch, Cathal Dinan, Trevor Vaughan (0-1), David McInerney (0-2), EannaTorpey (0-1),Aidan Lynch (1-2), Kieran Brennan,AndrewQuinn (0-6 3f, 1’65)

Subs
Danny O’Halloran (0-1) for E.Torpey (39 mins), Daragh Corry for K. Brennan (47 mins)

Man of the Match
Colin Ryan (Newmarket- on- Fergus) Referee Ger Hoey (Killanena)

Sixmilebridge 8-11 – Wolfe Tones 0-17 at O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

NO, IT isn’t a misprint. Sixmilebridge did manage to put eight goals past neighbours Wolfe Tones on Sunday but that said, it was only in the final 20 minutes that it started to go pear-shaped for the depleted Shannon side. 19 scores to 17 reflects more on a game that Sixmilebridge clearly deserved to win despite missing the majority of their Under 21 contingent who were rested after their heroic exploits in the last four on Saturday.

Sixmilebridge only led by 2-7 to 0- 9 at the break following goals from Brian Culbert and Danny Morey but through Garret McPhillips (2) and Declan O’Rourke, the Shannon side had reduced the deficit to only three within five minutes of the restart. It’s astonishing to think how it went so wrong after that but with every goal, the life was simply sucked out of Wolfe Tones’ challenge. Tony Carmody accelerated through the defence to raise Sixmilebridge’s third green flag in the 36th minute but even then Tones replied to reduce the deficit to four.

However, the floodgates opened soon afterwards as Niall Gilligan (3), Danny Morey and David O’Connor breached Wolfe Tones last line to complete the rout and extend their unbeaten run in the competition.

Sixmilebridge
Derek Fahy,Tadgh Keogh,Aidan Quilligan, Eoin Quinn,Tommy Morey (0-1), Caimin Morey,Trevor Purcell,Anthony Liddane, Paul Fitzpatrick, David O’Connor (1-2), Niall Gilligan (3-5 5f),Tony

Carmody (1-3) Danny Morey (2-0), Brian Culbert (1-0), Declan Morey

Subs
Jason Murphy for Quinn (52 mins), Daniel Collins for Declan Morey (54 mins)

Wolfe Tones
Paul Hogan Brendan Hughes, Joe McGauley, George Justice Stephen McInerney, Bobby McPhillips (0-3 1f, 2 65’s), Barry Loughnane Shane Chambers, Daithí O’Connell (0-3) Sean Brennan, Declan O’Rourke (0-4, 1f), Garret McPhillips (0-7f) Gary Leahy, Ronan Hehir, Daniel Gallery

Subs
Niall Murphy for Justice (48 mins), Richie Lillis for Hehir (53 mins) Kevin McCafferty for G.McPhillips (53 mins),Alan Hehir for O’Connell (57 mins) John Madigan for McInerney (57 mins)

Referee
Fergie McDonagh (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)

ST FLANNAN’S fell at the last hurdle on Wednesday in Croagh as they lost the Frewen Cup Football Final to Tralee on the narrowest of margins in a game that could have went either way.

For the second time this year, Tralee have been the cause of St Flannan’s heartbreak as they ended their Corn Uí Mhuirí hopes earlier this year and last week they became the reason the Frewen Cup is not coming home to the Ennis college.

St Flannan’s opened the scoring through Éire Óg’s Ciarán Mac Mathuna but they were up against it when Tralee pounced for a goal in the ninth minute and followed it up with a point. However, they maintained composure and regained the lead hitting four points without reply. Three coming from the on-form forward Martin O’Leary who looked to be causing major problems.

Tralee then hit two fine points only to find themselves go behind once again right before the half when O’Leary tore through the defence and laid it off to David Conroy who found the back of the Tralee net. St Flannan’s now led 1-5 to 1-3 at the interval after the aid of a strong breeze.

O’Leary again punished the Kerry side as he converted another free from the restart but then some halftime positional switches from Tralee began to pay off.

They started to control matters in key positions around the field and as a result Tralee kicked six of the game’s next seven points.

By the 51st minute, Tralee were in control with a 1-9 to 1-7 lead but St Flannan’s never gave up and battled admirably to the finish.

They responded with a point from Barry Lynch before Mac Mathuna saw his effort rebound off the post but O’Leary then tied things up with a resulting free.

Unfortunately, Tralee surged downfield and scored from their next two attacks.

Captain Sean Corry then had the last score of the game but this wasn’t enough for St Flannan’s as Tralee held onto the one point advantage to claim their second title in four years.

St Flannan’s
Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey); Conor Dolan (Éire Óg);Aiden Mc Guane (Kilmaley); Ronan Raferty (Michael Cusacks); StephenWard (Clarecastle); Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg); Conor Clancy (Clarecastle) (0-1); Sean Corry (Éire Óg) (0-1); Ciaran Mac Mathuna (Éire Óg) (0-1); David Conroy (Doora-Barefield) (1-0); Barry Lynch (Lissycasey) (0-1); Dara Kerin (Doora-Barefield) (0-1); Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil) (0-4); Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg);Tadgh Lynch (Clondegad) (0-1). St Kier a n’s 2-10 Ár d Scoil Rís 1-11 @ Semple St adium, Thur les

CLARE’S status as the leading county in the country for underage handball was showcased over the weekend when five All-Ireland titles were won between action that took place in Offaly and Roscommon.

First up in Crinkle on Saturday were the O’Callaghan’s Mills pairing of Jacob Loughnane and Ciaran Cooney. They came up against the Sheridan brothers form Meath and although they won the first game on a 15-5 scoreline they were edged out for the title.

Next up were Natasha Coughlan and Michelle Nihill of the Clooney Club in the Under 15 doubles crown. The Banner girls won the first game by 15-6 and although they were second best in the next game they recovery to take the title in impressive fashion.

The Coughlan family was well represented in the finals as next up on the card was the Under 14 doubles final where Fergal Coughlan and Jamie Keane took on a very formidable Wexford pairing.

This battle went to a tie-breaker after the first two game were shared before the Clare pairing clare took control with Coughlan exhibiting great control and composure and Keane solid in attack took the decider with a comprehensive 15-6 scoreline.

Last on the card was the boys Under 14 singles between Brian Fahy of Tulla and Daniel Curry of Wicklow. The last time these two met Curry just got the better of young Fahy, so he was out to make amends.

The first game went Fahy’s way only for Curry to bounce back and claim the second but the Tulla young- ster had the final say with a 15-6 win in the tie-break game.

The second part of the weekend took Clare competitors to St Colman’s Handball Club in Roscommon on Sunday where Clare’s contingent continued on their winning ways.

Tulla’s Colin Corbett and Niall Bolton took on a very strong Tyrone pair in the under 16 doubles – they lost the first game but showed their resolve to bounce back and claim the title thanks to winning the final game by 11-5.

Clare’s memorable weekend was then completed by Colin Crehan in the Under 16 singles when he faced down Monaghan’s Darren Doherty, who was a recent winner of the US National Under 15 title.

However, Crehan was up to the challenge, displaying great court intellect, great passing shots and court control in overwhelming his highly rated opponent on a 21-14, 21-11 scoreline.

The Banner County secured a total of 6 of the 15 All Ireland Juvenile Championship titles played to date with significant triumphs in the blue ribband Boys Under 14 and Under 16 Singles and Doubles competitions. With representation in one last final still to be played, the future is unquestionably very bright for the Munster county on this evidence.

The spread of titles from the 15 All Ireland Juvenile Championship Finals played to date is: Clare (5), Galway (2), Kerry (2), Armagh (2), Roscommon (1), Meath (1), Tipperary (1) and Limerick (1). Results Saturday @Crinkle

BU15D: Evan Sheridan, Dylan Sheridan (Meath) dft Jacob Loughnane, Ciaran Cooney (Clare) 5-15, 15-9, 15-4 GU15D: Natasha Coughlan/Michelle Nihill (Clare) dft Aisling Maher/Denise Love (Kilkenny) 15-6, 11-15, 15-6 BU14D: Fergal Coughlan/Jamie Keane (Clare) dft Seamus Sinnott/Ben O’Shea (Wexford) 15-3, 9-15, 15-6 BU14S: Brian Fahy (Clare) dft Daniel Curry (Wicklow) 15-12, 12-15, 15-6 GU17D: Hannah OBrien/Aine McInerny [Clare] v Lauren Barco/Mary Buggy (Kilkenny) to be refixed Sunday @Coman’s, Roscommon GU16S: Ciana Ni Churraoin (Galway) dft Maeve McElduff (Tyrone) 21-7, 21-4 BU16D: Niall Bolton, Colin Corbett [Clare] dft Patrick McCrory, Pol Clarke (Tyrone) 13-21, 21-13, 11-5 BU16S: Colin Crehan [Clare] dft Darren Doherty (Monaghan) 21-15, 21-12 BU15S: Daniel Hayes (Tipperary) dft Eugene McGeough (Monaghan) 11-15, 15-9, 15-10 GU17S: Cornelia Prendiville [Kerry] dft Niamh Farrell (Monaghan) 21-9, 21-1 GU15S:Anna Prendiville [Kerry] dft Amy McGrane (Kildare) 15-14, 15-9

WHILE THE next group of adult handballers were doing the county proud in Offaly and Roscommon, the current crop did their bit to ensure it was a memorable weekend for the county as representatives secured victory in three from four semi-finals down for decision. It means the Banner County will contest a total of six All-Ireland finals.

Diarmaid Nash, Cathal Hannon and Masters pair Teddy O’Hanlon & John Cawley were all victorious in semi-finals over the weekend. Nash travelled to Claremorris to take on Stephen Cooney (Mayo) in Intermediate Singles and came away with a comprehensive 21-6, 21-11 win. This had been expected to be a very tight affair but from early on it was clear that the Tuamgraney man was always in contol, his supreme fitness giving him the edge.

Nash was also able fire off a string of low, powerful serves that the Connaught champion had little answer to. Nash will face a stiffer test in the final with Tyrone’s Ruairi Kelly waiting after the Red Hand man defeated Meath’s Carl Browne in the other semi. A tight affair was also expected in Clooney on Sunday and this one didn’t disappoint. Tulla clubman Cathal Hannon progressed to the Junior Singles final against Paul Lambert (Wexford) after he outfought Roscommon man Denis Creaton in a three-game thriller. Hannon won the first 21-11 before going down 21-15 in the second but rallied in the third and, playing some great shots, finished strongly to win 21-12.

On Staurday, John Cawley and Teddy O’Hanlon (Golden Masters B Doubles) were also made to batlle through three games before seeing off Galway’s Mike Shaughnessy and Willie Corcoran in Shannon. Having started slowly, the Clare pair came through on a 7-21, 21-10, 21-13 score. The Shannon-Tuamgraney duo will now play Kildare (Paul Ruane and Cyril Carr) in the decider. On Friday night, Sarah and Paula Loughnane were comprehensively beaten by Mayo in the Ladies Junior B Doubles semi-final.

Looking ahead, this weekend is Weekend 1 of All-Ireland Adult Finals and Clare will once again be aiming for silverware. Diarmaid Nash and Niall Malone take on Kilkenny duo Brian Manogue and Nicholas Anthony in the much anticipated Intermediate Doubles decider in Cappagh. In Ladies Intermediate Doubles, Anne Marie Fitzgerald and Lisa Loughnane will be carrying the underdogs card when they face Wicklow in Leixlip while John Cawley will be confident of taking the Golden Masters B Singles crown when he plays Meath’s Jimmy Reilly in Crinkle. Weekend two of All-Ire- land finals, featuring our semi-finals winners from the weekend just past, will be April 9 and 10.

All- Ireland Adult 40×20 Semi- Finals:
Diarmaid Nash (Clare) beat Stephen Cooney (Mayo) 21-6 , 21-11 (Cathal Hannon (Clare) beat Denis Creaton (Roscommon) 21-11, 15-21, 21-12 John Cawley/Teddy Hanlon (Clare) beat Mike Shaughnessy &Willie Corcoran (Galway) 7-21, 21-10, 21-13 Ciara McMenamon, Clodagh McMenamon (Mayo) beat Sarah Loughnane, Paula Loughnane Clare) 21-4, 21-3

Fixtures:
All-Ireland Adult 40×20 Finals,Weekend 1 SATURDAY 9th APRIL: in Leixlip, Kildare, 3.30pm: Ladies Intermediate Doubles: Lisa Loughnane/ Annmarie Fitzgerald (Clare) v Shauna Hilley/Sandra Barnes (Wicklow) SUNDAY 10th APRIL: in Cappagh, Limerick, 2pm: Intermediate Doubles Final: Nicholas Anthony/ Brian Manogue (Kilkenny) v Diarmuid Nash/Niall Malone (Clare) SUNDAY 10th APRIL: in Crinkle, Offaly, 2.30pm: Golden Masters B Singles Final: Jimmy Reilly (Meath) v Clare (John Cawley (Clare)

Fermanagh 0-17 – Clare 0-09 at Brewster Park, Enniskillen

THERE was revolution in the air around Enniskillen on Sunday as Fermanagh played host to Clare in this Division 4 tie.

Fermanagh football was up in arms following the statement issued by 11 former members of John O’Neill’s squad who outlined their grievances as to where it has all gone wrong for the Erne county this season.

Good news for a Clare team not without their own problems this year thanks to that hat-trick of very disappointing defeats to Leitrim, Carlow and Roscommon that scuppered their chances of mounting a promotion bid.

Great news for Clare after the lightening start they made to this game, as forward talisman David Tubridy ran riot in the opening ten minutes when putting four points on the board as his side raced into a 0-4 to no score lead.

Fermanagh, in turmoil off the pitch thanks the ‘Gang of 11’, were in turmoil on it too as they reeled from this lightening Clare start that should have teed the Banner County up for back-to-back victories for the first time in this year’s campaign.

That it wasn’t to be for Clare is told in the eight points that separated the sides at the end – a turnaround that laid bare that fact that this was a somewhere between a resurrection on the part of Fermanagh and a total collapse on the part of Clare.

Or maybe it was both, because such was Clare’s implosion and Fermanagh’s revival that long before Tyrone referee Sean McNamee blew his final whistle, it was the visitors who looked like they were racked with problems.

When Fermanagh were held scoreless for the first 20 minutes, manager John O’Neill cut a lonely figure on the sideline, but everything seemed to change once Paul Ward opened the Ernesiders’ account with a 20 metre free.

Positional changes had been made in defence to try and curb David Tubridy, with centre-back Brian Mulroone moving over on the Doonbeg- man; left-half-forward Ryan Jones moved to midfield, while Daniel Kille was introduced at full-forward.

Fermanagh were a team transformed and Clare became disjointed at the back, surrendered the initiative at midfield and ran out of ideas up front.

The result was a flurry of points from Fermanagh with Daniel Kille (2) Ryan Jones, and John O’Flanagan to move 0-5 to 0-4 ahead before David Tubridy levelled matters in the 25th minute.

However, it was a brief respite for Clare as points before the break from Paul Ward and John O’Flanagan completed Fermanagh’s first half recovery as they edged 0-7 to 0-5 clear.

All wasn’t lost for Clare, but was within ten minutes of the restart as a brace of points each from Paul Ward and John O’Flanagan extended Fermanagh’s lead to six points. Gary Brennan did peg back a point, but further Fermanagh points from the impressive Daniel Kille, Terry O’Flanaghan and John O’Flanagan put them 0-14 to 0-6 ahead with 15 minutes remaining.

It was damage limitation stuff from there until the end – Clare did boost their tally with two more David Tubridy points to bring his tally to 07 for the hour, but further points by Daniel Kille, Terry O’Flanagan and Paul Ward left the home side comprehensive victors and consigned their to their fourth defeat of a desperately disappointing campaign.

Clare
Joe Hayes, Barry Duggan, Lawrence Healy, Martin McMahon, Kevin Hartnett, Gordon Kelly, Shane McNeilus, Cathal O’Connor, Gary Brennan, Conor Ryan, John Hayes, Shane Brennan (0-1), DavidTubridy (0-7, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45), Niall Browne, Alan Clohessy (0-1).

Subs
MarkTubridy for S Brennan (h-t), Ger Quinlan for Browne (h-t), David O’Connor for Ryan (68 mins).

Fermanagh
J McGrath, J Woods, B Owens, M Jones, CQuigley (0-1), B Mulrone, K Cosgrove, H Brady, MO’Brien,T O’Flanagan (0-2, 0-1 free), N Cassidy, R Jones (0-3, 0-2 frees), PWard (0-3), J O’Flanagan (0-3), S Quigley (0-1).

Subs
DKille (04) for Woods (10 mins), B Óg Maguire for Cassidy (20 mins), J O’Brien for Ward (60 mins), CO’Brien for DKille (65 mins).

Man of the Match
Daniel Kille (Fermanagh) Referee S McNamee (Tyrone).

JOHN O’Neill was jubilant at the defiance shown by his team as they stormed to victory over the Poor Clares. Naturally, Micheál McDermott was at the other end of the spectrum too as surveyed the wreckage of another hugely disappointed National League day.

The defeats to Leitrim and Carlow could be put down to the fact that Clare were reduced to 13 for much of the game; the loss to Roscommon was all down to not kicking the ball between the posts when opportunity knocked.

Not excuses, but explanations.

There were no explanations on Sunday, however. Clare were that bad – that was by their own body language as the trooped off the field and McDermott’s language as he strug- gled for answers as to why it went so badly wrong.

“It was very, very lacklustre after those first 15 minutes. To put a finger on what happened, why was the performance so poor, it’s almost impossible,” admitted McDermott.

“We are very disappointed, not alone with the loss, but with the performance. We got a very good start, played really well for the first 15 minutes and played good quality football. But after that everything just drifted away from us.

“Fermanagh got a grip around midfield and the whole diamond area around midfield and held it for most of the match.

“They kicked some really good quality scores and caused us a lot of trouble. The players are gutted. It wasn’t for the want of effort. It just wasn’t happening for them,” added McDermott.

This time last year Clare a kick of a ball away from promotion to Division 3 when they played Limerick in their seventh match of the campaign after six straight wins – David Tubridy’s kick with the last kick of the game from distance drifted just wide and since then Clare have lost six out of nine league games.

“It has been a very disappointing league results wise and points wise,” said McDermott after this latest loss, “but when we compare it to last year, when we were on the crest of a wave for the first six matches, I would say we have played better football this year and are better prepared because results aren’t going our way.

“Roscommon are promoted already and we produced one of our best performances against them but left it behind us.

“Longford are in second place and we beat them. Carlow are also in contention and we left the two points behind against them when we were down to 13 players.

“Our injuries are hitting us big time. We lost Graham Kelly who came down with bug on the way to the match. Rory Donnelly is out, Timmy Ryan is only coming back from injury. But we’re not using that as an excuse. We just now have to try and pick it up for the match against Wicklow.”

Laois 3-16 – Clare 3-13 at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise

JUST WHEN you think Clare have turned a corner, they skilfully reverse back around it. After a lacklustre start against Limerick and Antrim, Clare produced successive victories over Westmeath, Down and Kerry by an average of 20 points but the step up in opposition allied to a flat first half display ensured that it would not be a comfortable afternoon for Clare on Sunday.

In the end, it was only Willie Hyland’s 72nd minute goal with almost the last puck of the game that separated the sides but in truth, Clare deserved little out of the game after an abject first half and their inability to kill off the game when gaining a lifeline in the second.

Such unpredictability and inconsistency can be put down to the growing pains of such a young developing side but nonetheless it’s thoroughly frustrating viewing at the moment as it’s unknown how Clare will perform until they cross the white lines of combat.

Overall, strange as it may seem, there appears to be a vast improvement in certain areas, especially up front where Clare have already surpassed last year’s total by 13 points with a game to spare. However, Sod’s law inevitably rules that this improvement in attack has coincided with a more porous defence in that Clare have conceded six more points at the six game mark than they did after seven matches last year and one of the obvious places to point the finger is from frees.

Out of the 10-79 that Clare have conceded in six games, over 40 per cent of those have come from placed balls (2-39), a factor that seems to be hurting Clare most at the moment. Now whether you think Clare are being discriminated against due to their perceived status as a traditional hurling power – a kick back to the underdog if you will, or that these are minor indiscretions that won’t even be considered a free in the championship, one might have a case as for a game with little or no malice, there were ten yellow cards distributed.

However, that still doesn’t aid the predicament that the free count was a decisive ingredient on Sunday as Laois’ chief marksman Willie Hyland hit 1-10, with eight of those coming from frees.

The dark clouds initially started to form as early as the fourth minute when Laois cut through the centre of the Clare defence, creating an overlap for John Brophy to finish to the roof of the net. By the tenth minute, that lead was stretched to five as Clare were overrun in midfield but they received their first lifeline in the 13th minute when Nicky O’Connell controlled a Laois puck-out and played a high delivery for Conor McGrath to field and finish with a one handed swing.

By the 16th minute, Clare were level at 1-3 apiece when Sean Collins picked out John Conlon in space from a lineball but far from inspiring the visitors, in truth, that purple patch only papered over the cracks.

After suffering a surprise set-back against Down a week previous, Laois were determined to make amends and as a result, they played in a more defensive manner, playing short puck-outs as well as drawing back their midfield for Clare’s puck-outs.

It frustrated Clare who were unable to get into any flow and five successive points followed from the home side, three from the stick of Hyland who was beginning to cause Brendan Bugler trouble on the wing.

In an effort to spark a revival, Clare rang the changes and by half’s end, only six of the 14 outfield players would remain in their original positions. It did have the desired effect however as Nicky O’Connell (2) and Diarmuid McMahon cut the deficit to just three at the break at 1-9 to 1-6 and considering their lacklustre display, Clare would have felt extremely satisfied to be so close to their opponents.

With time to regroup, Clare reemerged a different animal in the second period and got off to an inspirational start with a Conor McGrath point after only 40 seconds, followed only minutes later by a Darach Honan scrambled goal after goalkeeper Paddy Mullaney spilled a Nicky O’Connell free.

It put Clare into the lead for the first time but it was to be short lived as Willie Hyland hit three out of the next four scores to hold a 1-12 to 208 advantage by the 44th minute. Clare were beginning to dominate the centre through Clonlara pair Nicky O’Connell and John Conlon and it allowed Clare to hit back and build up a four point advantage with another brace from O’Connell and a Jonathan Clancy goal that emanated from a Domhnall O’Donovan clearance which evaded Laois’ last line.

However, it was at this stage that Clare failed to put away their opponents and put the result beyond doubt. Over half of Clare’s 15 wides came in the final quarter and that profligacy at one end allowed Laois a way back in at the other with Hyland and wingback Joe Fitzpatrick pointing before Owen Holohan grabbed a goal when seizing on a mistake by goalkeeper Tuohy in the 60th minute.

Cue an immense solo fightback from Nicky O’Connell who not only picked off two unanswered points to level the game by the 63rd minute but also set up Fergal Lynch for the leading point a minute later.

Again Clare failed to capitalise though by wasting a hatful of chances and inevitably it was Hyland who filled the void when first equalising with a free and then expertly flicking a Joe Fitzpatrick clearance past the onrushing Tuohy to seal the win.

It means that Clare must win their final game against Carlow in Cusack Park in two weeks to guarantee their passage in the Division 2 decider against Limerick. A task that in normal circumstances wouldn’t cause too many sleepless nights but in the current ‘growing pain’ guise, these aren’t normal circumstances.

Laois
Paddy Mullaney, John A Delaney, Brian Campion, Brian Stapleton, Joe Fitzpatrick (0-1), Matthew Whelan (0-1 1f), Brian Galvin, James Walsh (0-2), Sean Burke (0-2), Brian Dunne, Ger Reddin,Willie Hyland (1-10 8f), Owen Holohan (1-0), Neil Foyle, John Brophy (1-0)

Subs
Eoin Costelloe for Dunne (50 mins), Noel Costelloe for Burke (59 mins)

Clare
Donal Tuohy (Crusheen) (6), Pat Vaughan (Crusheen) (8), Conor Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills) (7), Domhnall O’Donovan (Clonlara) (7), Brendan Bugler (Whitegate) (6), James McInerney (Newmarket-on-Fergus) (6), Patrick O’Connor (Tubber) (7), Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara) (8) (0-7 4f), Sean Collins (Cratloe) (6), John Conlon (Clonlara) (7) (0-1), Fergal Lynch (Clooney/Quin) (6) (0-1), Jonathan Clancy (Clarecastle) (6) (1-0), Darach Honan (Clonlara) (7) (1-0), Diarmuid McMahon (Kilmaley) (7) (0-1), Conor McGrath (Cratloe) (7) (1-3 2f)

Sub
Caimin Morey (Sixmilebridge) (6) for Collins (49 mins)

Man of the Match
Willie Hyland (Laois) Referee Michael O’Connor (Limerick)

CLARE’S fate still lies in their own hands but they never seem to make it easy for themselves as manager Ger O’Loughlin expressed afterwards.

“I thought we showed a great auld spirit in the second half after a very, very poor and at times completely dead and no attitude first half but I couldn’t ask for any more in the second half.

“We gave them the game really with errors again and we just have to try and eliminate that at this level against better teams and I consider Laois to be one of the better teams in Division 2. If you give them the chance, they will take it and I thought overall that we might deserve to win it with our second half display. But when you miss as much as we missed in the second half from very scoreable positions and you concede the soft enough scores that we did, you are going to end up on the losing end. So I’m disappointed but as I have just said to the lads in the dressing room, we are just going to have to pick ourselves up because it’s still in our own hands. If we beat Carlow in Cusack Park in two weeks time, we will be OK.”

“The bottom line is if we won today, we could have eased our way into the Carlow match and tried a couple of things but now it’s a make-or-break game. So destiny is in our own hands but we definitely need to improve. You would go into the Carlow match worried because we are only hitting it in phases.”