Tag Archives: All-Ireland qualifiers

It’s been a long five weeks for Colm Collins and the Clare senior footballers, writes Joes Garry. The fact that Clare were history makers as party to the championship’s first penalty shoot-out will have offered little consolation as Limerick made good on their victory, and have since secured a place in the last 12- all be it on the back of a fairly chastening experience last Saturday. Colm & Co. have been long enough on the road to know that that first round display will be nowhere near good enough on Saturday next. The intervening period will have diluted the agonising manner of that defeat, but will, no doubt, act as a reminder of the unforgiving nature of the championship , if chances are not availed of. Therein lies Saturday’s biggest challenge. Clare, as always, will bring an honesty of endeavour but will need to complement same with far greater guile, particularly in front of goal. The 1-14 last day …

Clare 2-17 Sligo 1-13 THE Clare footballers have qualified for the last 12 of the All-Ireland senior football championship for the first time since the All-Ireland qualifiers were introduced in 2001. They outscored Sligo 1-13 to 1-4 in a fantastic second half display, led by Cathal O’Connor who kicked four sublime points from play. Keelan Sexton, introduced for the black carded Podge Collins six minute before half time, put over three superb points from play during that second half, while Gary Brennan buried a magnificent goal. Clare dominated the middle third after half-time, winning five of Sligo’s kick outs in the opening 15 minutes of that half, which illustrated how well they did in that sector. Clare were 0-9 to 1-4 down at half-time, having put over just one point from play in that half. Eoin Cleary was the only Clare player to score from play with the same player adding a point from a free won by Podge Collins. …

Clare 0-14 Laois 1-10 SHANE McGrath was the Clare match winner in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon, when he showed exceptional bottle and skill to kick Clare to a famous round two All-Ireland qualifier win over Laois. McGrath’s point, kicked in the 70th minute, helped Clare to just their fifth qualifier win in 18 games, since 2001. They will now play Cavan, Derry or Sligo next Saturday. The round 3 A draw will be made at 8.30am on Monday morning. This win was all the more commendable because 16 minutes into the second half, Darren Strong kicked Laois into a 1-10 to 0-9 lead. However that was the last time Laois scored as Clare substitutes McGrath and Seánie Malone, kicked invaluable points as did corner back Shane Hickey, who started in place of Dean Ryan. A Stephen Attride goal, six minute before half-time, was the score which divided the teams at the interval. The wing back picked finished a popped …

LAOIS senior hurlers may not have had a great season to date but Clare selector Louis Mulqueen believes the Midlanders will travel to Clare this Saturday determined to overcome the home side in Round 1 of the hurling qualifiers. “Laois were here in Clare last weekend and they trained in Cusack Park on Sunday morning, which suggests that they are not just coming down here on Saturday to make up the numbers,” selector Louis Mulqueen said. “Galway struggled against them in the championship last year. Clare are the favourites to succeed on Saturday but Laois have shown in modern times that they can match the best, so it’s not a foregone conclusion that Clare will win on Saturday.” Over the last decade, Clare have been made to fight all the way for victory over Laois, when the sides have clashed in both league and championship. Laois have struggled this season and did poorly in both the league and championship. Mulqueen …

Longford 2-12 Clare 1-12 THE Clare footballers exited the All-Ireland qualifiers following a very disappointing loss to Longford in Cusack Park on Saturday evening. The kicking of 12 wides was a huge factor in Clare’s demise. However they also made poor decisions on the ball, conceded scoreable frees and generally did not look as sharp as Longford, who were slicker and much more economical in possession. Following a season of progress in 2014, where they won promotion and played five championship games, 2015 will go down as a year in which Clare stood still, albeit they did retain their division 3 status. However championship wise, while they beat Limerick in Ennis, they have since lost heavily to Cork and now at home to Longford. Jack Sheedy’s team were reduced to 14 men when Diarmuid Masterson was sent off on a second yellow card 12 minutes from time but the extra man seemed to make no discernible difference. Dessie Reynold’s second …

CLARE’S best displays this year have been when they have played with freedom and abandon. They have totted up significant scores in several games but have conceded far too much defensively. It might seem a bit churlish to point to areas of concern given that they hammered Carlow by 19 points but unless Clare can balance all out attack with a more coherent defensive approach, it is very unlikely that they will come close to matching Kildare. A few things must not happen. Half backs cannot steam forward in front of the ball, while one midfielder must sit if the other attacks either on or off the ball. If a half back or midfielder attacks, one of the half forwards not directly involved in the move will have to drift back to prevent Clare being caught on the break. Players not on the ball will have to be as vigilant as those who are. Kildare will cut through Clare if …

THE Clare footballers will play Kildare this weekend in round three of the All-Ireland qualifiers in Cusack Park this weekend. Following their 19 point win over Carlow in Dr Cullen Park on Sunday, Clare could have drawn Kildare, Armagh or Roscommon home or away. While it has yet to be confirmed it is likely that the game will be played in Saturday in Ennis. The time and day of the match will be confirmed this afternoon by Croke Park. Kildare scored a 1-19 to 0-11 point win over Down in Páirc Esler at the weekend. They scored 1-6 without reply in the closing ten minutes when defeating the 2010 All-Ireland finalists. Clare’s win over Carlow was their first All-Ireland qualifier win since 2006 while this weekends game will be their fifth championship outing of 2014. The winners will qualify for the last 12 and a likely meeting with the Leinster or Ulster final losers.  

Clare 4-26 Carlow 2-13 CLARE scored an emphatic 19 point win over Carlow in Dr Cullen Park on Sunday afternoon. Such was their fluency in attack, ten players contributed to their tally. [doptg id=”31″]Clare led by 12 points, 2-15 to 1-6 at half time following a superb opening 35 minutes. Rory Donnelly scored the opening Clare goal after picking up a break off Shane Brennan who scored his sides second goal just before half time after a Shane McGrath pass. Donnelly added two points while Enda Coughlan, McGrath and David Tubridy kicked three points apiece in that opening period. They were dealt an early setback when Shane Hickey had to retired with a gash to his forehead which required five stitches. He was replaced by Dean Ryan at corner back. Clare went on to dominate the second period with Podge Collins and Podge McMahon scoring their goals. While Carlow were poor Clare will be very concerned that they conceded 2-13. …