Munster Senior Football Championship Semi-Final
Clare 2-20 Waterford 1-09

A completely different team but admirably the same result as Clare eased into back-to-back Munster Senior Football Finals for the first time in 87 years in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, writes Eoin Brennan.
Despite the home side’s current buoyancy following their first Munster Championship triumph in 14 years against Tipperary last time out, Mark Fitzgerald’s side quickly quelled any potential revolt with a clincially professional performance.
Indeed, they answered Jason Curry’s opening minute point with the next seven through five different scorers (Emmet McMahon (2), Aaron Griffin (2), Dermot Coughlan, Darragh Bohannon, Mark McInerney) and never looked back over their shoulders thereafter as goals through Emmet McMahon and Mark McInerney either side of the break cemented a provincial final showdown with Kerry long before the turn of the final quarter at 2-13 to 0-5.
Even a Tom O’Connell home goal couldn’t rally a downtrodden Deise as Aaron Griffin (2) and Ciaran Downes cancelled it out by the turn for home.
With the result beyond doubt, the game descended in a much more scrappy affair that saw the excellent Aaron Griffin clear the crossbar while substitute Cormac Murray had his obligatory goal disallowed by referee David Murnane (who also contentiously disallowed a late winner against Westmeath in the National League).
Waterford could have raised a few more green flags themselves but Michael Curry and inspirational corner-back Liam Fennell both had shots saved by goalkeeper Stephen Ryan while lively substitute Alan Dunwoody kicked wide under pressure.
In a match that saw the referee even give Clare an extra point by half-time and have to be corrected by a media contingent, it ultimately mattered little as Clare, despite only six starters from last year’s Munster Final, were still far too slick for the Division 4 side.
The chasm in Munster means that while Clare were 14 point victors over Waterford, they now have to take on three-in-a-row champions Kerry in a fortnight’s time, a side that sunk Clare by the same margin in last year’s decider.
That’s for another day though because as the GAA slogan goes ‘nothing beats being there’.

Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan

Meelick’s Joe Ryan, far right, accompanied by his son Ray, accepts Honorary Life Membership of the IFA from Francie Gorman, Nat Pres IFA, and Tom Lane, County Chairman. He was also presented with a framed reproduction of a Clare Champion story, to mark the occasion, by journalist Dan Danaher, left, at the IFA AGM in Hotel Woodstock. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare manager Mark Fitzgerald encourages his team from the sideline versus Wicklow. Photograph by Natasha Barton

The Ennis Faughs team that won the 1952 Clare Senior Football Championship, Back Row (from left): Matt Nugent, Michael Brooks, Michael Considine, PJ Kyne, Paddy King, Paddy Dowling, Tony Strand and Frank Costelloe. Front: Frank O’Dea, Hugh O’Donnell, Jimmy Hanrahan, Michael Garry, Gerry Moroney (captain), Tommy Moloney, Brendan Madigan, Rev Frankie Cassidy, Murt O’Shea.

Sinéad Nic Síoda, Amanda Jane Shannon, Marion Moynihan, Arthur Watson, Donal O’Connell, John Killeen, Martin Vernon, Neil Bedford, Patrick Glynn, Deirdre Devally and Tessa Lund from the Poetry Collective

Trainer Brian Casey with recruits Oisin Kenneally from Ennis and John Gillivan from Crusheen.

The Mortello Tower at Aughinish in North Clare

Floral tributes left at the scene to remember the late Dylan Coady Coleman who died following a road accident at Shannon. Photograph by John Kelly

A vehicle is cordoned off at the scene of the incident in Shannon. Photograph by John Kelly

Vehicles cordoned off at the scene of the incident in Shannon. Photograph by John Kelly

Clare: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks); Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg), Cillian Brennan (Clondegad), Manus Doherty (Éire Óg); Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s), Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon), Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg); Brian McNamara (Cooraclare), Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels); Gavin Murray (Éire Óg), Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil); Mark McInerney (Éire Óg), Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey), Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
Subs: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown) for G. Murray (33-37, BS), Murray for McMahon (46), Joe McGann (St Breckan’s) for Bohannon (51), Diarmuid O’Donnell (Kildysart) for McInerney (55), Cian Burke (St Breckan’s) for Sweeney (68), Tom McDonald (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Coughlan (67)

Scorers: Emmet McMahon (1-3, 1f); Mark McInerney (1-2, 1f); Aaron Griffin (0-5); Ciaran Downes (0-4, 1’45); Darragh Bohannon, Diarmuid O’Donnell (0-2 each); Dermot Coughlan, Gavin Murray (0-1 each)

Waterford: Paudie Hunt (Rathgormack); Ross Browne (Colligan), Caoimhin Walsh (Kilrossanty), Liam Fennell (Stradbally); Dermot Ryan (The Nire), Billy O’Keeffe (Gaultier), Robbie McGrath (Ballinameela); Michael Curry (Rathgormack), Jason Curry (Rathgormack); Sean Whelan-Barrett (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty), Donie Fitsgerald (Kilrossanty), William Beresford (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty); Stephen Curry (Rathgormack), Tom O’Connell (Brickey Rangers), James Power (Rathgormack)
Subs: James Walsh (Modeligo) for Fitzgerald (39), Caolan Mac Craith (An Rinn) for Beresford (43), Alan Dunwoody (Kilrossanty) for Browne (46), Billy Hynes (Shamrocks) for McGrath (61), Michael O’Brien (Stradbally) for J. Curry (65)

Scorers: Tom O’Connell (1-1, 1f); Alan Dunwoody (0-3, 2f); Jason Curry (0-2, 1f); Sean Whelan-Barrett, Robbie McGrath, Ross Browne (0-1 each)

Referee: David Murnane (Cork)