Another year in Division 2

ERRORS at crucial stages cost dearly at Cusack Park on Saturday evening. As a result, Clare will compete in the lower division for a third year in 2012.
Four points in front with 17 minutes remaining, the home side was in a strong position to pull off a surprise result against the competition favourites but they failed to maintain the form shown in the third quarter.
Fighting back from being four points in arrear at the interval to lead by the same margin inside the final quarter, Clare failed to close out the game.
The experience of manager Donal O’Grady played a huge role in Limerick’s resurgence as they outscored the home side 2-4 to 0-1 in the closing stages.
John Conlon had caused huge  problems for the winners in the third quarter when he contributed four excellent points but the switch of Limerick captain Gavin O’Mahoney from full-back to the wing helped curb the Clare man. It also cut the supply of ball to Conlon’s clubmate Darach Honan, who had proved a real handful for O’Mahoney when he was at full-back.
Both sides were guilty of mistakes during the very competitive tie. Limerick had the more experience but when Clare look back, they will wonder at what might have been had they not been guilty of some very bad mistakes.
The banner made the better start and were two points to the good when a bad mistake by centre-back Cian Dillon led to the visitor’s first goal, scored by Sean Tobin in the sixth minute following a break by Ritchie McCarthy. The home side fought back and after they had traded points three times, Clare opened a two-point gap as half-time approached.
Disaster struck shortly before the break. Limerick centre-back Seamus Hickey won possession but his poorly hit shot from midfield beat the defence. It was stopped by goalkeeper Donal Tuohy but as he attempted to lift the ball, he somehow knocked it over the goal line. Limerick went on to add three points and finish the half four points clear, 2-6 to 0-8.
Midway through the first half, Clare introduced Darach Honan for Diarmuid McMahon but, surprisingly, the side returned for the second period without making any further changes, despite the fact some players were struggling. Some positional switches were made and Pat Donnellan moved to centre-back in a switch with Cian Dillon, who had struggled at the centre in the opening period.
Clare had a dream start to the second half with Darach Honan striking for the goal of the game inside the opening minute, quickly followed by the equalising point from John Conlon. Conlon caused huge problems for Limerick in the third quarter and it was from one of his deliveries that Conor McGrath scored Clare’s second goal in the fifteenth minute.
Honan quickly added a point to put the home side four clear but just when Clare looked like they might open a commanding lead, Declan Hannon waltzed past a number of defenders for Limerick’s third goal.
John Conlon replied with a point to put Clare two ahead with 15 minutes still to play but this was to prove to be the home side’s  last score as the Limerick defence took over. Team captain O’Mahoney moved to wing-back where he did much better on Conlon and the introduction of David Moloney at corner-back also helped the visitors.
Extra time looked a possibility when Paul Browne hit the equaliser with four minutes remaining but, a minute later, Kevin Downes rounded Conor Cooney and, from a tight angle, found the net to kill Clare’s dream of victory. Hannon and Niall Moran added points before Nicky Quaid saved well from Nicky O’Connell to seal victory and return the Shannonsiders to the top flight.
Gavin O’Mahoney, Tom Condon, Wayne McNamara and Seamus Hickey got through a lot of work in the Limerick defence. Up front, Declan Hannon and Kevin Downes caused a lot of problems for a mistake-ridden Clare defence. The home side had a lot of problems in the centre of their defence, with Donal Tuohy, Cian Dillon and, to a lesser extent, Conor Cooney all guilty of costly errors.
Domhnaill O’Donovan was Clare’s best defender while Patrick O’Connor got through some good work. John Conlon, Darach Honan and Fergal Lynch were the pick of the attack on an evening when Clare had 11 wides.

Limerick:  Nicky Quaid; Damian Reale, Gavin O’Mahoney, Tom Condon; Wayne McNamara, Seamus Hickey, David Breen; Donal O’Grady, Paul Browne; Declan Hannon, Ritchie McCarthy, James Ryan; Sean Tobin, Kevin Downes, Graeme Mulcahy.
Subs: Niall Moran for S Tobin (47 minutes); Pat Tobin for McCarthy (55 minutes); Davy Moloney for Breen (55 minutes).
Scorers: Kevin Downes (1-2), Sean Tobin, Declan Hannon (1-1) each; Ritchie McCarthy (0-4, 0-3f); Seamus Hickey (1-0); Paul Browne (0-2); Donal O’Grady, Niall Moran (0-1).
Frees: 11; Wides: 9; 65: 1
Bookings: Damian Reale (59 minutes).

Clare: Donal Tuohy; Pat Vaughan, Conor Cooney, Domhnaill O’Donovan; Patrick O’Connor, Cian Dillon, Pat Donnellan; Nicky O’Connell, Liam Markham; John Conlon, Fergal Lynch, Jonathon Clancy; Conor McGrath, Diarmuid McMahon, Colin Ryan.
Subs: Darach Honan for McMahon (18 minutes); Caimin Morey for Ryan (59 minutes).
Scorers: John Conlon (0-4), Darach Honan (1-1), Conor McGrath (1-0), Nicky O’Connell (0-3, 0-2 65s); Colin Ryan (0-2f), Fergal Lynch (0-2) each; Liam Markham (0-1).
Frees: 8; Wides: 11; 65: 2
Bookings: Fergal Lynch (22 minutes), Conor Cooney (35 minutes), Pat Donnellan (55 minutes), Caimin Morey (60 minutes).

Referee: James McGrath, Westmeath.

Improvement needed in many areas

WHILE improvement is required in a number of key areas, Saturday evening’s performance was Clare’s best in competitive action this season. That said, it was still well short of what is needed to compete against either All-Ireland champions Tipperary or Cork in the Munster championship.
That Clare’s form was improved from earlier league displays is of little consolation after the team, for the second year in succession, tasted defeat. As Ger O’Loughlin  put it after the game, the last thing Clare hurling wants is another year in Division 2. Unfortunately, that is where they are destined to be unless, as some officials seem to be hinting, the league format changes. That is for another day, however and Clare must now look at what changes are needed ahead of the championship.
The Banner’s next competitive outing is on June 19 when they face Tipperary or Cork in the provincial semi-final. With the bulk of the next month taken up with the opening two rounds of the senior and intermediate club championships, there is little time to work on correcting the problems evident in Saturday’s defeat.
Before an official attendance of 9,800, a number of mistakes by players in key areas contributed hugely in the loss. Clare were in huge trouble in the centre of the defence with both Cian Dillon and Conor Cooney struggling. Things improved a little when Pat Donnellan went to centre-back at the start of the second half but Dillon, then playing on the left wing, must take a lot of the blame for Limerick’s third goal, a crucial score by Declan Hannon 16 minutes from the end. Goalkeeper Donal Tuohy also had some anxious moments and must take the major share of the blame for Limerick’s second goal.
James McInerney and Brendan Buglar were both named in the starting 15 on the match programme but neither played and while McInerney is struggling to shake off a hamstring injury, Buglar was fit for action.
There was also some surprise that Sean Collins and Cathal McInerney didn’t see some action, particularly as Clare struggled in attack while they faded at midfield in the final quarter. Conor McGrath, a doubtful starter right up to match time, failed to produce his best form while Diarmuid McMahon and Colin Ryan, both of whom were replaced and Jonathon Clancy struggled in the attack.
Given Clare’s problems, it was a surprise that only two substitutes were introduced, even though both managers watched the action from the stand. Incidentally Caimin Morey, Clare’s second substitute, was scarcely on the pitch when he picked up a yellow card. His marker Damian Reale was booked for clattering into the Sixmilebridge man when he arrived on the pitch and, seconds later, Morey saw yellow after he ‘returned the compliment’.
There was a little argy bargy before the game when both teams lined up at the same side behind the Tulla Pipe Band. Neither budged and both travelled around the pitch in the pre-match parade shoulder to shoulder.