Major boost for Clare minors in Celtic Challenge

Clare are set for a mouth-watering group decider against neighbours Galway after maintaining their perfect start with a 0-17 to 0-16 victory over North Cork in Charleville last Saturday.

It was another gritty character-filled display from Ger Hickey’s side that looked to have blown their chance when eleven first half wides with the aid of the conditions left them with only a minimum advantage by the break at 0-6 to 0-5.

That narrative appeared to be playing out when the Banner trailed their gale-assisted hosts by four entering the final ten minutes.

However, much like their opening derby with Limerick seven days previously, Clare remained composed under pressure and managed to play their way back into contention.

Indeed, it was substitutes Padraic O’Donovan and Eoin Heffron that provide hugely influential in turning the tide as the Smith O’Brien’s clubman scored one and assisted three more points while O’Donovan would raid for six points overall including the injury-time winning free to cement a famous win on the road.

Spinal defenders Eoghan Daly and Cathal Ryan along with Liam Crotty, Eoin Lahiffe and Tadhg Minogue were others to shine as Clare soared to the top of the Group 1 table ahead of the final round derby clash with Galway in O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge on Saturday at 2pm.

Clare: Seamie O’Donnell (Killanena); Ian Williams (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Eoghan Daly (Feakle), Tadhg Kilkenny (Bodyke); Liam Crotty (Scariff), Cathal Ryan (Inagh-Kilnamona), Eoin McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield); Ciaran Connolly (Ballyea) (Captain), Francis Meaney (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield); Aaron Moroney (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Eoin Lahiffe (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Tom Curran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield); Daniel Chaplin (Sixmilebridge), Kieran McDonnell (Ballyea), Tadhg Minogue (Scariff). Subs: Padraic O’Donovan (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Eoin Heffron (Smith O’Brien’s), Dara Nolan (Parteen)
Scorers: Daniel Chaplin (6f), Padraic O’Donovan (3f) (0-6 each); Tom Curran (0-2); Eoin Lahiffe Francis Meaney, Eoin Heffron (0-1 each)