Clare coming to the boil

COMMENT

ARE Clare this good or were they aided by a listless, compliant Galway team who folded with a whimper?
First let’s acknowledge that Clare easily swatted Galway from the 2013 championship. Their tactical plan worked flawlessly although Galway displayed extreme naivety in isolating Joe Canning at full-forward from the throw-in.

Surely they should have known in advance that Clare would double up on Canning? They would have been better advised to either give Canning a free roaming role or possibly start him in the half-forward line, thereby placing immediate questions over Clare deployment of Pat Donnellan as an extra defender, behind Conor Ryan and in front of Cian Dillon.

Donnellan’s reading of the game was admirable, particularly in the first-half and he picked up several breaks and ill directed Galway deliveries in that half.

It must be noted that just two years ago Galway hammered Clare by 17 points in an All-Ireland qualifier in Salthill. Of the 20 players who lined-out for Clare that evening, nine either started or were brought on last Sunday. This indicates the player turnover inside the last two seasons but also the improvement in Clare’s performance level. Within two years they have achieved a 23-point turnaround.

Along with dropping Pat Donnellan back in front of the full-back line, Clare’s preordained match-ups also worked well. Cian Dillon picked up Canning while when the Galway free taker, who was poor from frees and in general play, moved to centre forward, he was shackled by Brendan Buglar.

Cannings worst moment was when he was turned over by Tony Kelly, 15 minutes from time. Kelly streaked away from the Portumna clubman, who simply didn’t have the legs to chase. The Ballyea mans point put Clare seven points up, more or less ensuring the win, although Clare did concede a second goal thereafter. The seven-point deficit was just too much to make-up however.

An example of how switched on Clare were, in complete contrast to Galway, was when Colin Ryan took a quick free to Podge Collins in the 21st minute. Collins had cleverly positioned himself in space near the sideline, sought the quick delivery and banged the ball over the bar.

Galway repeatedly hit high, hopeful ball into their full-forward line, although it must be said that at times in the first half, Clare’s clearances were equally inaccurate. Galway had an extra defender themselves and Jason Grealish picked up several ill directed clearances.

On what was his championship debut, Conor Ryan hurled solidly and intelligently, adding strength and certainty to the centre of the Clare defence. Tony Kelly found space easier to come by in Thurles and ran into it with real threat on several occasions, while Conor McGrath is nearing peak form at the right time. His club mate Podge Collins also gave his last drop.

Galway’s goals were avoidable and down to individual defensive mistakes. Clare could have lost their composure, and perhaps would have 12 months ago. This time they went downfield and hit some crucial points with Collins and Fergal Lynch scoring and basically putting Galway away.

While the players’ fitness and conditioning levels are clearly exceptionally well developed and maintained, Seoirse Bulfin must be the fittest Maor Foirne in hurling. He has clocked up the miles in his role this summer, carrying missives from Davy Fitzgerald infield to the players. The speed at which Seoirse travels appears to the linked to the urgency of the message from the manager.

Presumably Limerick will be significantly more up for it on August 18 in Croke Park than Galway were last Sunday. Having put away Tipperary and Cork in Munster, Limerick won’t fear Clare but neither will Clare worry about their Shannonside opponents.

Clare supporters can enjoy the build up to the All-Ireland semi-final while management and players plot to ensure they will be fresh and ready for Limerick. That won’t be easily achieved with a Munster U-21 final, two rounds of the Clare senior football championship and round two of the Senior Hurling Championship in the offing in the coming weeks.

Managing those issues is a boardroom concern. For now at least Clare people are incrementally increasing in confidence as their team grows into the 2013 All-Ireland championship.

With Kilkenny and Tipperary out, the championship is wide open. Sunday fortnight will impart another crystal clear indication as to how good this evolving Clare team is.