Clare men help NUI Galway to victory

NUIG 1-11   Wexford 0-13

FOUR Clare players were part of the NUI Galway line-up that scored a one-point win over Wexford in the opening round of the Walsh Cup at Enniscorthy on Saturday.
Newly appointed Wexford manager Liam Dunne decided to play a second-string side, while the students were missing the services of Kevin Downes, who is due to play with Na Piarsaigh in the upcoming All-Ireland Club Championship semi-final.
Clare’s Caimin Morey opted to play with Clare against Gort on Saturday.
Wexford started the game aided by a very stiff wind and were 0-5 to 0-1 ahead after 20 minutes as Niall Burke was the sole NUIG scorer. The students dominated the final 10 minutes of the first half outscoring Wexford 1-3 to 0-4.
Donal Tuohy (Crusheen), who excelled in goals all day, denied Wexford on a number of occasions throughout the game. Eventually, NUIG took the lead and defended well against a late, spirited Wexford rally to deservingly win the tie.
Patrick Kelly (Clarecastle) started at centre-field but reverted back to wing-back and dominated the last quarter. Eoin Hayes (Newmarket) started at full-forward and scored a brilliant second-half point. Rory Shanahan (Sixmilebridge) started at wing-forward but was replaced before half-time.
NUIG commence their Fitzgibbon campaign on February 8 against DIT in Dangan and the following week travel to Carlow IT.

LIT bow out

SIX Clare players were in the Limerick IT starting line-up against Tipperary in a Waterford Crystal preliminary-round tie at Dolla on Sunday.
Whitegate’s Andrew Fahy was the team’s goalkeeper, while the Glynn brothers from Inagh-Killanena, Eamonn and Brian, filled the corner-back positions.
Cratloe’s Sean Collins led the students’ attack with his clubmate Cathal McInerney at corner-forward. The other corner-forward position was filled by Clonlara’s Cathal O’Connell.
Colin Nelson from Feakle was introduced for the closing stages for the Davy Fitzgerald managed side.