CLARE’S 2016 championship season ground to a very definite halt in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon, with Kerry advancing to an All-Ireland semi-final meeting with either Dublin or Donegal. Kerry’s eleven point win was their 14th All-Ireland quarter-final win in 16 games and their ninth successive championship win over Clare since 1992. Clare did not lack for effort but there was a clear gap in quality between the teams. Clare lacked the zip and support play evident in their wins over Laois, Sligo and Roscommon while poor decision making on the ball cost them regularly against Kerry. The attendance was 29,251.
Clare fans settle in with their sandwiches before their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare fans settle in before their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare football captain, from when they beat Kerry in 1992, Francis Mc Inerney of Doonbeg settles in before the All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mick Bohan, Clare coach with his charges before their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Colm Collins, Clare manager and David O Brien, Clare Selector, before their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
The Clare team to play Limerick on Wednesday has been named. Photograph by John Kelly.
Brian Ó Beaglaoich of Kerry in action against Pearse Lillis of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Former Clare goalkeeper Joe Hayes. Photograph by John Kelly.
Joe Hayes and Kevin Hartnett of Clare have a word with an umpire during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare fans react during their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Gary Brennan of Clare in action against Kieran Donaghy of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Martin Mc Mahon of Clare in action against Donnchadh Walsh of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Martin Mc Mahon of Clare in action against Donnchadh Walsh of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cathal O Connor of Clare in action against Donnchadh Walsh of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian O Dea of Clare in action against Paul Geaney of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane Enright of Kerry in action against Martin Mc Mahon of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Martin Mc Mahon of Clare in action against Donnchadh Walsh of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Many Hands..Kieran Donaghy of Kerry seems to be on top of this dropping ball during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mick Bohan, Clare coach, on the sideline during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cathal O Connor of Clare in action against Stephen O’Brien of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
A relieved Joe Hayes of Clare looks back at Donnchadh Walsh of Kerry following a saved attempt at goal during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian O Dea of Clare in action against Paul Murphy of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian O Dea of Clare in action against Peter Crowley of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Cian O Dea of Clare is shown a yellow card bt Referee Maurice Deegan during their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Referee Maurice Deegan gestures with his whistle during the All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Colm Collins, Clare manager and Mick Bohan, Clare coach on the sideline during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Gordon Kelly of Clare in action against Paul Geaney of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare and Kerry Players exchange views at half time during their quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Tubridy of Clare in action against Darran O’Sullivan of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Killian Young of Kerry in action against Jamie Malone of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Keelan Sexton of Clare in action against Shane Enright of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Tubridy of Clare watches his point go over during their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tadhg Morley of Kerry in action against Jamie Malone of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Kieran Donaghy of Kerry in action against Gary Brennan of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mick Bohan, left, has resigned as Clare senior football coach.
Photograph by John Kelly.
Mark Griffin of Kerry in action against Eoin Cleary of Clare. Photograph by John Kelly.
Enda Coughlan of Clare in action against David Moran of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mick Bohan, Clare coach on his knees during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Gordon Kelly’s Miltown St. Josephs will face Cratloe in the Clare senior football championship semi-final. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jamie Malone of Clare in action against Aidan O Mahony and Brian Kelly of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Referee Maurice Deegan consults with his umpires during the All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jamie Malone of Clare gets treatment from Physio Sean O Meara during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mick Bohan, Clare coach and Colm Collins, Clare manager look on during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mick Bohan, Clare coach and Colm Collins, Clare manager on the sideline during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Paul Geaney of Kerry in action against Dean Ryan of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Darran O’Sullivan of Kerry in action against Gary Brennan of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Podge Collins of Clare in action against Killian Young of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Brian Ó Beaglaoich of Kerry in action against Pat Burke of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Paul Murphy of Kerry in action against Pearse Lillis of Clare during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Mick Bohan, Clare coach and Colm Collins, Clare manager on the sideline during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Referee Maurice Deegan gestures during the All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jamie Malone of Clare looks on as his shot hits the crossbar to the relief of Brian Kelly and Bryan Sheehan of Kerry during their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare lost Jamie Malone to injury after four minutes of the McGrath Cup final Photograph by John Kelly.
Keelan Sexton of Clare.
Keelan Sexton of Clare and Mark Griffin of Kerry following their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Podge Collins of Clare and Barry John Keane of Kerry exchange jerseys following their quarter final against Kerry at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Anthony Maher of Kerry and Enda Coughlan of Clare embrace following their All-Ireland quarter final at Croke Park. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare had been going reasonably well until they conceded a very soft goal to Donnchadh Walsh in the 20th minute of the opening half. Kerry intercepted a Martin McMahon pass and although Dean Ryan tried valiantly to somehow direct the ball away from goal, it broke for Walsh who could not miss from close range. That was the crucial score of the opening half and opened up a 1-6 to 0-3 lead for Kerry. Clare had settled reasonably well and two David Tubridy points, from a 45 and a free, added to an Eoin Cleary free had tied the game 0-3 each after 16 minutes. Tubridy’s pointed free was for a foul on Cleary, who for a fleeting moment was almost in on goal. Cleary’s pointed free followed a foul on Cathal O’Connor who started on Kieran Donaghy, until Kerry moved the Austin Stacks midfielder on to Gary Brennan. A minute before half-time, Cooraclare’s Pearse Lillis put over Clare’s only score of the opening half from play. They were 1-8 to 0-5 down at half time and while Jamie Malone pointed from play in the second minute of the new half, Clare never threatened to turn the game into a contest. Any chance that they might have clawed their way back into it evaporated five minutes into the second half, when Darran O’Sullivan sped away from Gordon Kelly and buried Kerry’s second goal. He was set up by excellent full forward play from Paul Geaney. That put the winners into a 2-8 to 0-6 lead and that was that. Eoin Cleary from three frees, David Tubridy from another dead ball and substitute Pat Burke kicked Clare’s remaining second half scores. Kerry full forward Paul Geaney kicked two early points for his side, James O’Donoghue added three points, two from play. Darran O’Sullivan pointed twice while Donnchadh Walsh’s 32nd minute point completed Kerry’s first half tally.
Clare looked tentative for much of the opening half and their support game was not sufficiently energetic to trouble Kerry. Kerry’s shooting was very poor at times in the second period but Barry John Keane put over three points from play, while James O’Donoghue, Bryan Sheehan, Paul Geaney and Stephen O’Brien also pointed for the Eamon Fitzmaurice managed team. What will disappoint Clare most is that they did not make a game of it. Very few players looked as sharp as they needed to be. Only Seán Collins, Dean Ryan and Jamie Malone in the second half did well for Clare. Gary Brennan was very involved in the opening half but was not as evident after that. Clare only scored four points from play and that underlines one of their issues in this game. They were unlucky not to score at least one goal and Jamie Malone hit the post 16 minutes from time. The Clare Champion will have more on this game on Thursday with post match interviews and analysis.
Clare: Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Martin McMahon (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Kevin Harnett (Meelick), Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane); Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora), Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s, Miltown), Dean Ryan (Éire Óg); Gary Brennan (Clondegad-captain), Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen); Seán Collins (Cratloe), Podge Collins (Cratloe), Jamie Malone (Corofin), Eoin Cleary (Miltown); Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare); David Tubridy (Doonbeg).
Subs: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Cian O’Dea (half-time), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis) for David Tubridy (47), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Cathal O’Connor (49), Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes) for Shane Hickey (57), Seanie Malone (Miltown) for Gordon Kelly (64).
Scorers: Eoin Cleary (0-5f), David Tubridy (0-3, 1f, 1 45), Pearse Lillis, Jamie Malone, Pat Burke (0-1 each).
Yellow cards: Gordon Kelly, Cian O’Dea, Shane Hickey, Keelan Sexton and Kevin Harnett.
Wides: 5 Frees: 31
Kerry: Brian Kelly; Shane Enright, Mark Griffin, Killian Young (captain); Brian O’Beaglaoich; Peter Crowley, Tadhg Morley; Kieran Donagh, David Moran; Stephen O’Brien, Donnchadh Walsh, Paul Murphy; Darran O’Sullivan, Paul Geaney, James O’Donoghue.
Subs: Aidan O’Mahony for Tadhg Morey (44 BC), Barry John Keane for Donnchadh Walsh (44), Anthony Maher for Kieran Donaghy (47), Bryan Sheehan for David Moran (52), Marc O’Sé for Peter Crowley (52), Tony Brosnan for James O’Donoghue (66).
Scorers: Darran O’Sullivan (1-2) James O’Donoghue (0-5, 3f), Donnchadh Walsh (1-1), Paul Geaney (0-3, 1f) Barry John Keane (0-3), Bryan Sheehan (f) and Stephen O’Brien (0-1 each).
Yellow card: Darran O’Sullivan, Stephen O’Brien and Barry John Keane. Black card: Tadhg Morley.
Wides 14 Frees: 16 Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.
