Comfortable victory for Clare

Clare 2-21 Offaly 0-15

As expected, Clare made a winning start to life in division 1 B of the Allianz hurling league when they accounted for Offaly at Cusack Park this afternoon.

A strong last ten minutes to the first half during which they scored 1-7 while conceding just a point laid the foundations for this comfortable win.

While Clare officials will be pleased with the outcome, there is sure to be some concern at the fact that they finished with a tally of fifteen wides. There is also some concern about injuries picked up by both Darach Honan and John Conlon, both of which were replaced as a result

[doptg id=”100″]

The fact that three players were sent off might suggest that this was a dirty game but this was not the case. Fourteen minutes into the second half Peter Duggan (Clare) and Conor Doughan(Offaly) were involved in a tangle off the ball and referee Sean Cleere produced a red card for both while Offaly corner back Paddy Rigney was shown a second yellow card with just over ten minutes to go and this ended his involvement in the tie.

The teams were level three times in the opening quarter before the visitors edged into a two point lead, 0-6 to 0-4 as Clare struggled to get a grip on the tie. However, as the half wore on, the home side got a grip in a number of areas and they dictated matters in the final fifteen minutes of the half.

Their opening goal came in the thirty fourth minute when Peter Duggan, now operating in the full forward line, burst past a couple of defenders to fire past James Dempsey in the Offaly goal. Because of a number of stoppages due to injuries in the opening half, there were four minutes of additional time during which the winners hit four points without reply to open a nine point lead at the break when the score was 1-13 to 0-7.

The third quarter was evenly contested and during this period Offaly outscored the winners by a point, 0-4 to 0-3. When Shane Dooley converted a difficult free from near the sideline inside the final quarter, Offaly followers held out hope of a rally but it wasn’t to be and five unanswered points for the home side put the outcome beyond doubt. Offaly had a great chance to close the gap ten minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty but Shane Dooley’s effort was easily saved by Pat Kelly.

Substitute Aron Shanagher, making his senior inter county league debut, had the final score of the day when he had his team’s second goal in he third minute of ‘injury time’.

Scorers; Clare; Colin Ryan (0-9), 7 frees John Conlon (0-3) Peter Duggan, Aron Shanagher (1-0) each; David McInerney, Bobby Duggan (0-2)each ; Cian Dillon, Conor Cleary, David Reidy, Colm Galvin, Shane O’Donnell (0-1) each

Offaly; Shane Dooley (0-8), 6 frees, 1 ’65; Pat Camon, Shane Kinsella, Paddy Murphy (0-2) each Conor Doughan (0-1)

Clare; Patrick Kelly (Inagh-Kilnamona): Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Cian Dillon, Capt. (Crusheen), Paul Flanagan (Ballyea): Conor Cleary (Miltown St. Josephs), David McInerney (Tulla), Conor Ryan (Cratloe): David Reidy (Éire Óg), Colm Galvin (Clonlara): Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus), John Conlon (Clonlara): Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Darach Honan (Clonlara), Conor McGrath (Cratloe)

Subs: Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for Honan (inj;, 37 minutes); Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Conlon (inj;, 49 minutes); Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle) for Colin Ryan(51 minutes): David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) for McGrath (58 minutes); Jack Browne(Ballyea) for Conor Ryan(64 minutes);

Offaly: J. Dempsey: P. Rigney, C. McDonald, N.Wynne: P. Camon, C. Doughan, S. Gardiner; P. Guinan, S. Kinsella; P. Murphy, S. Dooley J. Bergin: J. Mulrooney, C.Egan, J.Sampson;

Subs; J. O’Connor for Guinan (31 minutes); S. Quirke for Sampson (37 minutes); S.Cleary for Mulrooney (63 minutes): B,Murphy for Bergin (65 minutes)

Referee; Sean Cleere, Kilkenny