First-half goals deflate London

Clare   2-14   London   0-8

BEATING London and securing a promotion-deciding match against Limerick was Clare’s priority last Saturday in Cusack Park. First-half goals from Rory Donnelly and Gary Brennan, with David Tubridy involved in setting up both, established a buffer between the teams and helped the Banner record a comfortable win.

London played their best football in the opening 10 minutes and kicked the game’s opening points, with Lorcan Mulvey and Lloyd Colfer scoring.

 

However, Clare settled into the game in the eighth minute when David Tubridy managed to keep a Rory Donnelly point attempt from drifting over the end line. Tubridy held possession, before finding Donnelly with a hand pass. The Cooraclare man netted from a couple of yards out. Clare’s second goal, scored by Gary Brennan in the 28th minute, was put on a plate for the captain by Tubridy and Mark McCarthy.

Tubridy kicked four of his seven points in the first half, with McCarthy notching a brace, while his work rate, tackling and movement was, again, at a very high level. Shane McGrath and Donnelly scored Clare’s additional first-half points.

John Hayes played much of the first half as an extra defender in front of a full-back line that had trouble containing full-forward Lorcan Mulvey and Cathal Magee.

Selected at wing-forward, Wolfe Tones’ Chris Dunning dropped to wing-back, leaving London with a spare back but the Clare forwards also had additional space in which to forage.

Enda Coughlan moved to centre-back, with Gordon Kelly switching to the corner early in the first half.
The sting went out of the game almost completely for much of the second half, with London never threatening to close in on the home side.

For the second successive game, Gary Brennan caught the throw-in after half-time, cut through and scored an inspirational point.

A highlight of an uneventful second period was a classy David Tubridy point, scored after John Hayes made a run before completing a full twirl and laying the ball off to the Doonbeg corner-forward.
Clare introduced a number of second-half subs, including Killian Malone and Francie Hayes, both of whom were given their first runs in the league.

Clare didn’t have to extend themselves unduly. Declan Callinan, Cathal O’Connor, who had a superb game, Tubridy, Donnelly and McCarthy all played well, although Clare didn’t look comfortable in the full-back line, particularly during the opening 15 minutes.

Lorcan Mulvey and Lloyd Colfer did well for London, who were poor defensively.

Clare: Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Chris Dixon (Kilrush), Shane McNeilis (Kildysart), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane); Declan Callinan (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s, Miltown), John Hayes (Kilrush); Gary Brennan (Clondegad, captain), Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen); Alan Clohessy (Liscannor), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis), Chris Dunning (Wolfe Tones); Mark McCarthy (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Rory Donnelly (Cooraclare), David Tubridy (Doonbeg).
Subs: Ian McInerney (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Alan Clohessy (41), John Keane (Corofin) for Shane McGrath (60), Killian Malone (Kilfenora) for Rory Donnelly (64) and Ger Quinlan (O’Curry’s) for Cathal O’Connor (67).
Scorers: David Tubridy (0-7, 2f), Gary Brennan and Rory Donnelly (1-1 each), Mark McCarthy (0-2), Shane McGrath, John Keane and Ger Quinlan (0-1 each).
Wides: 13; frees won: 23.
Yellow cards: Shane McNeilis.

London: Declan Traynor; Kevin Lynam, Shane Mulligan, David McGreevy; Seamus Hannon (captain), Eamon McConville, Tony Gaughan; Greg Crowley, Caolan Doyle; Mark Gottsche, Lloyd Colfer, Ciarán McCallion; Pádraig McGoldrick, Lorcan Mulvey, Cathal Magee.
Subs: Gary Magee for David McGreevy (30), Eoin O’Neill for Pádraig McGoldrick (31), Gary Mitchell for Lloyd Colfer (41), Michael Callery for Caolan Doyle (46) and Graham Carr for Eamon McConville (63).
Scorers: Lorcan Mulvey and Lloyd Colfer (0-2 each), Cathal Magee, Ciarán McCallion, Eoin O’Neill (f) and Gary Mitchell (0-1 each).
Wides: 8; frees won: 17.
Yellow cards: Ciarán McCallion, Declan Traynor and Lorcan Mulvey.
Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).