By Peter O’Connell
Clare 2-14 London 1-8
FIRST half goals from Enda Coughlan and Gary Brennan were pivotal in steering Clare to the top of the division 4 table in Ruislip on Sunday afternoon.
Playing with a strong first half breeze the goals helped Clare into a 2-7 to 1-3 half time lead. Martin O’Leary kicked two first half points for the winners, with Podge Collins, Shane McGrath, Dean Ryan, David Tubridy and Gary Brennan also pointing.
However Clare conceded a soft first half goal when a Lorcan Mulvey shot deceived Clare goalkeeper Pierce Deloughrey and full back Gordon Kelly.
With a stiff breeze in their face Clare outscored London 0-7 to 0-5 in the second half. Martin O’Leary and Shane McGrath put over a brace apiece, while Podge Collins, Tubridy and Sean Collins added a point each.
This was a decent display from Clare who introduced Alan Clohessy, Rory Donnelly and debutante Jack O’Dea to the 2014 league.
Their next division 4 league game is at home to London on Sunday at 2pm.
Clare: Pierce Deloughre; Dean Ryan, Gordon Kelly, Kevin Hartnett; Oige Murphy, Enda Coughlan, Martin McMahon; Gary Brennan (captain), Shane Brennan; Sean Collins, Michael O’Shea, Podge Collins; Martin O’Leary, Shane McGrath, David Tubridy.
Subs: Cathal O’Connor for Shane McGrath, Rory Donnelly for Michael O’Shea, Jack O’Dea for Kevin Hartnett, Jamie Malone for David Tubridy, Alan Clohessy for Sean Collins.
Scorers: Martin O’Leary (0-4, 0-1f), Gary Brennan (1-1), Shane McGrath (0-3), Enda Coughlan (1-0), Podge Collins (0-2), David Tubridy (0-2, 0-1f), Sean Collins, Dean Ryan (0-1 each).
London: Declan Traynor; Philip Butler, Stephen Curran, Donnacha McCarthy; Seamus Hannon, Sean Kelly, Cathal McCarron; Mark Gottsche, Greg Crowley; Barry Mitchell, Martin Carroll, Marcus Miskelly; Adrian Moyles, Lorcan Mulvey (captain), Cathal Magee.
Subs: Brian Collins for Philip Butler, Sean Hickey for Lorcan Mulvey (inj), Joe Feeney for Barry Mitchell, Eoin O’Neill for Adrian Moyles, Lloyd Colfer for Marcus Miskelly, Shane Mulligan for Cathal Magee.
Scorers: Lorcan Mulvey (1-1), Sean Kelly (0-2), Cathal McCarron, Greg Crowley, Joe Feeney, Lloyd Colfer, Eoin O’Neill (0-1 each).
Referee: John Hickey (Carlow).
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.