Footballers beaten by Fermanagh

Senior Football

HAVING picked up a notable home win against Longford a week earlier, Clare fell tamely to Fermanagh in Enniskillen last Sunday. With their chances of winning promotion having been obliterated after losing at home to Roscommon, Clare headed North intent on building towards their Munster championship meeting with Cork on May 22 in Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

With several Fermanagh players unwilling to play for their county under the management of John O’Neill, it seemed Clare would be capable of coming home with a couple of additional points.
However, they were well beaten and relied too much on David Tubridy for scores. The Doonbeg man kicked seven of his county’s nine points, with Shane Brennan and Alan Clohessy kicking the remaining points.
The home county led 0-7 to 0-5 in Brewster Park but pulled away in the second period to record a comfortable win. Paul Ward, John O’Flanagan and substitute Daniel Kille, who replaced John Woods early on, all impressed for the Erne men, hitting 0-10 from play between them.
Although Fermanagh are also out of promotion contention, their players and management were accorded a standing ovation by the home crowd at the end of the 70 minutes.
Clare will travel to Aughrim this Sunday for their final Division 4 fixture. The game against Wicklow, who are seeking promotion to Division 3, will throw in at 2.30pm.
Clare: Joe Hayes; Barry Duggan, Laurence Healy, Martin McMahon; Kevin Hartnett, Gordon Kelly, Shane McNeiles; Cathal O’Connor, Gary Brennan; Conor Ryan, John Hayes, Shane Brennan (0-1); David Tubridy (0-7, 2f, 1 45’), Niall Browne, Alan Clohessy (0-1).
Subs: Mark Tubridy for Shane Brennan, Ger Quinlan for Niall Browne (both half-time) and David O’Connor for Conor Ryan (68).
Fermanagh: J McGrath; J Woods, B Owens, M Jones; C Quigley (0-1), B Mulrone, K Cosgrove; H Brady, M O’Brien; T O’Flanagan (0-2, 1f), N Cassidy, R Jones (0-3, 2f); P Ward (0-3), J O’Flanagan (0-3), S Quigley (0-1).
Subs: D Kille (0-4) for Woods (10 mins), B Óg Maguire for Cassidy (20), J O’Brien for Ward (60) and C O’Brien for D Kille (65).
Referee: S McNamee (Tyrone).