Gallant Clare lose out to Kerry

Kerry 1-17 Clare 1-13

ALTHOUGH they gave it their last drop the Clare footballers were beaten by Kerry in Sunday’s Munster senior football semi-final in Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.

While it was their best championship display against Kerry since the 1997 Munster final, Clare will regret that they didn’t cause a huge shock and dispatch the Kingdom from the 2014 Munster championship.

Clare were hit by a black card to wing back Shane Hickey in the fifth minute and were further stunned two minutes later, when Kerry corner back Paul Murphy goaled.

That put the visitors into a 1-1 to 0-2 lead but Clare responded proactively with an excellent first half display from there until half time.

Benefiting from a defence splitting run from Podge Collins, Shane McGrath scored Clare’s goal in the 18^th minute. He also kicked two first half points from midfield while David Tubridy, Martin O’Leary, Seán Collins and Shane Brennan completed Clare’s first half tally.

Kerry corner forward Paul Geaney put over three first half points and excelled all through for the winners, while Bryan Sheehan, Anthony Maher and Stephen O’Brien all put over first half points for the visiting county.

Played in front of a crowd of 5,938, Kerry upped their game somewhat early in the second half. A trio of points from O’Brien, Paul Geaney and Sheehan helped them into a 1-10 to 1-8 lead before Enda Coughlan replied for Clare.

Kerry seemed to find scores easier to come by with Michael Geaney and Sheehan adding a point each, while Rory Donnelly responded for Clare.

Thirteen minutes from time Kerry led 1-14 to 1-11 and while Clare kicked two late scores from Eoin Cleary and David Tubridy, Kerry never looked in real danger at that stage.

Clare now await the qualifier draw while Kerry will play Cork in the Munster final.

On a day when every Clare player gave it his best nobody worked harder than Podge Collins, while Kevin Hartnett, until injured, Gordon Kelly and Shane McGrath also played exceptionally well.

For Kerry, who were reduced to 14 men when Anthony Maher was sent off late in the second half, Paul Geaney, Shane Enright and Bryan Sheehan performed very well.

Kerry: Brian Kelly; Paul Murphy, Marc O’Sé, Shane Enright; Peter Crowley, Killian Young, Fionn Fitzgerald (captain); Anthony Maher, David Moran; Darran O’Sullivan, Bryan Sheehan, Michael Geaney; Stephen O’Brien, Declan O’Sullivan, Paul Geaney.

Subs: Aidan O’Mahony for David Moran (23 minutes), Donnchadh Walsh for Darran O’Sullivan (half-time), Jonathan Lyne for Michael Geaney (54 minutes), Pa Kilkenny for Fionn Fitzgerald, Kieran Donaghy for Paul Geaney (both 66 minutes).

Scorers: Paul Geaney (0-6), Bryan Sheehan (0-5, 0-2f), Paul Murphy (1-0), Stephen O’Brien (0-2), Anthony Maher, Michael Geaney, Declan O’Sullivan, Barry John Keane (0-1 each).

Wides: 7

Frees: 5

Yellow cards: Michael Geaney, Anthony Maher.

Red card: Anthony Maher

Clare: Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Dean Ryan (Éire Óg), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry Ibrickane); Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Gordon Kelly (Miltown), Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg); Gary Brennan (Clondegad – captain), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis), Shane Brennan (Clondegad), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Seán Collins (Cratloe); Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil), David Tubridy (Doonbeg), Podge Collins (Cratloe).

Subs: Jamie Malone (Corofin) for Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane black card – 5 minutes), Rory Donnelly (Cooraclare) for Martin O’Leary (44 minutes), Shane McNeilis (Kildysart) for Kevin Hartnett (inj – 53 minutes, Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen) for Shane Brennan (62 minutes), Eoin Cleary (Miltown) for Enda Coughlan (69 minutes).

Scorers: Shane McGrath (1-2), David Tubridy (0-4, 0-2f), Enda Coughlan (0-2), Shane Brennan, Seán Collins, Eoin Cleary, Rory Donnelly, Martin O’Leary (f) (0-1 each).

Wides: 7

Frees: 18

45s: 1

Yellow card: Jamie Malone.

Black card: Shane Hickey

Referee: David Gough (Meath).