Galvin and Kelly inspire Clare

CLARE will play in the top division of the National Hurling League in 2014, following a dramatic two-point win over Cork in a relegation play-off at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on Sunday.
Extra time was required but the Banner side’s win was well merited, despite the fact that they were guilty of shooting 21 wides over the 90 minutes.

On a day when there were a number of outstanding performances, relegation looked the likely outcome when Cork captain Patrick Cronin kicked his side’s second goal with two minutes of normal time remaining.

The score, which came very much against the run of play, put the Leesiders into a two-point lead and things looked ominous for Clare.

Two minutes of injury time was signalled and in the first of these, Tony Kelly fired over his fifth point of the afternoon to leave the minimum between the sides. Clare attacked again from the puck-out and despite his protests, Cork full-back Brian Murphy was penalised for a trip on Darach Honan, clearing the way for Colin Ryan to convert a 30m free with the last puck of the game.

Clare continued to dominate matters in extra time and were two points ahead at the midpoint of the extra period. They went four clear early in the second period and while Cork battled to the end, Clare emerged as worthy winners.

Clare went into the game with two changes in personnel and some positional switches from the side that suffered a heavy loss to Tipperary in the final round two weeks earlier.

Darach Honan and Podge Collins were in the starting line-up in place of the injured Nicky O’Connell and Sean Collins. Colm Galvin switched to midfield, where he excelled, playing a key role in Clare’s victory.

The first half was disappointing, with both teams looking a little nervous. A strong wind made matters difficult for the players and Cork had the assistance of this in the opening half. Cork had the better of the early exchanges and by the midpoint of the half, they were four points clear, 0-6 to 0-2. Patrick Cronin and Pat Horgan on the left flank of their attack were causing problems for Clare at this stage.

As the half-hour mark approached, Clare hit a good patch and three unanswered points left the minimum between the teams with three minutes remaining in the half. Conor McGrath was introduced to the full-forward line after 25 minutes and in the resultant re-shuffle, Tony Kelly went to midfield with Conor McGrath being withdrawn. Cork finished the half strongly to take a four-point lead to the break, 0-11 to 0-7.

Points were exchanged five times in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, before a brace from Colin Ryan frees left two between the teams entering the final quarter.

In the 15th minute, Patrick Kelly made a superb save from Paudie O’Sullivan, one of the few times the Cork player threatened. Three minutes later, Cork eventually got in for a goal but only after Kelly and David McInerney had denied them twice. However, Luke O’Farrell billowed the net at the third attempt and Cork were five clear with a quarter of an hour to go.

Darach Honan and goalkeeper Kelly, from a 95m free, brought the margin back to three before Colin Ryan missed an easy free in front of the posts. At this stage, Cork had introduced Tom Kenny and Cian McCarthy but Clare continued to enjoy the upperhand and points from Honan, Podge Collins, John Conlon and Tony Kelly, the latter two following two great runs out of defence by Domhnaill O’Donovan, tied up the game at 0-20 to 1-17 with five minutes remaining.

Clare hit the front for the first time a minute later when Colin Ryan pointed from play from the middle of the field. Two minutes from the end, Clare hearts sank when Patrick Cronin grabbed a high delivery in front of goal and despite the efforts of Brendan Bugler, the Cork captain managed to kick the ball to the net past the advancing Patrick Kelly.

To their credit, Clare retained their composure and injury-time points from Kelly and Colin Ryan (free) sent the match to extra time.

They swapped points twice in the first five minutes, when Cork sharpshooter Pat Horgan missed an easy free. A foul on Colm Galvin led to Colin Ryan converting the free to send Clare back into the lead, which they would hold to the finish, while Galvin quickly followed with a point from play and Clare led by two halfway through the extra period. Substitute Peter Duggan forced a fine save from All-Star goalie Anthony Nash.

By the midpoint of the second period, Clare were three points clear and they pushed this to four with two minutes to go. Cork finished strongly but the Clare half-backs, who had started slowly, were now dominant and they held firm.

After a poor first half, the half-back line of Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan and Patrick O’Connor sparkled in front of a full-back trio in which David McInerney continues to excel. Patrick Kelly made up for a disappointing performance against Tipperary with some outstanding saves.

Colm Galvin was, arguably, Clare’s man of the match with fellow 19-year-old Tony Kelly also in outstanding form.

Conor O’Sullivan and Brian Murphy worked hard in the Cork full-back line, while Patrick Cronin and Pat Horgan did best in their attack.

Clare, while delighted with the result, will be concerned at the fact that they hit 21 wides over the 90 minutes, some of which were from very scoreable positions.

One of the big talking points was the decision of the Clare management to withdraw Peter Duggan and, especially, Jonathon Clancy during the second period of extra time. Clancy was given just nine minutes action during which he was dispossessed once, while delivering passes to both Conor McGrath and John Conlon.

Clare: Patrick Kelly; Domhnaill O’Donovan, David McInerney, Seadna Morey; Brendan Bugler, Pat Donnellan (capt), Patrick O’Connor; Colm Galvin, Conor Ryan; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Colin Ryan; Shane O’Donnell, Darach Honan, Podge Collins.
Subs: Conor McGrath for Conor Ryan (26 minutes), Peter Duggan for Collins (65 minutes), Cathal McInerney for O’Donnell 68 minutes), Jonathon Clancy for Honan (half-time in extra time), Fergal Lynch for Duggan (85 minutes) and O’Donnell for Clancy (89 minutes).
Scorers: Colin Ryan (0-10, 6f), Tony Kelly (0-6), John Conlon (0-4), Colm Galvin (0-3), Darach Honan, Conor McGrath (0-2 each), Patrick Kelly (free), Podge Collins, Cathal McInerney and Fergal Lynch (0-1 each).
Frees for: 17; wides: 21.
Bookings: None.

Cork: Anthony Nash; Killian Murphy, Brian Murphy, Conor O’Sullivan; Stephen White, Christopher Joyce, Willian Egan; Lorcan McLoughlin, Daniel Kearney; Conor Lehane, Paudie O’Sullivan, Patrick Cronin; Stephen Moylan, Luke O’Farrell, Patrick Horgan.
Subs: Tom Kenny for Kearney (55 minutes), Cian McCarthy for Moylan (57 minutes), Colm Spillane for K Murphy (62 minutes), Cathal Naughton for White (66 minutes), Michael Walsh for McLoughlin (79 minutes), Brian Hartnett for O’Sullivan (75 minutes) and Peter O’Brien for Lehane (75 minutes).
Scorers: Patrick Horgan (0-11, 7f), Patrick Cronin (1-3), Luke O’Farrell (1-2), Cathal Naughton (0-2), Conor O’Sullivan, Daniel Kearney, Conor Lehane, Stephen Moylan and Cian McCarthy (0-1 each).
Frees for: 11; wides: 10; 65s: 2.
Bookings: Conor O’Sullivan (16 minutes) and Stephen White (22 minutes).
Referee: James McGrath, Westmeath.