Heartbreak for U-21s

There was heartbreak for Clare in the Munster U-21 football championship at Limerick last evening. Three points in front as the game was in the third minute of added time, Clare supporters were looking ahead to a Munster semi-final clash with Kerry in two weeks’ time.

With the second-last kick of the game, Limerick had a goal to tie up the match and send it into extra time and while Clare fought valiantly to the end, they were always fighting an uphill battle after this.
A strong wind blew from the Ennis end towards the city and Clare struggled to capitalise when playing with this advantage. Overall, Limerick showed the better fitness which stood to them in the final analysis.
In the closing minutes, both teams failed to avail of good scoring chances as tiredness clearly set in. A draw would probably have been the fairest result on an evening when both sides enjoyed periods of dominance.
Referee Conor Lane from Cork didn’t endear himself to either set of supporters as he awarded a total of 72 frees and produced 12 yellow cards with each side having a player dismissed in normal time.
The loss of Paudge Collins two minutes from the end of normal time for a second bookable offence was a huge blow to Clare. The Cratloe man, who lined out at corner-forward, had played most of the second half as an extra defender when Clare were against the wind and he was excellent in this role. Three minutes after his dismissal, Limerick lost their full-back, Mike Sheehan, but both teams were back to their full numbers for the extra period.
Leading by a point at half-time after playing with the aid of a strong wind, Clare’s chances of progressing to a Munster U-21 football semi-final against Kerry appeared slim.
A storming opening 10 minutes to the second half saw Clare jump six points clear thanks to some brilliant football. They were still three clear as the game went into injury time and three minutes were signalled. In the last seconds of the third minute, Limerick’s centre-forward, James Kelly, sent a powerful effort to the net to tie up the game and sent the match to extra time.
It was cruel luck for Clare, who had played some wonderful football in the second half. However, their failure to score in the final 20 minutes proved costly.
Points from Eoghan O’Connor in the 28th and 31st minutes left just one score (a goal) between the sides and Limerick clearly felt they had a chance of getting back into contention as they piled on the pressure. The visitors were struggling in defence but looked to have done enough to get the victory but with seconds remaining, James Kelly broke through for the goal that broke Clare hearts.
The visitors had first use of the wind in the extra period but could only manage to build up a one-point lead, 0-15 to 2-8, by the end of the first 10 minutes. They had an excellent chance of a goal but Daniel Gallery’s effort went over the bar. That they tired is reflected in the fact that they failed to score in the second period when Limerick added three points to seal victory and a Munster semi-final date against Kerry.
Clare played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half and should have had a greater lead at the interval when the score stood at 0-7 to 1-3. Clare were guilty of a couple of bad wides in the first half but of more concern was the performance of their defence, which struggled to cope with the pace of the Limerick forwards in the opening half.
There was a lot of hesitancy in the Clare full-back line and this resulted in the Limerick goal that came in the seventh minute when the visitors lost possession. They were lucky not to concede another goal three minutes before the break when an Eoghan O’Connor effort went across the goal and bounced narrowly wide.
Eoghan O’Connor gave Limerick the lead after just 20 seconds and Clare’s first score came in the fifth minute when Paudge McMahon converted a 44m free to level the game. Poor play in the Clare defence led to a Limerick goal two minutes later but, to Clare’s credit, they hit back with points from Cathal McInerney and Killian Malone. Further points from Paudge Collins and McInerney brought the teams level after 18 minutes.
Clare were now winning the lion’s share of possession around midfield and this ensured a plentiful supply of ball for their forwards. Cathal McInerney and Killian Malone added points and Clare were two clear as half-time approached. The home side had the last score of the half and going to the break just one point behind with the advantage of a strong wind to come, they must have been pleased.

Limerick: Brian Scanlon; Paul Martin, Mike Sheehan, Ray O’Flaherty; Patrick Sheehan, Paul Hannon, Pádraig Quinn; Tom McCarthy, Pádraig Horan; Seamus O’Carroll, James Kelly, Donagh Kelly; Patrick O’Donnell, Jack Donovan, Eoghan O’Connor.
Subs: Barry Ryan for Horan (39); Pádraig Scanlan for O’Donnell (45); Aidan O’Sulllivan for Quinn (53); Eoin Cahill for Ryan (55); Jamie Richardson for D Kelly (59); Paudie O’Connor (in extra time); Padraig Quinn for Martin (in extra time 79).
Scorers: Eoghan O’Connor (0-7, 5f) Jack Donovan, James Kelly (1-1) each; Seamus O’Carroll, Donagh Kelly (0-1 each).
Clare: Jamie Joyce (Cratloe); Joe Blake (Doonbeg), Seán Brennan (Wolfe Tones), Seán Cormican (St Breckan’s); Stephen Collins (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Liam Markham (Cratloe); Stephen Tierney (St Breckan’s); Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Shane Brennan (Clondegad); Paudge Collins (Cratloe), Micheál Malone (Miltown St Joseph’s), Conor Cormican (St Breckan’s); Paudge McMahon, captain (Clondegad), Cathal McInerney (Cratloe), Killian Malone (Kilfenora).
Subs: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg) for C Cormican (half-time); Joe Curtin (Miltown) for M Malone (45); Sean Crotty (Éire Óg, in extra time); Daniel Gallery (Wolfe Tones) for K Malone (64).
Scorers: Cathal McInerney (0-6); Killian Malone (0-5); Paudge McMahon (0-2); Paudge Collins, Daniel Gallery (0-1 each).
Referee: Conor Lane, Cork.