All-Ireland Quarter-Final
Clare 5-26 Dublin 2-17
at The Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
Clare’s failure to put real daylight between themselves and Limerick before half-time ultimately cost them the Munster title, but it was Dublin that really felt the backlash of those shortcomings in this All-Ireland quarter-final as a devastating burst put the Banner on the road to Croke Park on Sunday week, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh.
The match was delicately poised at 2-5 to 1-7 in Clare’s favour as the clock ticked over 30 minutes, but from there Brian Lohan’s side just took flight and in the process hit 2-3 in the space of five minutes to break Dublin’s resolve and give them a nine-point interval lead.
That this advantage was doubled in the second half told the story of a one-sided encounter that was only briefly competitive as Clare won this as they pleased to book a second semi-final joust in a row with Kilkenny.
The floodgates opened once the rampaging David Fitzgerald galloped through the centre and fed Tony Kelly who rattled the net for a goal that was a carbon copy of the third-minute strike that the same duo conjured up to get Clare off to a flier in this last eight clash.
But Kelly’s second was decisive because despite leading 1-2 to no score after five minutes Clare found themselves in a real contest after Cian O’Sullivan’s frees and Darragh Power’s goal got Dublin to the pitch of the game mid-way through the half.
At once it seemed as if Clare might be bothered, and even though Mark Rodgers replied with a goal in the 19th minute the Dubs weren’t going away until points by Rodgers and Ian Galvin before Kelly’s goal changed everything and then Shane O’Donnell got in on the goal-scoring act just before the whistle with a strike that put them 4-8 to 1-8 clear.
From there it was always going to be a canter, a fact that only took three minutes to confirm when Kelly racked up his hat-trick as Clare stretched their legs further against a Dublin team that was playing purely for pride, but didn’t even manage that.
That’s because, even though the bench was unloaded in the second half, to add to the earlier enforced substitution of John Conlon, there was no let-up as Clare mercilessly tacked on a further 1-17 in the second half.
It was too easy, with the mercurial ‘Terrible Twins’ of Rodgers and Kelly being the star turns on the scoreboard when notching up 1-11 and 3-4 respectively, while the scoring contributions of Shane O’Donnell, before he was called ashore early in the second half, and David Fitzgerald throughout showed that any hangover from the Munster final defeat to Limerick was obliterated as the Dubs were blown back up the N7 from where they came.
Croke Park, here Clare comes — no doubt determined already to right the wrong of last year’s no-show against the Cats.
Cian Nolan of Clare gets a yellow card from Johnny Murphy, referee, during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Tony Kelly of Clare signs autographs following their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Brian Lohan, Clare manager, and Micheal Donoghue, Dublin manager, following their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Paul Flanagan of Clare in action against Alex Considine of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Adam Hogan of Clare in action against Paul Crummy of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Adam Hogan of Clare in action against Paul Crummy of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Tony Kelly of Clare signs autographs following their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Brian Lohan, Clare manager, congratulates player Aron Shanagher following their SHC quarter final against Dublin at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Cian Nolan, David Fitzgerald and Seadna Morey of Clare following their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Brian Lohan, Clare manager, on the sideline during their SHC quarter final against Dublin at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Eibhear Quilligan of Clare in action against Alex Considine of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Cian Nolan of Clare gets a yellow card from Johnny Murphy, referee, during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Eibhear Quilligan of Clare in action against Paul Crummy of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Adam Hogan of Clare is taken off with an injury during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Adam Hogan of Clare expels blood from his mouth during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Johnny Murphy, referee, during the SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Fergal Whitely of Dublin in action against Ryan Taylor of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Paul Flanagan of Clare in action against Alex Considine of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Adam Hogan of Clare in action against Paul Crummy of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Adam Hogan of Clare in action against Paul Crummy of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Adam Hogan of Clare in action against Paul Crummy of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Paul Flanagan of Clare in action against Alex Considine of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Eoghan O Donnell of Dublin in action against Cathal Malone of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Fergal Whitely of Dublin of Dublin of Dublin in action against Seadna Morey of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Paul Crummy of Dublin in action against Adam Hogan of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Seadna Morey of Clare in action against Alex Considine of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Fans use a flag to make shelter from the rain at half time during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Fans shelter from the rain at half time during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Fans Kim Geraghty, Paudie O Loughlin, Fergus O Loughlin and Cody O Loughlin at half time during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Fans shelter from the rain at half time during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Darragh Power of Dublin in action against Ryan Taylor of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Johnny Murphy, referee, shows Peter Duggan of Clare a yellow card during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Peter Duggan of Clare in action against Paddy Smyth of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Shane O Donnell of Clare scores turns after scoring a goal against Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Shane O Donnell of Clare scores a goal despite Eoghan O Donnell of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Peter Duggan of Clare in action against Paddy Smyth of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
James Madden of Dublin in action against Ian Galvin of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Johnny Murphy, referee, during the SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Tony Kelly of Clare celebrates a goal during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
John Conlon of Clare goes off injured during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Mark Rodgers of Clare scores a goal despite Eoghan O Donnell of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
David Fitzgerald of Clare in action against Darragh Power and Conor Burke of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Diarmuid Ryan of Clare in action against Paddy Doyle of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Mark Rodgers of Clare in action against Conor Burke of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
David Fitzgerald of Clare in action against Paddy Doyle of Dublin during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
A Clare fan looks on during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Tony Kelly of Clare almost joins the crowd in the stand during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Tony Kelly of Clare celebrates a goal during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Conor Burke of Dublin in action against Ian Galvin of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Cian Boland of Dublin in action against David Fitzgerald of Clare during their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Johnny Murphy, referee, with captains Tony Kelly of Clare and Eoghan O Donnell of Dublin before their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Darragh Lohan of Clare gets some Vaseline before their SHC quarter final against Dublin at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
The Clare team before their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Paul Flanagan of Clare exits the tunnel for their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Seadna Morey of Clare exits the tunnel for their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Rory Hayes of Clare exits the tunnel for their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Tony Kelly of Clare exits the tunnel for their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Conor Cleary and fellow Clare panel members arrive for their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Aidan Mc Carthy and fellow Clare panel members arrive for their SHC quarter final at TUS Gaelic Grounds. Photograph by John Kelly
Scorers for Clare: Mark Rodgers (1-11, 5f), Tony Kelly (3-4), Shane O’Donnell (1-2), David Fitzgerald (0-4), Ian Galvin (0-2), Aron Shanagher (0-2), Cathal Malone (0-1).
Scorers for Dublin: Cian O’Sullivan (0-11, 10f), Darragh Power (1-0), Alex Considine (1-0), Paul Crummey (0-3), Fergal Whitely (0-1), Danny Suthcliffe (0-1), Daire Gray (0-1).
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle); Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones), Adam Hogan (Feakle), Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones); Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe), John Conlon (Clonlara), Séadna Morey (Sixmilebridge); Cathal Malone (Sixmilebrdige), David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona); Peter Duggan (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin); Ian Galvin (Clonlara), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg), Mark Rodgers (Scariff). Subs Paul Flanagan (Ballyea) for Conlon (23), Aron Shanagher for O’Donnell (39), David Reidy (Eire Óg) for Galvin (46), Cian Nolan (Smith O’Briens) for Hayes (58) B/S, Patrick Crotty (Scariff) for Duggan (62), Cian Galvin (Clarecastle) for Taylor (64), Shane Meehan (Banner) for Kelly (69).
Dublin: Seán Brennan (Cuala); James Madden (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), Paddy Smith (Clontarf), Paddy Doyle (Naomh Barróg), Conor Burke (St Vincent’s), Daire Gray (Whitehall Colmcille); Mark Grogan (Kilmacud Crokes), Chris O’Leary (Lucan Sarsfields); Danny Suthcliffe (St Jude’s), Donal Burke (Na Fianna), Cian Boland (St Oliver Plunkett’s Eoghan Ruadh); Paul Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields), Cian O’Sullivan (St Brigid’s), Darragh Power (Fingallians). Subs Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes) for Burke (8), Conor Donohue (Erin’s Isle) for Madden (36), Alex Considine (Kilmacud Crokes) for O’Leary (Half-Time), Sean Currie (Na Fianna) for Boland (46), Dara Purcell (Kilmacud Crokes) for Power (59)
Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)
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