Impressive debut for McGrath

Clare 1-17   Waterford 0-12

SCORING all but a point of their impressive final tally from play, Clare got their National Football League campaign off to a winning start at Cusack Park on Sunday when they overcame the challenge of Waterford.
The winning margin could have been much greater had the home side converted first-half dominance into scores but, that said, Micheál McDermott and his management team will be happy with the outcome on a day when Shane McGrath made an impressive debut for the home county of his father John, who was a leading light with Clare in the ’70s.
The fact that four players, three from Waterford, were sent off might suggest this was a dirty game but there wasn’t a foul blow during the 70 minutes. All sending-offs, which were in the second half, were on second yellow cards and all appeared harsh.
Such was Clare’s dominance in the first quarter that they would not have been flattered to have been 2-7 to 0-0 in front at this stage. Forwards failed to capitalise on some excellent build-up play and they were guilty of some bad wides. Gary Brennan, David Tubridy and Rory Donnelly had Clare 0-3 to 0-0 in front after just six minutes. Tubridy and Shane Brennan had goal chances, while a few point chances went abegging also before Shane McGrath marked his debut with a fine point in the 13th minute.
A further five minutes went by before Waterford opened their account through Shane Aherne, who had picked up the first yellow card of the game two minutes earlier. The visitors enjoyed their best spell after this and goalkeeper Joe Hayes prevented them from drawing level when he made a fine stop from Partick Hurney after 22 minutes.
With the Clare defence guilty of giving away possession easily on a few occasions, Waterford continued to fight back and as the game passed the half-hour mark, they were within a point of the home side with the score now at 0-7 to 0-6. Clare finished the half strongly and David Tubridy and newly appointed team captain Alan Clohessy pointed to give their side a three-point advantage at the break.
The sides exchanged points twice early in the second half eight minutes into which Waterford were dealt a blow when Shane Aherne picked up a second yellow card, which meant the end of his involvement in the game. Four minutes after the sending off, Clare doubled their lead when Rory Donnelly took a pass from Niall Browne to score the game’s only goal. At the three-quarter stage, the margin was seven points but then Clare were reduced to 14 when Gordon Kelly picked up a second yellow card. In the next 10 minutes, referee Frank Flynn produced six yellow cards and Waterford lost their captain Gary Hurney when he received his second after he said something to the match official.
Clare had their only score from a placed ball six minutes from time when Tubridy was on target and points followed from McGrath, Tubridy and Alan Clohessy to put the winners 10 clear as full-time approached. Three minutes from the end, Waterford were reduced to 12 when substitute Joey Veale picked up a second yellow three minutes after he was introduced.
To their credit, they fought to the end and Patrick Hurney kicked two points in injury time but Clare had sealed the points long before that.
Clare’s new look full-back line of Barry Hartnett, Shane McNeilis and Lawrence Healy excelled on the day. Gary Brennan and Ger Quinlan ruled matters at midfield, while up front, Shane McGrath was most impressive at centre-forward, while the full-forward trio of Rory Donnelly, David Tubridy and Alan Clohessy caused a lot of problems for their opponents and, between them, kicked 1-13 of Clare’s tally.

Clare: Joe Hayes; Barry Hartnett, Shane McNeilis, Lawrence Healy; Martin McMahon, Gordon Kelly, John Hayes; Gary Brennan, Ger Quinlan; Shane Brennan, Shane McGrath, Niall Browne; Rory Donnelly, David Tubridy, Alan Clohessy (captain).
Subs: David Russell for Browne (59 minutes); Joe Dowling for Donnelly (64 minutes); Stephen Tierney for McGrath (68 minutes); Michael Foran for S Brennan (70 minutes); Timmy Ryan for Healy (70 minutes).
Scorers: David Tubridy (0-7, 1f); Rory Donnelly (1-2), Alan Clohessy (0-4), Shane McGrath (0-2), Gary Brennan, Ger Quinlan (0-1 each).
Frees for: 17; wides: 10; 45s: 1.
Bookings: Gordon Kelly (30 minutes and 55 minutes); Shane Brennan (45 minutes); Niall Browne (57 minutes).
Sent off: Gordon Kelly (55 minutes).
Waterford: Kieran Cotter; Kieran Connery,  Conor Phelan, Andy Doyle; Shane Briggs, Tony Grey, Wayne Hennessy; Sean O’Hare, Shane Aherne; Conor McGrath Sean Dempsey, Patrick Hurney; Gary Hurney (captain), Liam O’Lionain, Sean Fleming.
Subs: Cillian O’Keeffe for O’Lionain (46 minutes);  Robert Aherne for Hennessy (59 minutes); Joey Veale for McGrath (59 minutes).
Scorers: Gary Hurney (0-4, 3f); Sean Fleming, Conor McGrath, Patrick Hurney (0-2 each); Sean O’Hare (free), Shane Aherne (0-1 each).
Frees for: 16; wides: 5.
Bookings: Shane Aherne (16 minutes and 43 minutes); Gary Hurney (56 minutes and 62 minutes); Sean O’Hare (57 minutes); Andy Doyle (63 minutes); Joey Veale (64 and 67 minutes).
Sent off: Shane Aherne, Gary Hurney, Joey Veale.
Referee: Frank Flynn, Leitrim.