Kerry retained Munster crown but plucky Clare captured home hearts

Munster Senior Football Championship Final

Kerry 0-23 Clare 1-13

SUCH a historic occasion wasn’t matched by a home upset but Clare did test Kerry’s resolve on their way to a record 85th Munster Senior Football crown in front of 12,059 in Cusack Park, Ennis, writes Eoin Brennan.

In what was the first time in 87 years that Clare contested back-to-back provincial finals, the hosts admirably managed to halve last year’s deficit with only half of the same personnel in what was a hugely encouraging battling display from Mark Fitzgerald’s side.

Clare’s plunkiness was ultimately superceded by Kerry’s vast experience as in contrast the Kingdom possessed 17 of the 20 players from the 2023 decider. However, not content with moral victories, Clare commendably went out to win this final, not contain the perennial superpowers as evidenced by carving out two glorious goal opportunites either side of half-time.

Trailing by 0-10 to 0-07, Clare’s best player Dermot Coughlan broke through Kerry’s last line and went for goal rather than the safe option of a point, forcing goalkeeper Shane Murphy to parry his shot to safety on Kerry’s way to a 0-11 to 0-07 interval cushion.

Undeterred, Clare went for the jugular once more from the throw-in which was snatched by Brian McNamara who played a one-two with Ciaran Downes before his powerful effort was excellently kept out by a full length save from Murphy.

Ciaran Downes did convert the resulting ’45 but it soon became clear that Clare needed to take those chances in order to legitimately puish the holders all the way. Instead, a relieved Kerry flexed their muscles with nine of the next twelve points including braces for chief marksmen David Clifford, Sean O’Shea and Tony Brosnan to ease 0-20 to 0-11 clear by the hour mark.

The home storm wasn’t quite weathered just yet though as a superb Daniel Walsh point from the left wing was boosted by an outstanding solo goal from centre-back Ikem Ugwueru who slalomed his way through from 50 metres before nestling his low shot past Murphy to slash the arrears to just five by the 63rd minute.

It was the spark the sizeable home crowd needed but Clare’s momentum never blossomed any further despite eight minutes of additional time.

Indeed, Jack O’Connor’s side shut up shop while Sean O’Shea (2) and Paul Geaney closed out the contest amidst a Cormac Murray blocked shot at the death as Kerry garnered their fourth consecutive Munster crown.

Ikem Ugweru of Clare in action against Sean O Shea of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Ikem Ugweru of Clare scores a goal despite Sean O Shea of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Ikem Ugweru of Clare in action against Brian O Beaglaoich of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly. The final score is @GaaClare 1-13 , @Kerry_Official 0-23 @MunsterGAA #GAA

Cillian Rouine of Clare heads for the dugout with a wardrobe malfunction during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Joe Mc Gann of Clare in action against Tony Brosnan of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Paul Murphy of Kerry in action against Joe Mc Gann of Clare during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cormac Murray of Clare in action against Paul Murphy of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Mark Fitzgerald, Clare manager, on the sideline, during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Joe Mc Gann of Clare reacts on the final whistle after their Munster Senior Fooball final against Kerry at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Darragh Bohannon and Brian Mc Namara of Clare in action against Joe O Connor and Diarmuid O Connor of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A clearly disappointed Cormac Murray of Clare after their Munster Senior Fooball final against Kerry at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Dermot Coughlan of Clare in action against Sean O Shea of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly. The score after the first quarter is @GaaClare 0-02 , @Kerry_Official 0-03 @MunsterGAA #GAA

Dermot Coughlan of Clare in action against Tony Brosnan of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Young fan watches the cup presentation to Kerry after their Munster Senior Fooball final against Kerry at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Ciaran Downes of Clare in action against Diarmuid O Connor of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly. The score at half time is @GaaClare 0-07, @Kerry_Official 0-11 @MunsterGAA #GAA

Alan Sweeney of Clare in action against Cillian Burke of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Darragh Bohannon of Clare in action against Tadgh Morley of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Emmet Mc Mahon of Clare in action against Jason Foley of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly The score after the third quarter is @GaaClare 0-11 , @Kerry_Official 0-18 @MunsterGAA #GAA

Aaron Griffin of Clare in action against Paudie Clifford and Tom O Sullivan of Kerryduring their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Aaron Griffin of Clare celebrates a point during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Aaron Griffin of Clare in action against Brian O Beaglaoich of Kerry during their Munster Senior Football final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Kerry: Shane Murphy (Dr. Crokes); Paul Murphy (Rathmore), Jason Foley​(Ballydonoghue), Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle); Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht), Tadhg Morley (Templenoe), Gavin White​(Dr. Crokes); Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil), Joe O’Connor​(Austin Stacks); Dara Moynihan (Spa​), Paudie Clifford (Fossa), Cillian Burke​(Milltown/Castlemaine); Tony Brosnan (Dr. Crokes), David Clifford​ (Fossa), Sean O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks)

Subs: Mike Breen (Beaufort) for White (50, BS), Paul Geaney (Dingle) for Moynihan (57), Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare Shamrocks) for Burke (57), Barry Dan O’Sullivan (Dingle) for J. O’Connor (58), Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks) for Ó Beaglaoich(62), Killian Spillane​(Templenoe) for Brosnan (67)

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Scorers: Sean O’Shea (0-9, 4f, 1’45, 1m); David Clifford (0-4, 1f, 1m); Tony Brosnan (0-3); Paudie Clifford (0-2); Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Tom O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Dara Moynihan, Paul Geaney (0-1 each)

Clare: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks); Cillian Brennan (Clondegad), Manus Doherty (Éire Óg), Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg); Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s), Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg), Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon); Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels), Brian McNamara (Cooraclare); Gavin Murray (Éire Óg), Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane); Emmet McMahon (Kildysart), Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey), Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)

Subs: Joe McGann (St Breckan’s) for Murray (15-17, BS), McGann for Murray (54), Micheál Garry (Cooraclare) for Sweeney (56), Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Downes (60), Mark McInerney (Éire Óg) for Coughlan (67), Darren Nagle (Liscannor) for Ugwueru ((74)

Scorers: Emmet McMahon (0-5, 4f); Ikem Ugwueru (1-0); Aaron Griffin, Ciaran Downes (1f, 1’45) (0-2 each); Gavin Murray, Dermot Coughlan, Daniel Walsh, Mark McInerney (0-1 each)

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)