Two weeks after it looked like Clare might not take part in the 2012 Munster Junior Football Championship, the county is preparing for a Munster final date against Kerry.

At sunny Limerick on Saturday evening, a Kilmurry-Ibrickane powered Banner side comfortably overcame the challenge of Waterford, first round winners over Limerick.

The game ended with the county champions having eight players on the field and they certainly made their presence felt. They had five in the starting line-up and started the second half with seven after the introduction of Ian McInerney and Niall Hickey before Evan Talty came into the action in the last 10 minutes.

After the sides swapped points in the opening three minutes, Clare hit five-in-a-row to take control of the tie and from here on they never looked to be in danger. Indeed, they could have been further ahead but they failed to capitalise on a couple of goal chances.

Noel Downes, the game’s top scorer, had the opening score after two minutes but they were level within a minute as Gavin Crotty hit the equaliser for Waterford.

Clare then hit three points in as many minutes through Cillian Malone from a 20m free, Paul Reidy and Paudge McMahon from a 45’, after a Noel Downes effort for a goal was deflected behind. Downes and McMahon then added points from play to make the score 0-6 to 0-1 with just 13 minutes played.
While they continued to have the better of the exchanges, Clare managed just one more point before the half-time break to lead by three, 0-7 to 0-4.

When they returned for the second half, Clare had Ian McInerney and Niall Hickey in their attack in place of Dessie Mollohan and Cillian Malone. They continued to hold the upperhand but found scores hard to comeby. They went five clear again thanks to Paul Reidy and Downes, who opted for a point when there looked to be an opening to go for goal.

Inside the final quarter Downes and Reidy (free) struck again, putting their side 0-11 to 0-5 in front. The margin was stretched to eight when Downes hit his fifth and Paudge McMahon landed his fourth after some good inter-play by the forwards.

Waterford had two late scores, both from frees, but there was never a doubt about the outcome as Clare held the upperhand in most positions against a disappointing Waterford challenge.

Enda Ralph was always prominent in the winners defence as was Paul O’Connor and Shane Hickey. Keith King, in particular and Conor Ryan got through a lot of good work at midfield while up front, Downes and Paudge McMahon kicked some fine scores.

Clare: Pierce De Loughrey (Cratloe); Enda Ralph (Ennistymon), Darragh Kelly (St Senan’s, Kilkee), Darren Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Seanie Malone (Miltown St Joseph’s), Paul O’Connor (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Shane Hickey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Keith King (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Chris Dunning (Wolfe Tones), Dessie Mollohan (Miltown St Joseph’s), Paul Reidy (Kilmihil); Paudge McMahon (Clondegad), Noel Downes (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Cillian Malone (Kilfenora).
Subs: Ian McInerney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for Mollohan (half time); Niall Hickey (Kilmurry-Irickane) for C Malone (half-time); Sean Cormican (St Breckan’s) for Dunning (47 minutes); Kevin Cahill (Wolfe Tones) for Reidy; Evan Talty (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for S Malone (52 minutes).
Scorers: Noel Downes (0-5); Paudge McMahon (0-4, 0-1 45’); Paul Reidy (0-3, 1f); Cillian Malone (0-1f).

Waterford: Paul Houlihan; Justin Walsh, Declan Prendergast, Ger Dunphy; Shane Lannon, Eddie Rockett, Ritchie Hennessy; Ronan Cahill, Adam O’Loughlin; Paul Power, Gavin Crotty, David Power; Edmond Hogan, Mitchel Casey, John Coffey.
Subs: Martin Walsh for Lannon (half time); Michael O’Gorman for M Casey (40 minutes); Padraig Larkin for Hennessy (57 minutes); Shane Ryan for P Power (57 minutes).
Scorers: Edmond Hogan (0-3, 2f); Gavin Crotty (0-2); Adam O’Loughlin, David Power (0-1 each).
Referee: Sean Joy, Kerry.

 

Banner were always in control, claims Collins

Clare manager Colm Collins was never worried about the outcome of Saturday’s Munster junior football semi-final.

“We were in control throughout and were unlucky not to have had a few goals,” he said. “We took control early in the game and from then on we dictated the play,” he added.

The Kilmihil native felt “the players were sharp, a credit to their work at
club level. We will have a number of collective sessions ahead of the final to work on tactics in relation to kick outs and frees.

“We have a very strong squad available. We had 34 players here today and in that group we have 15 that can win the Munster title,” the Cratloe team boss said.

Collins was speaking on Sunday having returned from Cork where he watched cork beat Kerry by two points. “They have a few of the lads from the Spa club that beat us (Cratloe) in the Munster intermediate final a few years ago. It’s a home game for Clare on July 11,” he said.

The Clare line-up for that final is expected to be similar to that which beat Waterford.

“It will be more or less the same panel for the final but we will have to see if there are any players who might be released from the senior squad,” according to the manager.

The venue for the final has yet to be decided but former Clare board chairman Michael McDonagh, the liaison officer with this team, has made it known that Miltown St Joseph’s will be asking to be allowed host the game.