Aaron Shanagher and Podge Collins of Clare celebrate Aaron's goal during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
While anything other than a comfortable Clare win in this first round hurling championship qualifier would have been a big surprise, few would have predicted that their winning margin over Laois would have been so great.
The fact that thirty five points separated the teams is sure to lead to more debate as to what teams should be allowed into this competition. For the official attendance of 5,518, there was little to cheer about as the result was clear from a very early stage.
Darach Honan, Pat Kelly and Pat Donnellan were amongst the players sitting it out during the All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Davy Fitzgerald, Clare manager and Donal Og Cusack, Clare coach, before their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Davy Fitzgerald, Clare manager has a chat with Conor Cleary of Clare before their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Davy Fitzgerald, Clare manager has a chat with Brendan Bugler of Clare before their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Reidy of Clare in action against John Lennon of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ryan Mullaney of Laois in action against Aaron Shanagher of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Podge Collins of Clare in action against Ben Conroy of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jack Browne of Clare in action against Willie Hyland of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Ryan Mullaney of Laois in action against Aaron Shanagher of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Reidy of Clare has a shot against Enda Rowland of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane O Donnell and Aaron Shanagher of Clare celebrate a goal during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Matthew Whelan and Darren Maher of Laois in action against John Conlon of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Leigh Bergin of Laois is taken off injured during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Clare in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Reidy of Clare in action against Ross King of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tony Kelly of Clare in action against Cahir Healy of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tony Kelly. Photograph by John Kelly.
Patrick Purcell of Laois in action against Shane O Donnell and Aaron Shanagher of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Conor Cleary of Clare in action against Ross King of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
John Conlon of Clare in action against John Lennon of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Davy Fitzgerald, Clare manager on the sideline during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Willie Dunphy of Laois in action against David Reidy of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Willie Dunphy of Laois in action against David Reidy of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Jack Browne of Clare in action against Willie Hyland of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Andrew Fahy and his helpers block a free from PJ Scully of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Shanagher sparkled in Clare’s victory over Kilkenny Photograph by John Kelly.
Oisin O Brien of Clare in action against Mark Kavanagh of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Neil Foyle of Laois in action against David Mc Inerney of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tony Kelly of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
David Reidy of Clare in action against Ryan Mullaney of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Shanagher of Clare embraces team mate Shane O Donnell after his goal effort was saved during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Shanagher of Clare goals against Enda Rowland and Darren Maher of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Shanagher of Clare celebrates yet another goal during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Shanagher of Clare disposes of Enda Rowland of Laois while scoring another goal during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Shanagher and Podge Collins of Clare celebrate Aaron’s goal during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Aaron Shanagher of Clare in action against Gearoid O Connell of Clare during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane O Donnell of Clare congratulates a fallen Podge Collins of Clare on his goal as Enda Rowland of Laois looks goalward during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane O Donnell of Clare congratulates a fallen Podge Collins of Clare on his goal during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
A clearly disappointed Charles Dwyer of Laois with Seamus Plunkett, Laois manager after being sent off during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Donal Og Cusack, Clare coach urging in his team during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Shane O Donnell of Clare is held by Enda Rowland of Laois during their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Davy Fitzgerald seems set to continue as Clare hurling supremo.
Colin Ryan of Clare and Matthew Whelan of Laois exchange jerseys following their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Matthew Whelan of Laois is clearly disappointed following their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier loss to Clare in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
The Clare team stretches out in front of gathered fans following their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare stalwart fan Seosamh O Luana looks on with interest as Cian Dillon of Clare is interviewed by the media following their All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game against Laois in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Tony Kelly of Clare poses for photos with young fans. Photograph by John Kelly.
The scoreboard had an extra point for Clare at the end of the All-Ireland Senior Championship Qualifier game in Ennis. Photograph by John Kelly.
Clare’s determination to get back to winning ways after their Munster championship exit was evident from the outset and once they took control, they dominated throughout the field. Indeed it’s fair to say that their winning margin could have been greater such was their dominance on an evening when Laois goalie Enda Rowland denied Clare at least three further goals
There was little between the sides in the opening quarter at the end of which Clare had opened 1-5 to 0-3 lead but from here on there was only one team in it.
It was 1-9 to 0-5 pints after twenty seven minutes when Laois were reduced to fourteen men as wing forward Ben Conroy picked up a second yellow card which ended his involvement in the tie. Indeed, the midlanders were fortunate not to have seen red a little earlier as a nasty late challenge on Oisin O’Brien went unpunished.
From here on it was one way traffic and Clare had sealed their place in the next round by half time when they led by fifteen points, 2-14 to 0-5 with wind advantage to come.
Seven points in as many minutes at the start of the second half killed off any remote chance that the visitors to Cusack Park might have been entertaining of a comeback.
To add to their misery they were reduced to thirteen players when Charles Dwyer was dismissed on a second yellow card, six minuses from the end
There were a number of pleasing aspects to Clare’s win not least the fact that David McInerney returned from injury and contributed 0-3 when delivering an impressive display. Teenager Aron Shanagher was in sparkling form and he caused huge problems for the Laois defence throughout.
Once again Clare introduced their full complement of substitutes and, clearly there is great competition for places. Clare will be in action again next weekend when they will come up against either Cork, Limerick or Wexford.
Clare; Andrew Fahy; Cian Dillon , Pat O’Connor, Oisin O’Brien; Jack Browne, David McInerney (0-3), Brendan Bugler; Conor Cleary (0-2), David Reidy; John Conlon (0-2), Podge Collins (1-3), Colm Galvin (0-2); Shane O’Donnell (1-3). Aron Shanagher (3-1), Tony Kelly (0-10);
Subs; David Fitzgerald for McInerney, Seadna Morey for Cleary, Cathal O’Connell (0-5) for Kelly, Shane Golden (0-1) for Reidy and Colin Ryan for Conlon
Laois; Enda Rowland (0-2) Dwane Palmer, Ryan Mullaney, Caher Healy; Patrick Purcell, Leigh Bergin, Matthew Whelan (0-1), Ben Conroy, Colm Stapleton; Charles Dwyer (0-2) Willie Hyland (0-3), John Lennon; P.J.Scully (0-1) Neil Foyle (0-1), Willie Dunphy (0-1)
Subs; Ross King for Bergin (injured), Podge Lawlor for Healy (injured), Mark Kavanagh (0-1) for Scully, Darren Maher for Stapleton and Joe Phelan for Dunphy.
