Markham joins O’Donovan on injured list

Clare 0-22   Offaly 1-19

A goal from a 20m free in the final minute of the game earned Offaly a share of the spoils with Clare in this senior hurling challenge game played to mark the official opening of new facilities at Crinkle in Offaly on Saturday evening last.
“It was a good workout and a useful exercise. Overall, giving what we were missing, we were happy,” Clare manager Ger O’Loughlin said this week.
Clare were short the Cratloe players, Sean Collins, Cathal McInerney and Conor McGrath due to a club senior football championship engagement. Their clubmate Liam Markham (pictured) missed the weekend games because of a broken finger suffered when Cratloe beat Scariff in the senior hurling championship the previous weekend. The injury will keep the half back/midfielder out of contention for a place in the side for next week’s clash with Tipperary.
Darach Honan was an absentee due to a groin injury while his Clonlara clubmate Nicky O’Connell also missed the game due to a leg injury he suffered when helping Clonlara beat Broadford in the club championship the previous week. The midfielder was back in training this week and both are expected to be available for the game with Tipperary.
Brendan Bugler was replaced early in the second half because of a hamstring injury but the Whitegate man should be ready to face the All-Ireland champions.
Meanwhile, Clare will play Cork on this Thursday and will train twice over the weekend before winding down ahead of the big game which takes place in Limerick at 4pm on Sunday week.
“We did well in the first half against Offaly but we conceded early scores in the second half which allowed Offaly back into the game”, said the team boss.
Because they were short so many of their panel for Saturday’s game, the management drafted in additional players and Clarecastle’s Pat Kelly, a member of the county intermediate panel, was introduced in the closing stages.
Clare played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half and led by eight points at half time when the score was 0-14 to 0-6. The home side hit eight unanswered points at the beginning of the second half to draw level before Clare managed to go four clear as the final whistle approached.
Joe Dooley scored the equalising goal for Offaly.  bringing his tally for the evening to 1-10, all but four points of which came from frees.
Back in what most argue is his best position, Jonathan Clancy did well at midfield for Clare and finished as their top scorer with 0-5 to his credit. Pat Donnellan and Cormac O’Donovan were others to impress for the Banner outfit.

Clare: Philip Brennan; Pat Vaughan, James McInerney, Conor Cooney; Patrick O’Connor,  Brendan Buglar, Pat Donnellan; Jonathon Clancy, Mark Earley; Cormac O’Donovan, Cathal Chaplin, Fergal Lynch; John Conlon, Caimin Morey, Colin Ryan.
Subs: Eamonn Glynn for Vaughan (half time); Cian Dillon for Earley (half-time); Gerry Quinn for Bugler (41 minutes); Brian Donnellan for Conlon (42 minutes); James Gunning for Cooney (54 minutes); Pat Kelly for Lynch (54 minutes); Donal Tuohy for Brennan (54 minutes).

Offaly: J Dempsey; M Verney, D Kenny, B Mulrooney; D Hayden, E Murphy, D. Morkan; J Mulrooney, D.Currams; D Molloy, C Mahon, C Egan; S Dooley, G Healion, C Parlon.
Subs: S Egan, E Kelly, M Morkan, B Lonergan, T Carroll, P Heaslion, C McDonald, J Brady, E Murphy.