Outplayed by sharper Kerry

Kerry 0-13
Clare 1-7

Better that Clare received an alarm call last Saturday in Killarney than next Sunday in Carrick-on-Shannon. That’s one of the few pluses the county footballers took home from the 2011 McGrath Cup final.
Don’t take too much notice of the final scoreline. Clare were outplayed in most sectors and could have lost by up to 10 points. as Kerry kicked a dozen wides and were without several of last year’s championship panel. Gary Brennan was definitely a huge loss to Clare, though.
Without the Clondegad midfielder, they were totally outplayed in that sector, where only Cathal O’Connor made any inroads.
Of equal concern was the manner in which the Clare attack malfunctioned. David Tubridy, Rory Donnelly and Alan Clohessy found that the Kerry full-back line was a much hardier line than what they had encountered recently from UCC, CIT and Waterford. That said, the quality of ball kicked into them was very poor. It was often kicked inside rather than outside the forwards, which favoured the defender and regularly Clare’s outfield players kicked too early, resulting in the inside forwards competing to win ball 30 or 40 yards from goal.
Although he was moved between wing-forward, full-forward and midfield, Niall Browne gave everything and was the hardest-working Clare forward on view.
Kerry led 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time with David Geaney kicking three points from play for the home county. David Tubridy knocked over Clare’s first score following a link with Cathal O’Connor, while John Hayes, with Tubridy and Rory Donnelly involved and Alan Clohessy from a free, completed Clare’s first-half total.
Kerry won a high percentage of breaking ball around the midfield area, with the Clare half-forward line performing very poorly in this regard. Clare didn’t fare too badly in retaining their own kicks in the opening half. They retained nine of 14 and won three of Kerry’s seven.
Clare resumed with Timmy Ryan at full-forward and Niall Browne at midfield. The Two Mile House man fired over a superb early point but Kerry reeled off five in succession to establish a 0-12 to 0-5 lead.
Clare could have collapsed completely at this stage but held Kerry to a single point in the closing 18 minutes and added 1-2 to their own total.
Alan Clohessy, who missed two decent free opportunities in the last quarter, put over two other chances, while Cathal O’Connor netted Clare’s goal. He picked up a high cross from Shane Brennan before finding the net, although his shot was half blocked.
Brennan was also involved in Clare’s final score, which was pointed by Clohessy after the Clondegad player had been fouled.
If we are to judge them by high standards, this was a poor Clare performance. Apart from the opening five and last 10 minutes, Clare were comprehensively outplayed.
The half-back division was strongest, while Cathal O’Connor gave it everything at midfield and when moved to full-forward. Niall Browne’s workrate was also noticeable. The full-back line had trouble handling David Geaney, who scored six points from play, while Darran O’Sullivan, who flitted between the full and half-forward line, also troubled Micheál McDermott’s team.

Clare: Joe Hayes (Lissycasey); Lawrence Healy (Ennistymon), Barry Duggan (Cratloe), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry Ibrickane); Graham Kelly (Miltown), Gordon Kelly (Miltown, capt), John Hayes (Kilrush); Timmy Ryan (Kilmihil), Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen); Diarmuid Daly (Corofin), Michael Foran (O’Curry’s), Niall Browne (Two Mile House, Kildare); David Tubridy (Doonbeg), Rory Donnelly (Cooraclare), Alan Clohessy (Liscannor).
Subs: Niall White (Doora-Barefield) for Graham Kelly (32, inj); Shane Brennan (Clondegad) for David Tubridy (53); Ger Fannin (Doora-Barefield) for Barry Duggan (53, inj); Adrian Cahill (Celbridge, Kildare) for Diarmuid Daly (58); Conor Ryan (Cratloe) for Timmy Ryan (59).
Scorers: Cathal O’Connor (1-1); Alan Clohessy 0-3, (0-2f); David Tubridy, John Hayes, Niall Browne (0-1) each.
Wides: 6; Frees: 26; 45s: 1
Yellow cards: Gordon Kelly.

Kerry: Tomás Mac a tSaoir; Pádraig Reidy, Marc Ó Sé, Pádraig O’Connor; Aidan O’Mahony, Tomás Ó Sé, Jonathan Lyne; Seamus Scanlon, David Moran; Gary Sayers, Darran O’Sullivan, Donnchadh Walsh; David Geaney, Michael O’Donoghue, Paul Geaney.
Subs: Barry O’Grady for Gary Sayers (half-time); Alan Fitzgerald for Michael O’Donoghue (half-time);
Danny O’Sullivan for Pádraig O’Connor (55); Eamon Hickson for Aidan O’Mahony (55); Pa McCarthy for Tomás Ó Sé (58).
Scorers: David Geaney (0-6); David Moran (0-3, 0-2f, 1 45); Michael O’Donoghue, Donnchadh Walsh, Darran O’Sullivan, Paul Geaney (0-1) each.
Wides: 12; Frees: 25; 45s: 1
Yellow cards: Jonathan Lyne, Aidan O’Mahony.

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).