Clare 2-28 Kerry 1-9
After an absence from the game of almost ten months, Podge Collins returned to action on Sunday when he played the last half hour of Clare’s easy win over Kerry in round 4 of the Allianz hurling league, division 1B.
A strong third quarter in which they scored 1-8 without reply saw Clare maintain their 100% record this year. there was never a doubt about the result as the Bannermen dominated from the off and the way is now clear for next Sunday’s final group game against neighbours and arch rivals Limerick, the outcome of which will determine which team will be promoted to divison 1 A for next season
Clare took the lead after just fifteen seconds when David Reidy pointed and went on to lead by eight points with just fifteen minutes played.
The second quarter was an even enough affair with the winners outscoring their opponents by just a point in this period to lead at the break on a scoreline of 0-15 to 0-9.
They piled on the pressure in the third quarter and added 1-8 without reply to lead on a scoreline 1-23 to 0-6 at the turn of the final quarter, the goal coming from Aaron Cunningham who caused huge problems for the visitors in the second half.
Bobby Duggan had Clare’s second goal when he converted a penalty twelve minutes from the end having seen a similar effort in the opening half superbly saved by Aidan McCabe in the Kerry goal. Indeed McCabe produced a couple of outstanding saves in a tie in which referee Brian Gavin issued eight yellow cards, six going to Kerry players.
From the outset, Kerry set up with a very defensive formation, deploying two extra defenders which meant that their chances of scoring at the other end were much weakened.
Clare will be pleased with the form shown by Colm Galvin who caused a lot of problems for Kerry. Indeed Galvin and Conor McGrath were much too sharp for the visitors and they each contributed 0-5, all from play.
Clare; Donal Tuohy; Oisin O’Brien, Pat O’Connor, Paul Flanagan; Brendan Bugler 0-1, David McInerney, Conor Cleary 0-1; David Reidy 0-2, Conor Ryan; John Conlon, Bobby Duggan 1-7, 1-6 frees, Colm Galvin 0-5: Aaron Cunningham 1-6, Shane O’Donnell, Conor McGrath 0-5.
Sub; Podge Collins for Ryan and Cathal O’Connell (0-1) for O’Donnell (43 minutes); Aron Shanagher for Conlon (49 minutes); Ciaran O’Doherty for Flanagan (60 minutes). Darach Honan for McGrath (67 minutes)
Kerry; A. McCabe; D.Fitzell, P. Kelly, K. Carmody; D.Collins 1-0, free, D.Dineen, T. Murnane; T. Casey, J. Griffin; J. Diggins 0-1, M. O’Leary 0-2, C. Harty; J.Egan 0-4,3 frees, M. Boyle, J.Buckley 0-1;
Subs; S. Weir for Fitzell (32 minutes); J. Conway for Boyle and J. Goulding for Harty (46 minutes); B. Brosnan 0-1 for Casey and B. O’Leary for Egan (51 minutes)
By Seamus Hayes