YOU couldn’t but feel very sorry for the devastated Clare footballers. For a 20-minute spell from the 10th minute of the second half until five minutes from time, they played their most committed, no-holds barred football of 2012. It wasn’t enough and their longed-for escape from Division 4 remains on hold. Come 2013, Clare will have to face into their sixth successive year in the lowest division. They’re the bare, unpalatable facts.In front of 4,000 people in Aughrim, one of Ireland’s most picturesque venues, Clare trailed 1-10 to 0-7 just eight minutes into second half. They were playing into a very strong wind and had lost full-back Shane McNeilis to two yellow cards.It seemed Clare were heading for an inevitable hammering. Instead, they threw everything at Wicklow and ran at them from every corner of the field. Half-time substitutes Seán Haugh, Conor Talty and Shane Brennan contributed hugely to Clare’s commendable fightback as did Laurence Healy, who moved to full-back, …
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