Tag Archives: Meath

Meath 0-21 Clare 0-7 COMPLETELY outclassed, particularly in the second half, Clare were beaten emphatically by Meath in Navan on Sunday afternoon. Clare now sit on one point from two games. They were outscored 0-15 to 0-3 in that second period, with Gary Brennan the only Clare player to score from play. In fact his point was the only score of the second half, with his rising shot going over the bar. Brennan was Clare’s outstanding player. However, Meath responded with 0-8 without reply and pulled away from a dishevelled Clare who lost their shape and increasingly lost hope as the second half evolved. Clare trailed 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time with Meath pulling two points ahead, when Bryan McMahon pointed, with the last kick, after a disputed free was taken quickly. Clare competed hard throughout the first half with Killian Roche kicking their opening score from a 45, while Pearse Lillis, Jamie Malone and Gary Brennan (free) added a …

AS they head for Meath on Sunday, the Clare footballers and management will feel confident they have the capacity to kick a match-winning total. However, they will also dwell on the issues that were highlighted against Cavan and Cork in the McGrath Cup final. In those games, Clare have conceded 5-15 from play, while they kicked enough themselves to win either game. Management are introducing younger players to pivotal positions and those players must be given time to learn what football at this level is about. Based on what they have conceded in the games referred to, Clare will have to look at slightly readjusting their defensive plan for Meath, who beat them by nine points in Ennis last season and who drew with Roscommon on Sunday. They could opt to play a sweeper, if not for the entire 70 minutes, perhaps in the opening 15 minutes, to help them to settle and get a foothold in the game. Employing …

Clare 3-11 Meath 4-7 Clare were crowned All-Ireland minor B ladies football champions at Duggan park in Ballinasloe this afternoon in what was a thrilling contest where the lead changed hands on a number of occasions. A draw looked the likely outcome for much of the tie but the Clare defence excelled in the closing minutes as Meath came forward in waves in search of an equalising score. The Leinster side got off to a tremendous start with a goal from Caroline McLoughlin Quinn in the third minute which was followed by a Sarah Lynch point. Clare stormed into the game after this and had levelled the tie at 0-5 to 1-2 by the thirteenth minute with points from Fidelma Marrinan, Eimear Keane (2 each) and Ciara Hickey. They hit the front two minutes later when Caoimhe Harvey broke through from midfield to find the net. Meath fought back and a goal from Lauryn Grier helped them to a two …

Meath 3-19 Clare 1-13 DESPITE an emphatic 12 point loss to Meath in Cusack Park on Sunday, Clare will play division 2 football in 2018. Derry’s defeat of Fermanagh and Down’s draw with Cork, meant that they, along with Clare ended their league campaign on five points. However Clare retained their status based on their superior scoring difference. While Clare played some good football in the first half, following a shaky start, they were comprehensively outplayed after the interval. In fact Meath outscored their 3-10 to 1-5 with wing forward Cillian O’Sullivan putting away two goals while centre back Brian Power added the third for a rampant Royal County. Meath were so much in control they substituted Graham Reilly, who put over 0-6 from play, 15 minutes from time. The winners led 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time, with Reilly and Eamonn Wallace contributing a flurry of superb points. Eoin Cleary did likewise for Clare in the opening half. Slow to …

IT IS not too often that a defeated team emerges from any game with their confidence levels enhanced. While a loss is a loss, Clare did play some exceptional football in Newbridge last Sunday. Eoin Cleary gave an exhibition of shooting from play and while he did miss a chance to equalise from a free, he was one of Clare’s standout performers. More impressive than any of their scores was the off-the-shoulder support from players like Cleary, Jamie Malone, Cian O’Dea and Dean Ryan. On several occasions, during the second half in particular, players timed their support run perfectly, so that they broke Kildare tackles without breaking their own stride. Suddenly, they were in space and had time to look up and send decent ball into the inside forwards. The best way to kick quality ball is to use support play to create an opportunity. Kick the ball too early and, have no doubt, it will come back to you …

CLARE darts received another timely boost last week when the county side captured the National shield title at the West County hotel. Pipped by a single point in their group for championship honours, had beaten Meath, Cork, Louth and Roscommon but lost narrowly to Waterford In the shield they defeated Kilkenny, Tipperary and Mayo to set up a final meeting with Waterford and this time Clare were the victors. The County’s B team suffered defeat in the Provincial final. In the past twelve months, the A team has reached the semi-finals of the West Coast and Cork tournaments. On their way to the title Eoin Lahiff (Kilrush) checked out on 167, James Youdell (Ennistymon) checked out on 134, Adrian Ford (Ennis) had a 154 checkout and Brendan Casey (Kilrush) had a 114 checkout. Brendan will be a member of the Irish team in the European youths cup in Austria on July 1 next. The members of the Clare A team which …