Tough Clare succumb to Kilkenny League side

National Inter-Youths

Kilkenny League 3
Clare League 2
Two goals down inside the opening quarter, there were fears that Clare were about to receive a heavy defeat in the semi-final of the National Inter-youths Competition at Dermidus Park in Kilkenny on Sunday.
The mettle Clare showed to fight back to level the game before half-time confirmed the merit of their involvement at this stage of the competition. However, they had to give best to a lively home side who scored the winning goal early in the final quarter.
Clare supporters outnumbered the home side’s following for this tie, which was played in dry conditions. Seeking a place in the final for the first time in 40 years (Clare won this title in 1971), the visitors started nervously and were punished in the fourth minute when slack defending led to the opening goal.
The impressive Ross King pounced when Clare failed to clear their lines and he fired past Ciarán MacMathuna from close range. Despite this early set-back, Clare got to grips with matters and started to win a lot of possession but still found the home side dangerous on the break with Sean Maguire proving to be a real handful.
In the 10th minute Clare captain Jack Walsh came to his side’s rescue when he cleared off the line before MacMathuna saved well from Conor Gooney a few minutes later.
The Clare following was silenced in the 17th minute when Darragh Corry was harshly penalised and shown a yellow card as the South Tipperary referee pointed to the penalty spot. Ross King gave MacMathuna no chance and Kilkenny were two goals in front.
This score seemed to spark Clare to life and from here to the half-time whistle they dominated and, in the process, played some great football, They were right back in the contest in the 24th minute when Darragh Corry rose highest to powerfully head home an Alan Roche cross from a corner on the right.
While the visitors were now putting their opponents under a lot of pressure, Kilkenny still managed some good attacks and in one of these their captain, Declan McQuillan, saw his effort rebound off the upright.
Six minutes from the break, Clare fans had reason to celebrate. Ruairí Norrby stepped up to a free on the edge of the area and he powerfully hammered the ball to the net to tie up the game.
Claims for a penalty by Clare two minutes later were turned down after Norrby appeared to be fouled in the area but Clare continued to hold the upperhand to the half-time whistle.
There were high hopes at this stage that the Clare side would be able to go on and win this tie. With home advantage going to the winners, there was a huge incentive for either team ahead of the Easter weekend decider against Cork, who were 2-1 winners over Dublin on Sunday.
Inside the opening minute of the second half, Clare won a free just outside the area when Darragh Sexton was fouled but Alan Roche’s effort went over the bar. Seconds later MacMathuna pulled off a great save when he turned Ross King’s effort behind for a corner.
The standard of play in the second half never reached the same heights as in the opening period and as the half wore on the Clare defence was being put under more and more pressure by Sean Maguire and Ross King.
When the only score of the half did come, it wasn’t any surprise that it was this duo that fashioned the score. Maguire made another powerful run through the Clare defence before passing to King, whose powerful shot to the corner gave his team back the lead and also completed an impressive hat-trick for the skillful Kilkenny player.
In an effort to get back into contention, Clare introduced Darragh Fitzgerald, Mark Roche and Tommy McKeown within a short space of time but Kilkenny showed the greater experience in the final quarter and they defended well wherever Clare threatened danger.
The visitors fought bravely to the end but, on the run of play, Kilkenny proved the better-balanced and more skilful side and deserved their passage to the final.
Kilkenny: Craig Cummins; Barry Whelan, Andy Hickey, Robert Skehan, Sam Johnson; Lee Delaney, Chris Valentine, Declan McQuillan (captain), Sean Maguire; Ross King, Conor Gooney.
Clare: Ciaran MacMathuna (Ennis Town); Jack Walsh (Avenue) capt, Paraic O’Malley (Tulla United), Darragh Murphy (Bridge United), Colin Smith (Avenue United); Niall Whelan (Tulla United), Darragh Corry (Tulla United), Alan Roche (Avenue United); Darragh Sexton (Avenue United); Eoin Fitzgerald (Avenue United), Ruairi Norrby (Lifford).
Subs: Darragh Fitzgerald (Bridge United) for A Roche; Mark Roche (Avenue United) for Norrby; Tommy McKeown (Tulla United) for Murphy.