CLARE’s senior footballers have fell to their third defeat in succession, losing to Meath on Sunday in a tie where they should have emerged victorious.
Meath 0-10
Clare 0-09
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
Lapses in concentration and poor decision making from Clare was once again punished as a bright start to the 2022 Division 2 Allianz National Football League has been clouded by three successive losses.
Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan was dispossessed by Meath midfielder Ronan Jones with substitute James Conlan, no relation of the RCB reporter of the same name, kicking the winning point to end what was an edgy finale.
Arguably the better side for the bulk of proceedings, Clare will be fuming to have ended up on the wrong side of this result. A late chance from Gavin Cooney went to the right of the goals before the final whistle sounded.
In a dull opening half, the sides were level on three occasions with Meath leading at the other junctures. Clare kicked two fine scores from Eoin Cleary during this spell while the Royal County had to wait until the thirty third minute to register from play, midfielder Bryan Menton doing the honours. Cleary’s second point left the sides tied at 0-05 apiece at the half-time juncture.
With three of the first four scores on the restart, Clare were leading, Keelan Sexton with a double and single from Emmet McMahon giving them a two point cushion. The fabric of this cushion was far from comfortable with Meath afforded several chances to equalise, they did so when Joey Wallace and Cillian O’Sullivan hit the target.
Substitute Conor Jordan atoned for his mistake which led to Wallace’s score, when he pointed his first score in the Clare colours, an excellent attempt which was a timely lift.
Bryan McMahon, whose father John hails from Coolmeen and was a retired Garda detective put Meath back on a level footing before the winning score followed from Conlan.
A growing injury list serves as another headache for Colm Collins and his management in the wake of this one point loss. Cillian Brennan and Manus Doherty were forced off prematurely in this tie while Alan Sweeney, Podge Collins, Cathal O’Connor, Sean Collins and Kevin Harnett were unavailable through injury.
At the beginning of the campaign, Clare’s speed of counter attack was striking, the pace at which this now occurs has dropped and it is no coincidence that so too has their attacking threat. Despite the defeat, Clare’s Division 2 status is safe for 2022. Cian O’Dea, Cillian Brennan and Eoin Cleary were their best on this occasion.
Scorers Meath: S Walsh (0-03 2f), J Morris (0-02), B Menton (0-01), J Wallace (0-01 1M), C O’Sullivan (0-01), B McMahon (0-01), J Conlan (0-01).
Scorers Clare: K Sexton (0-04 3f), E Cleary (0-03 1f), E McMahon (0-01), C Jordan (0-01).
Meath:
1: Harry Hogan (Longwood)
4: Robin Clarke (Duleek Bellewstown)
23: Conor McGill (Rathoath)
2: Jordan Muldoon (St Colmcille’s)
5: Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
3: Eoin Harkin (Dunsany)
17: Gavin McGowan (Rathoath)
9: Ronan Jones (St Peter’s Dunboyne)
8: Bryan Menton (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
10: Jason Scully (Oldcastle)
11: Thomas O’Reilly (Wolfe Tones)
12: Matthew Costelloe (Dunshaughlin)
15: Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey)
14: Shane Walsh (Na Fianna)
13: Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars)
Subs:
24: Joey Wallace (Rathoath) for Walsh (49)
21: Bryan McMahon (Rathoath) for O’Reilly (59)
22: Jack O’Connor for Scully (63)
25: James Conlan (St Colmcille’s) for Morris (65)
Clare:
16: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
5: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
6: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
7: Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis)
8: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
9: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
12: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
10: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
13: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
14: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
15: David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
Subs:
26: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for E Collins (HT)
19: Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks) for Doherty (39) (inj)
17: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg) for Brennan (49) (inj)
22: Joe McGann (St Breckan’s) for Griffin (63).
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary)
