*Cian O’Dea battles with Cillian O’Sullivan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE HAVE DEFEATED MEATH for the first time in the All-Ireland senior football championship to secure their place in the second round of the qualifiers.
Clare 1-11
Meath 1-09
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
A much improved showing from Clare compared with their exit in the Munster SFC to Limerick at the end of April has them hoping for another memorable qualifier run despite making considerably hard work of their two point victory against Meath on Saturday evening.
Laying the foundations for the win with a solid first half display, Clare could count themselves fortunate that they were not punished for dropping their standards in the second half as poor shooting became commonplace from their perspective.
As has been abundantly clear, Clare’s footballers in 2022 get most joy and create damage when they launch counter-attacks at speed from defence. It is typified by the trio of Alan Sweeney, Cian O’Dea and Ciaran Russell, they lifted their game in this regard while Jamie Malone also showed his effectiveness in doing likewise.
Meath have been Clare’s bogey team in recent League encounters with Cillian O’Sullivan most often the man sinking their spirits. His influence was limited by O’Dea and again this was a key factor to the outcome.
Setting their stall by notching 1-02 without reply, Clare put themselves firmly in the ascendancy. Eoin Cleary and Emmet McMahon kicked the points while Pearse Lillis flicked a dropping ball from Cleary to the back of the net on twelve minutes.
It took Meath until the seventeenth minute to register a score and within twenty seconds that had their another. Clare responded with 0-03 on the bounce but the Royal County closed out the half with four of the last five scores to leave themselves four points adrift when the gap between the sides on the surface appeared to be greater.
Of frustration to the Banner contingent among the 2,460 spectators was how the hosts resumed. They kicked six scoreable wides before Eoin Cleary opened their tally on fifty three minutes, meanwhile Meath had taken the lead hitting 1-02 without reply, Conor McGill dispatching a penalty past Tristan O’Callaghan on forty minutes.
Cleary’s score was followed by a point from Cillian O’Sullivan but his second contribution to the board would prove to be Meath’s last as they went the final fifteen minutes of the game without adding to their tally.
Crucially, Clare kicked 0-03 via Cleary, Keelan Sexton and Manus Doherty in what was the Éire Óg defender’s first championship point for the seniors.
Goalkeeper, Harry Hogan did his utmost for the visitors, he produced three excellent saves including one to deny David Tubridy a penalty and another to stop Sexton in the closing stages.
Fortunately for Clare they live to fight another die but of most benefit will be the belief they take from this scalp. The job of work for Colm Collins and his management is to ensure moments like their blip at the beginning of the second half are eradicated. For them, Cian O’Dea, Ciaran Russell, Alan Sweeney and Manus Doherty dominated in defence while Eoin Cleary stepped up at vital times to lead by example in attack.
Scorers Clare: E Cleary (0-04 1f), P Lillis (1-00), E McMahon (0-02), D O’Neill (0-01), J Malone (0-01), D Tubridy (0-01 1f), K Sexton (0-01 1’45), M Doherty (0-01)
Scorers Meath: C McGill (1-00 1’Pen), C O’Sullivan (0-02 1f), T O’Reilly (0-01), M Costello (0-01), J O’Connor (0-01 1f), J Scully (0-01), E Harkin (0-01), D McGowan (0-01), B McMahon (0-01 1f)
Clare:
1: Tristan O’Callaghan (St Breckans)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
3: Conor Jordan (Austin Stacks)
25: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
6: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
7: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
9: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
8: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
10: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
15: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
14: David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
13: Gavin Cooney (Éire Óg)
Subs:
24: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Griffin (31)
23: Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon) for McMahon (46)
18: Podge Collins (Cratloe) for Cooney (48)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon) for Sweeney (66)
Meath:
1: Harry Hogan (Longwood)
2: Robin Clarke (Duleek/Bellewstown)
3: Conor McGill (Ratoath)
4: Eoin Harkin (Dunsaney)
17: Cathal Hickey (Curraha)
18: Padraic Harnan (Moynalvey)
7: Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
21: Daithí McGowan (Rathoath)
8: Bryan Menton (Donaghmore Ashbourne)
22: Jason Scully (Oldcastle)
23: Thomas O’Reilly (Wolfe Tones)
13: Matthew Costello (Dunshaughlin)
24: Bryan McMahon (Rathoath)
14: Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey)
12: Jack O’Connor (Curraha)
Subs:
5: James McEntee (Curraha) for Hickey (24)
15: Joey Wallace (Rathoath) for Scully (HT)
25: Eamon Wallace (Rathoath) for J O’Connor (HT)
10: Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars, Cavan) for McMahon (58)
11: Shane Walsh (Na Fianna) for O’Reilly (66)
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
