*Clare’s Cillian Rouine offloads possession. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
DIVISION 3 awaits Clare’s senior footballers for the third successive season despite their five point win over Offaly in the final round, Páraic McMahon rates the performances of the twenty players in saffron and blue to feature in this outing.
An attendance of 2,176 were present in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Cíosóg for Clare’s 2-14 2-9 win over Offaly, it marked the largest crowd at a home game during Peter Keane’s tenure but is a far cry off the amount that should be supporting the county’s flagship football side.
1: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg)
An improvement in the percentage of Clare’s kickout retention represented a step in the right direction for Eamon and his teammates as his first full league campaign between the posts concluded, this of course was aided by having more options to find around the middle third. Couldn’t be faulted for Cathal Flynn’s goal which was Offaly’s second but the fact that Clare have conceded an identical goal in two weeks, a dropping shot getting palmed to the net is an area that must be rectified.
Rating: 7
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
Appearing to be assuming status of a fan favourite, Manus getting on the ball generates a sense of excitement among Clare supporters and rightly so as the pace and energy he brings creates possibilities. He appeared to be lost in position which led to Offaly’s second goal from Cathal Flynn so the lapse in concentration will have to be watched.
Rating: 6
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
Clare’s leader hasn’t had an abundance of possessions during this campaign but his primary job has been trying to curb the man he is marking. Jack Bryant was his direct opponent on this occasion and the Shamrocks man finished with 1-2 to his credit, a return which will frustrate the captain. Brings a calmness to proceedings which is very valuable when pressure is mounting in the heat of battle.
Rating: 6
5: Ronan Lanigan (Éire Óg)
Making his first start of the year and a first full seventy minutes under the belt for Ronan is a big plus. This is also the reason he would fall into the rusty category regarding this particular display. His ball-handling let him down when he spilled a Tubridy pass which resulted in Jack Bryant extending Offaly’s lead to two points on forty minutes. His reliable nature means such mistakes will be few and far between come championship.
Rating: 6
6: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
Settling into the wing-back post after hovering around midfield, Ikem once again brought power and life into Clare’s attacks from deep. He had the assist on twenty six minutes as Keelan Sexton brought the hosts back on level terms. Linked the play very well with quick handpasses. A key factor in Clare creating scoring opportunities is getting Ikem on the ball and up the field.
Rating: 7
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
Sensationalists in the media caused a pile-on for Cillian in the wake of Ennistymon’s Clare SFC semi-final exit last season focusing on his decisions in their defensive approach, neglecting to mention in their cries the countless powering runs he made for his club from centre back en route to the last four. Management must have been reading The Clare Echo to finally move Rouine from the full-back line and show what he can offer further forward. His attacking runs that he showed at club level from number six were a central reason for this five point win. One of these runs also ended up with him kicking a point off his left boot and another saw him offer the assist for Aaron Griffin’s run. Fionn Kelleher was harshly dropped and could yet regain a spot in defence but in Rouine Clare have found their centre back and a man who gets immense satisfaction in making his critics fall silent.
Rating: 8
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
Another of Clare’s leaders, Sweeney cannot be accused of leaving anything in reserve when it comes to representing club or county. Alongside his two colleagues in the half-back line, he offers a strong attacking threat, the proof in the pudding is the amount of green flags he has scored in the 2025 league, the answer is three in case it comes up in a pub quiz in Doolin. Replaced on seventy two minutes for Shane Griffin after another solid shift.
Rating: 7
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
League campaign number two is ticked off for Brian Mc but this has been by far his most effective. His fielding ability has been referred to in every player rating, it’s one of his biggest attributes and it’s one of Clare’s strengths, coupled with his ability to power forward. His partnership with Emmet McMahon seems to be the closest to the right mix that Peter Keane and his management have found. Had two scoring chances late in the first half, one dropped short and the other hit off the upright. An excellent league campaign overall for the Cree man.
Rating: 8
14: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
Moving Emmet to midfield can be coined as a ‘catch 22’, it is arguably depriving Clare of one of their best shooters but it also utilising his fielding ability and this is offering an aid to Brian McNamara that had been absent in the middle of the field. Had a goal chance in the opening ten minutes that ended up being a 45. As Clare started with gusto in the second half, he opened his account with a nice score on thirty seven minutes. Kicked two frees wide in the second half. Making the right call in possession, the majority of the time.
Rating: 7
13: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
One of the most involved players in the opening half, Dermot clocked up a total of twelve possessions and used the ball well in the first thirty five minutes. As the game wore on, he wasn’t as prominent, this could be to do with the fact that it was only his second full game on his return from injury. His addition back to the attack is a welcome one, carries the ball to great effect, both across the lines and to draw tacklers before making offloads or putting himself into the scoring zone. An example arrived after Cillian Rouine a turnover and Coughlan worked the ball to Keelan Sexton for a goal-scoring opportunity on seven minutes. On the shooting front, he kicked two wides and didn’t register on the scoresheet.
Rating: 7
12: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Although his first shot of the game dropped short on fourteen minutes, Aaron ended up with two goals to his credit as he begins to demonstrate himself as a very important scorer on the Clare side. When he delivers, Griffin underlines the importance of opposing defences needed to keep tabs on him as he can bring an electricity and a turn of pace that is very difficult to counteract. Raised two green flags in the space of ten minutes and will grow in confidence having finished the league as Clare’s top goal-scorer in the forward line.
Rating: 8
9: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
Clocking up a lot of miles when it comes to tracking back, a few scores on the board would see Ciaran grow in confidence akin to Griffin. Had a wide on thirty two minutes but his involvement was scarce on the ball particularly in the second half. Substituted on sixty seven minutes.
Rating: 6
15: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Two points from play and two from placed balls saw Keelan return to the scoresheet after an absence from it versus Laois. Will be annoyed to not have had a goal as part of his tally and should have finished his chance on the seventh minute. Set the tempo at the beginning of the second half when Clare brought a renewed sense of energy, Keelan firing over two excellent points to see their momentum grow. Two minutes after converting a 45, his involvement in the tie ended when he was forced off with a back injury which is hopefully not a knock that will impact on preparations for the Munster championship.
Rating: 7
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Similar concerns apply regarding Eoin Cleary who had to retire prematurely with an injury to his ribs that had left him in a high degree of pain. Produced a strong display during his fifty eight minutes on the field of play which included converting three points from play and one from a free. Similar to his cousin Dermot, is linking the play very well in attack and times his runs to perfection to enable him to secure possession at pace. Had two wides as part of his shots in under an hour but is getting into the right position. A big plus for Clare football to have had him back lining out in the league.
Rating: 8
10: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg)
Back to back starts for Mark who spent the beginning of the league listed as Clare’s sub goalkeeper. When in the right spot, he’s more than capable of splitting the posts but needs to get on the ball a bit more to demonstrate this to the masses. A four point tally for the Éire Óg man, two from frees, one an effort from the 45m line after Emmet McMahon’s goal chance was denied and another from play arriving on the seventeenth minute. McMahon’s move to midfield creates a gap for McInerney to start popping over some two pointers.
Rating: 7
Subs:
20: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg)
Introduced on fifty four minutes, Darragh was Clare’s substitute into the fray which shows the value management have in the Doonbeg man. He mixed the good with the bad, the good seeing him provide the assist for Aaron Griffin’s goal, the bad was when he lost his positioning and left Clare with only ‘two up’ which gifted Offaly a free that Nigel Dunne converted on seventy one minutes.
Rating: 6
26: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Replaced his clubmate Cleary on fifty eight minutes, Cormac had a shot but it was stopped, it would have been a second goal in as many attacks straight from Griffin’s first major. Murray is lively whenever given the chance but is right to be frustrated that he has not seen more game time during the league.
Rating: 6
23: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Less than 24 hours after helping Clare’s U20 footballers reach the second phase of the provincial championship, Evan entered the fray from the bench for the seniors. He replaced Downes in the closing stages of normal time. Shows no fear when it comes to senior level and is well able to match opponents on the physical stakes.
Rating: 6
22: Shane Griffin (Lissycasey)
Introduced in additional time for Alan Sweeney but didn’t get a chance to influence proceedings.
21: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
As the final substitute, Walsh may be disappointed to have gone from a starter to having to settle for a brief cameo. It could well ignite the hunger levels and see the Kilmurry Ibrickane man force himself back into contention via his work on the training pitch.
