Cian Lally keeps up with Connor Meaney. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
A FLAT display from Clare’s senior footballers saw them suffer defeat to Sligo on Sunday, a setback but not a fatal one so far as promotion is concerned, Páraic McMahon rates the performances of the men in saffron and blue.
Two away games have both resulted in defeat for Peter Keane’s Clare footballers, that is a trend that they will have to end this Saturday when they make the trip to O’Moore Park in Portlaoise where a win is essential to get their promotion bid back on track.
1: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg)
Kickout retention for Clare stood at just over fifty percent with Tubridy kicking two out over the sideline in the second half. After standing out as one of Clare’s best performers when overcoming Kildare due to his shot-stopping and calmness under the dropping ball, this was a step back for the Doonbeg netminder but he was certainly not among Clare’s worst. Continues to make himself an option out the field but tweaks to the rule changes where further players have to be back may obstruct this.
Rating: 6
2: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
Responsible for forcing Sligo to kick two wides in succession when Niall Murphy and Darragh Cummins missed the target within a two minute spell in the second quarter. However Cillian who made vital turnovers through well-timed tackles earlier in the league seemed to have been instructed to shepherd his man as opposed to winning turnovers when trying to curb Niall Murphy this time round, a tactic which restricted the Lahinch defender and helped Murphy kick three points from play. Had an input to Clare’s first score of the second half but has more to offer than his corner back role is allowing.
Rating: 6
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
Similar shepherding tactics were imposed by the captain at full-back. He did make an excellent turnover and reacted quickly to scoop up a breaking ball which was followed by a fine Fionn Kelleher run, the move unfortunately ending with an Eoin Cleary wide, it would have been a fantastic team score and reduced the deficit to a single point on thirty one minutes.
Rating: 6
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
Of the Clare contingent, Manus brought a lot more energy than his teammates. Had the assist for Emmet McMahon’s goal after making a trademark run from defence to attack only for his shot to be denied by the crossbar, thankfully McMahon was on alert to put the ball in the net but there wasn’t as many runs as normal from the Ennis livewire. Also lost marks for his involvement in Sligo’s only goal when the ball slipped through his legs allowing the hosts work the ball across the field and finish to the net.
Rating: 6
5: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
Doolin’s Sweeney can’t be questioned for spirit, sustained a blow to the stomach when putting his body on the line to make a save. His role in launching Clare attacks has waned and as a consequence so too has his involvement. Was getting caught in quick weaves once Sligo secured the breaking ball in the middle third, one case in point was Darragh Cummins’ twelfth minute score. Substituted on sixty minutes at a time when Clare ramped up their efforts to salvage a result.
Rating: 5
6: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
It will take time for any player to adjust to senior inter-county in their debut season and Fionn is beginning to find his feet. While there are still aspects to improve on, this was his best showing at senior level. Clare are getting caught with the opposing attack running and cutting through them too easily, he can’t be faulted for Alan Reilly’s sixty fourth minute effort which made it a four point game as he was completely outnumbered by Sligo men. For this showing, he was much more involved in the play and really clocked up the miles in powering forward to try launch attacks throughout the game, had plenty of assists only for the men pulling the trigger to miss the target.
Rating: 7
18: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
Things looked to be on the up when Connor in his second start for the county seniors kicked the opening score of the game with fifty five seconds on the clock. This lively start saw him power down the left flank on a handful of occasions but as the tie progressed, he wasn’t as active. Gifted Sligo their thirteenth point of the afternoon when handpassing the ball directly to an opponent, this when Clare were on the attack and on course to kick back-to-back scores and reduce it to a three point gap, adding to the disappointing was the lack of energy from the Lissycasey man to atone for the blunder.
Rating: 5
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
A lot is being asked of Brian as Clare’s main fielder, while he is undoubtedly making some great catches, he is feeling the effects of lacking support in this sector. Fumbled the ball on the attack in the third quarter when more clinical thinking could have led to a score. His ability to tear open defences can be utilised more by Peter Keane and his management but they’ve to find players to beef up the middle third to assist the Cooraclare clubman.
Rating: 6
9: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
A total of twenty two possession from Ikem who also contributed to the scoreboard with two fisted points in succession approaching the hour mark. Also had what appeared to be a legitimate goal disallowed. Fielded Eamon Tubridy’s kickout to set up Eoin Cleary on the twenty seventh minute which saw Clare regain the lead, however his attributes could also be better harnessed by management. One of the few players in saffron and blue that can be pleased with their showing in Markievicz Park.
Rating: 7
13: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
For what he is capable of, Daniel has yet to show in the 2025 league what he can bring to the table. Given that he made his league debut in May 2021, the Kilmurry Ibrickane utility man is one of the more experienced players in the Clare side so could be carrying more of a leadership role on his shoulders than he is currently displaying. Was Clare’s first player substituted on the forty five minute mark so will be keen to issue a response versus Laois.
Rating: 5
11: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
Finished as Clare’s top scorer with 1-6 to his credit but Emmet has yet to match the standards set in their third round victory over Fermanagh. Kicked a brace of two pointers from frees and did his utmost to try salvage something by standing up in the final quarter but had been a bit too quiet prior to this. Reacted very well to bag Clare’s second goal but was denied on the sixty ninth minute with a fine Paul McNamara block.
Rating: 6
12: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
Incorrect team details circulated by Clare GAA on social media coupled with reports of a dead leg had Downes out of the starting fifteen but he was there from the off. Finished the opening half with a wide after he was put through by Ikem Ugwueru. Unfortunately the Kilmihil man didn’t register on the scoresheet but once he does, his confidence and input in proceedings is sure to sky rocket. Substituted on forty nine minutes.
Rating: 5
10: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Demonstrated what he can do when taking on the Sligo defence to collect Clare’s first goal on forty nine minutes and Aaron also finished off a well-worked team move with the second half’s first score. Had a chance of an earlier goal but was denied by David Quinn. Helped to set up Ikem Ugwueru’s second point on sixty minutes but apart from these four moments there was little else the Lissycasey attacker was involved in.
Rating: 5
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
Finished with three points to his credit, two from frees but as ever Clare’s most experienced player is a marked man. Also kicked two wides over the seventy minutes, shots that had they gone between the posts would have given a huge lift. Overall, he was of the Clare players trying to drive the comeback when they finally upped the ante in the final quarter.
Rating: 6
15: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Unfortunately Keelan failed to come close to matching the performance he displayed in Ennis a week previous when he was Clare’s standout performer. Was turned over to kick start Sligo’s move that resulted in their only goal of the game and also spent ten minutes off the field after picking up a black card. Lacked the energy and workrate which was central to his man of the match outing against the Lilywhites.
Rating: 5
Subs:
19: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Leaving Certificate student Evan had only lined out for Clare’s U20s less than twenty four hours previous when he was asked to enter the fray on forty five minutes. Once again, he had an involvement in creating moves and is not afraid to throw himself about. May be part of the solution to Clare’s struggles in the middle third but needs more games to test this theory, unlikely to get an opportunity this weekend with Clare’s U20s in must-win territory.
Rating: 6
24: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Introduced for the final twenty minutes, Dermot didn’t have the same heroic impact as he did when kicking two points against Kildare. He did have the chance to be the hero but his attempt at a two pointer with the last kick of the game from a very difficult angle dropped to the wrong side of the posts. Hopefully will be in contention for a starting berth against Laois.
Rating: 5
21: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown)
There was badly needed energy from Cormac when sprung into action but can be frustrated with the lack of game-time he is getting to try make an impression and put himself into contention.
Rating: 5
20: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg)
It was a short spell on the pitch for Darragh but he did more than enough to strengthen the argument that Peter Keane needs to be testing out more of his panel. The Doonbeg man brought energy and an appetite to get on the ball, evident by his two possessions after a sixty eighth minute introduction.
22: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg)
Rare game time in this year’s league was handed to Gavin who had been a constant in 2024. In a very brief spell, he picked up a knock for his troubles.
