Clare SFC Final Expert Preview – Keelan Sexton

Online Club Football Championship coverage brought to you by the Shannon Springs Hotel—home of The Old Lodge Gastropub.

*Keelan Sexton. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

BOTH OF THIS YEAR’s Clare SFC finalists are reliant on building the play from the back in what Clare forward Keelan Sexton expects to be a very defensive county final.

2pm is the start-time for Sunday’s decider in Cusack Park. Éire Óg fully deserve to be tipped for honours, Keelan affirmed. “Éire Óg warrant the favourites tag. Being champions hasn’t phased them at all. They have got better. I saw them against Clondegad and they were very impressive. Their backline looks to be the launch pad”.

On how both sides are likely to play, Sexton explained, “Both finalists are similar in that they are very reliant on building from the back. Ennistymon are a bit like Éire Óg from last year. Éire Óg have expanded this year. A strong backline is a massive advantage. It’s going to be an interesting game, it will be a game of chess in which a goal either way will be a massive advantage. It won’t be a very high scoring game. Ennistymon have a strong backline and when they have possession, they are not afraid to go back to their goalie, there is no panic. It has got them to a county final, there will be no complaints from them”.

His Kilmurry Ibrickane side lost out to Ennistymon in the group stages and also in the semi-finals following extra time and a penalty shootout. They have done well at the back line but he believed they must get their highest scoring return of the championship if they are to cause an upset.

“Ennistymon know their system and they know how they want to play. Éire Óg probably have the better balanced team with a really potent attack. Defensively Ennistymon will be strong but they will have to break the twelve or thirteen point barrier if they want to win”.

Verdict: Éire Óg