*David Reidy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior hurlers have set up an Allianz National Hurling League semi-final with Tipperary after producing a late rally to defeat Offaly.
Clare 0-23
Offaly 1-19
Venue: St Brendan’s Park, Birr
A strong finish from Clare was enough to keep their unbeaten streak in the Allianz NHL well and truly alive when they accounted for Offaly in Birr on Saturday afternoon.
It’s a result which sets up a semi-final against Tipperary next weekend with Kilkenny and Limerick to square off in the other side of the draw.
Five points without reply from the fifty ninth minute to David Reidy’s winner saw Clare come from behind to end the group stages with a victory.
Eleven changes had been made to the Clare side by Brian Lohan and his management with Conn Smyth and Ross Hayes handed their first starts in the competition. David Conroy finished as top scorer for the side as he returned to the starting side.
Clare began brightly and had two wides on the board before David Conroy opened their account with a point from a free. Offaly responded well and Eoghan Cahill pointed three frees in three minutes to push them in front. The first score from play came in the 10th minute when Keith Smyth pointed for Clare but Offaly’s response was immediate with wing back Luke Watkins picking off a good point from distance.
Fourteen minutes into the contest Offaly found the net when Eimhin Kelly gave a good pass to Jack Clancy and although he was partially blocked with his first attempt he pulled low to the net from his second to raise a green flag.
By the half-time whistle, Offaly led 1-12 0-9 which prompted Clare to introduce David Reidy and Conor Cleary at the break with Gearoid Sheedy and Conor Leen making way.
David Conroy cut the gap 38 seconds after the restart but Dara Maher restored Offaly’s advantage. It was point for point in the third quarter with Ian Galvin, Patrick Crotty, David Conroy (free) and Ian Galvin again pointing for Clare and each being responded to in turn by Eoghan Cahill from a free and from play, Eimhin Kelly and Leon Fox to leave it 1-17 to 0-14 16 minutes into the half.
Four points on the trot via Shane Meehan, Ian Galvin, Seadna Morey and Keith Smyth helped Clare lower the deficit to two points with fifteen minutes remaining.
Two frees from former Mary Immaculate College netminder Eoghan Cahill seemed to steady Offaly but a spirited Clare finished with a flourish as Rory Hayes and Paddy Donnellan pointed before two late Reidy frees were enough to push the visitors in front at the best possible time to record their fourth win of the league.
Ian Galvin led the way in the Clare attack while Seadna Morey, Rory Hayes, Conn Smyth and David Conroy had their moments.
Scorers for Clare: D Conroy 0-5 (0-3f), I Galvin 0-4, P Crotty and D Reidy (0-2) 0-3 each, S Meehan, K Smyth (0-2f) and S Morey 0-2 each, R Hayes and P Donnellan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: E Cahill 0-10 (0-8f, 1 ’65), J Clancy 1-0, L Watkins and S Bourke 0-2 each, D Nally, L Fox, D King, E Kelly and D Maher 0-1 each.
Clare:
1. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
3. John Conneally (Clooney/Quin)
4. Conor Leen (Corofin)
5. Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
6. Conn Smyth (Feakle)
7. Cian Galvin (Clarecastle)
8. Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge)
9. Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
10. Gearoid Sheedy (Ogonnelloe)
11. Davie Conroy (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
12. Patrick Crotty (Scariff)
13. Keith Smyth (Killanena)
14. Ian Galvin (Clonlara)
15. Shane Meehan (Banner)
Subs:
23. David Reidy (Éire Óg) for Sheedy (HT)
17. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Leen (HT)
22. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for Conroy (51)
26. Colm O’Meara (Clonlara) for Smyth (55)
20. Paddy Donnellan (Broadford) for Lohan (62)
Offaly
Mark Troy (Durrow);
Padraig Cantwell (Shamrocks),
Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s)
Sam Bourke (Durrow)
Luke Watkins (Shinrone)
Dara Maher (Shinrone)
Killian Sampson (Shinrone)
Jason Sampson (Shinrone)
David King (Coolderry)
Jack Clancy (Belmont)
Leon Fox (Belmont)
David Nally (Belmont)
Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh)
Oisin Kelly (Belmont)
Eoghan Cahill (Birr)
Subs.
Ross Ravenhill (Durrow) for Maher (55),
Paul Cleary (Shinrone) for Fox (68)
James Nally (Belmont) for Kelly (71)
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).
