Clare finished their 2022 Allianz National League campaign with defeat to neighbours Galway in a game where there was nothing else up for grabs other than a third-place finish in the standings after both Cork and Wexford had secured the semi-final berths in the previous round of action.
Galway 0-25
Clare 1-20
Venue: Pearse Stadium, Galway
By David Connors
The Tribesmen opened up significant leads, both before half-time and after it, and try as they might the Banner could never reel the opposition, despite attackers Ryan Taylor (0-05) and David Fitzgerald (0-04) combining for nine points from play in an encounter that evidently lacked the cut and thrust of Championship action.
In an uncharacteristically calm afternoon at the Salthill venue, the sides were level a whooping nine times in the opening half and with three minutes of normal time remaining, found themselves deadlocked once again, at 0-10 apiece.
Shortly after, Galway hit a purple patch in the lead-up to the interval hitting four answered white flags from Conor Whelan, Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion and Conor Cooney (free) to establish the first sizeable lead of the contest.
However, Ryan Taylor, with his third point from play in the opening period, and an excellent score from youngster Shane Meehan, who got away from the clutches of Galway captain Daithà Burke, kept Clare very much in contention at the change of ends as they trailed the home side 0-14 to 0-12 in a very even first half.
Tony Kelly, the jewel in the Clare crown, admittedly failed to reach his scintillating best – and was held to just a solitary point from play – against his designated man marker Darren Morrissey, who got the better of the tussle.
However, after Galway started the second half brightly and swelled their advantage out to five again, Kelly delivered a lovely pass into substitute Ian Galvin, who was fouled for a penalty, which the Ballyea sharpshooter converted low and hard passed Galway netminder Éanna Murphy.
Other than that Clare failed to create a clear-cut goal chance throughout and twice – once in either half – Clare custodian Eibhear Quilligan expertly denied Conor Whelan from close range.
Three second half points from David Fitzgerald were key in ensuring the game never got away from the Munster men but Henry Shefflin’s charges always managed to maintain enough of a buffer to keep themselves in front.
A pair of injury-time points from a Kelly 65 and the excellent Taylor left Clare trailing by two in injury time, but Brian Lohan’s men were unable to fashion a crucial goal opportunity thereafter to steal the points away from the men in maroon.
Clare finish the season with just three points on board – following victory over basement side Offaly and a draw in Cusack Park with reigning All-Ireland champions Limerick last time out – but now their focus will turns towards their Munster Championship opener with Tipperary in Thurles after being afforded a bye in Round 1 of the provincial series.
Clare made three late changes to their starting XV before the throw-in with Mike Gough, Aaron Fitzgerald and Patrick Crotty replacing Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary and Peter Duggan.
Scores Galway: C Cooney (0-12, 7f, 2 65s), C Mannion (0-05), T Monaghan (0-02), C Whelan (0-02), P Mannion (0-01), C Fahy (0-01), R Glennon (0-01)E Niland (0-01)
Scorers Clare: T Kelly (1-09, 1-0 pen, 6f, 2 65s), R Taylor (0-05), D Fitzgerald (0-04), C Malone (0-01), S Meehan (0-1)
Galway:
1: Éanna Murphy (Tommy Larkins)
2: Jack Grealish (Gort)
3: Daithà Burke (Turloughmore)
4: Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields)
5: Tiernan Killeen (Loughrea)
6: Gearóid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree)
7: Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
8: Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
9: Ronan Glennon (Mullagh)
10: Tom Monaghan (Craughwell)
11: Conor Cooney (St Thomas’)
12: Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan)
15: Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
13: Brian Concannon (Killimordaly)
14: Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
Subs:
18: Fintan Burke (St Thomas’) for Killeen (46)
19: Shane Ryan (Clarinbridge) for Morrissey (58)
23: Gavin Lee (Clarinbridge) for Concannon (60)
21: David Burke (St Thomas’) for Glennon (66)
24: Evan Niland (Clarinbridge) for Fahy (66)
Clare:
1: Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
19: Mike Gough (Smith O’Briens)
23: Aaron Fitzgerald (Eire-Óg)
4: Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
7: Jack Browne (Ballyea)
6: John Conlon (Clonlara)
5: David McInerney (Tulla)
8: Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
9: Jason McCarthy (Inagh/Kilnamona)
10: Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
11: David Fitzgerald (Inagh/Kilnamona)
15: Ryan Taylor (Clooney/Quin)
13: Shane Meehan (Banner)
14: Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
25: Patrick Crotty (Scariff)
Subs:
12: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin) for Crotty (12-14 blood sub) (inj)
26: Ian Galvin (Clonlara) for Crotty (half-time)
12: Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin) for Golden (51)
21: Robin Mounsey (Ruan) for Galvin (59)
2: Rory Hayes (Wolf Tones) for McInerney (63)
Referee: James Owens (Wexford).
