*Clare’s Podge Collins. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’S INVOLVEMENT in the 2023 All-Ireland SFC drew to a close on Saturday evening in Longford with a gallant first half showing from Colm Collins’ men coming undone in the third quarter.
Derry 1-19
Clare 1-13
Venue: Glennon Brothers, Pearse Park, Longford
Derry struck for 1-03 in the space of five minutes to kill off Clare’s challenge in the third quarter, the sides having been level on four separate occasions in the first half.
Given that the margin between the sides in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final was fourteen points, lowering the gap to six points is a plus for Clare who had a spirited display from start to finish, this clouded by Derry turning the screw in the third quarter to flesh out a lead which hadn’t been overly visible up to then.
Though Derry bossed the possession stakes in the opening half with their entire team spending large spells inside the Clare 65m line, the sides were level at the sounding of the half-time whistle following Emmet McMahon’s equaliser.
Indeed it was the Kildysart man who struck for Clare’s goal on the twentieth minute, Brian McNamara played him through with a precision handpass after Pearse Lillis had done solid work to bring the ball upfield.
Despite kicking three wides in the first ten minutes, Derry held a 0-04 0-01 lead at the end of the opening quarter with goalkeeper Odhran Lynch among their scores, the custodian finished the evening with two points to his name.
Spirited throughout, Clare deserved to be level at the break but Derry upped the ante in the second half and kept them without a score for the first nine minutes on the restart.
During this spell, the Ulster champions kicked three points and following Darragh Bohannon’s score they responded with 1-03 in a five minute spell to effectively win the game.
To their credit, Clare kept battling and even hit five of the final seven scores.
Their determination was evident to the very small crowd in Pearse Park, almost in a way that Clare wanted to win it for their manager Colm Collins who announced his resignation in the dressing room at the final whistle.
Without a win in their three games of the All-Ireland series, Clare bow out of the race for the Sam Maguire. They will certainly have regrets regarding their opening round loss to Donegal as they bounced back with much improved showings against Monaghan and Derry. For Colm Collins’ side, Keelan Sexton, Ciaran Russell, Ronan Lanigan, Emmet McMahon and Manus Doherty were best.
Unbeaten in the championship thus far, Derry take top spot in Group Four and advance to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The scoreline leaves no doubt that they were the better side in this affair and despite taking their time to find their scoring boots, kicking three wides in the first ten minutes, they grew into proceedings and their powerful third quarter was testament to this. Odrhan Lynch, Conor Glass, Paul Cassidy, Shane McGuigan, Gareth McKinless and Niall Loughlin were best for the winners.
Scorers for Derry: Shane McGuigan (0-09 4f), Paul Cassidy (0-03), Benny Heron (1-00), Odrhan Lynch (0-02), Niall Loughlin (0-02 1f), Ethan Doherty (0-01).
Scorers for Clare: Emmet McMahon (1-06 6f), Jamie Malone (0-03), Daniel Walsh (0-01), Darragh Bohannon (0-01), Mark McInerney (0-01), Micheál Garry (0-01).
Derry:
1: Odhran Lynch (Magherafelt)
3: Eoghan McEvoy (Magherafelt)
6: Gareth McKinless (Ballinderry)
4: Conor McCluskey (Magherafelt)
23: Pádraig Cassidy (Slaughtneil)
7: Pádraig McGrogan (Newbridge)
5: Conor Doherty (Newbridge)
8: Conor Glass (Glen)
9: Brendan Rodgers (Slaughtneil)
18: Benny Heron (Ballinascreen)
11: Paul Cassidy (Bellaghy)
12: Ethan Doherty (Glen)
14: Shane McGuigan (Slaughtneil)
13: Ciarán McFaul (Glen)
15: Niall Loughlin (Greenlough)
Subs:
10: Niall Toner (Levey) for Pádraig Cassidy (47)
21: Ben McCarron (Steelstown) for McFaul (56)
19: Shea Downey (St Brigid’s) for Heron (59)
22: Paul McNeil (Slaughtneil) for Glass (66)
17: Declan Cassidy (Bellaghy) for McEvoy (71)
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
2: Ronan Lannigan (Éire Óg)
3: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
7: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
6: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
5: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
8: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
9: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
22: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
14: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
12: Jamie Malone (Corofin)
15: Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
11: Emmett McMahon (Kildysart)
10: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Subs:
17: Michéal Garry (Cooraclare) for Rouine (HT)
18: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey) for O’Connor (51)
13: Mark McInerney (Éire Óg) for Sexton (52) (inj)
23: Ikem Ugweru (Éire Óg) for Sweeney (52)
24: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg) for Bohannon (66)
Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone)
