*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLONDEGAD and Doonbeg had to settle for a share of the spoils in the first draw of this year’s Clare senior football championship.
Doonbeg 1-12
Clondegad 2-09
Venue: Cooraclare
Nineteen year old Fiachra Kirby fisted the equalising score with thirty two minutes on the clock and while a scoreable free against the elements was awarded to Doonbeg, David Tubridy’s effort did not split the posts ensuring the sides both secured a point for their endeavours.
This result is arguably better for Clondegad than Doonbeg, the 2017 finalists face St Joseph’s Miltown, the odds of them getting a win here are far greater than the Magpies taking down county champions Éire Óg.
Such permutations were known to both camps before a ball was kicked and this tie would have been targeted as a very winnable affair and one to ease any potential of partaking in the relegation play-offs.
Former county stars David Tubridy and Gary Brennan led the respective sides and had the biggest tally of points for their teams, their influence extended beyond the scoring stakes with Tubridy making two vital turnovers in his own defence in the second half while Brennan continued to be their main target and was the provider for Eoghan Gavin’s goal.
Cillian Brennan’s return to action, his first appearance since in over two months since Clare’s loss to Monaghan, offered a big lift to Clondegad and he was positioned in the middle of the field.
When the outcome is a draw, the tendency is to look at where the game could have been won. For Clondegad, it was missed opportunities, they missed seven scoreable chances in the second half, three of which were frees. In Doonbeg’s case, they somehow managed to be behind at half-time despite playing with the elements and more importantly having played more of the football, the concession of two green flags was their undoing.
That Doonbeg dominance was evident when inside men Paul Dillon and Darragh Burns both had two points each inside the opening twenty minutes. Regrettably for the Magpies, they lost corner forward Burns to injury in the first half, he had been threatening during his short stint on the field.
Though it was Doonbeg that were in control, Clondegad showed the power of what a goal can do. From a Darren Cleary kickout off Dillon’s second point, Sean Conway committed a needless foul, Ryan Jennings used the spot kick to find Barry Toner who gave a fine ball into the direction of Gary Brennan, he expertly offloaded to the on-rushing Eoghan Gavin who struck the ball to the back of the net and having played second fiddle Clondegad suddenly were one point ahead with fourteen minutes on the clock.
Three points in a row saw Doonbeg cancel out the green flag in the space of seven minutes but they failed to score for the final ten minutes of the half while Brennan kicked an excellent score into the breeze and Clondegad closed out the half with a well-taken goal from the lively Fiachra Kirby.
Goal number two had them 2-03 0-07 in front at the sounding of the half-time whistle and Doonbeg were behind despite having played better and now had to prepare to play against the elements.
Early points were exchanged between Sean Conway and Cillian Gavin on the restart before a Barry Toner free was sandwiched between two David Tubridy points. Eoin Killeen failed to capitalise on a goal chance for the West Clare side on thirty six minutes, the turnover and move up the play resulted in Toner’s free.
Cathal Killeen produced a storming run through the spine of the Clondegad defence and then unleashed a shot which was deflected into the net by centre back Peter Casey on forty one minutes. The strike shoved Doonbeg into a 1-10 2-05 advantage, with the gander up they needed to kick on but they didn’t so sufficiently.
Frees were traded by Tubridy and Brennan to have the dangerous gap of two points as the match entered the final ten minutes.
Podge McMahon who failed to score in the opening round against Éire Óg made his presence known when sprung from the bench, the seasoned forward kicked a fine effort to mark his introduction on fifty three minutes narrowing the deficit to a single score.
Tubridy with a well-taken score from play pushed the distance back to two points with fifty five minutes on the clock but it would turn out to be their final contribution to the scoreboard.
Clondegad though had another kick or two in them, McMahon fired over his second white flag on sixty one minutes and in the next attack Kirby fisted the ball between the posts to level matters. Doonbeg did manage to work the ball up field and secured a free in a tricky angle that Tubridy did not convert meaning the sides had to walk away with a point each and their futures in this year’s campaign as uncertain as when they landed in Cooraclare earlier that day.
Within two weeks, there was a considerable improvement from Clondegad. They kicked just 0-03 from play against Éire Óg but returned 2-06 this time round and had seven different scorers, obviously the standard in opposition was a drop down but their battling qualities increased to give themselves a fighting chance. They head into the final round in a healthy position knowing that their future is in their hands. Barry Toner, Ryan Jennings, Morgan Garry, Fiachra Kirby, Podge McMahon and the Brennan brothers Gary and Cillian were most effective for Dermot Gavin’s charges.
When the focus shifts to reflection, Doonbeg will arguably be the more downbeat of the two sides. They didn’t kick on when the tie swung in their favour in the second half and added just three points in the twenty three minutes which followed Killeen’s goal while their second quarter return of 0-03 was as costly as conceding two first half green flags. On a brighter note, less-established players are beginning to take on more responsibility which is a move in the right direction for the John Keane managed outfit. The odds are against them getting a result in the final round against Éire Óg but Doonbeg have on many occasions shone their ability to defy the odds. The starting full-forward line of David Tubridy, Paul Dillon and Darragh Burns all contributed when Doonbeg dominated with Tubridy to the fore throughout, Eamon Tubridy, Jason Linnane and the O’Mahoneys Conor and Cian also made vital contributions.
Scorers Doonbeg: D Tubridy (0-06 5f), C Killeen (1-00), P Dillon (0-02), D Burns (0-02), E Killeen (0-01), S Conway (0-01).
Scorers Clondegad: F Kirby (1-01), G Brennan (0-03 2f), E Gavin (1-00), P McMahon (0-02), R Jennings (0-01), C Gavin (0-01), B Toner (0-01 1f).
Doonbeg:
1: Eamon Tubridy
4: Jason Linnane
18: James Killeen
3: Conor O’Mahoney
7: Gavin O’Shea
2: Cian O’Mahoney
5: Cian Clancy
8: Kevin McInerney
9: Kevin Pender
10: Sean Conway
11: Eoin Killeen
12: Cathal Killeen
15: David Tubridy
14: Paul Dillon
13: Darragh Burns
Subs:
17: Mikie Tubridy for Burns (23) (inj)
23: Eoghan Tubridy for Dillon (49)
19: Brian Behan for E Killeen (55)
6: Joe Blake for J Killeen (58)
Clondegad:
1: Darren Cleary
4: Niall Lynch
3: Conor Gavin
5: Brian Murphy
10: Ryan Jennings
6: Peter Casey
7: Evan Flynn
17: Cillian Brennan
9: James Murphy
8: Morgan Garry
11: Barry Toner
19: Eoghan Gavin
20: Cian Kirby
14: Gary Brennan
15: Fiachra Kirby
Subs:
12: Cillian Gavin for E Gavin (HT)
2: Brian Casey for Lynch (34)
24: Thomas Gavin for B Murphy (45)
13: Podge McMahon for C Kirby (52)
Referee: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)
