*Tony Kelly chipped in with 2-12 of Clare’s 4-20. Photograph: Martin Connolly
Well worth the wait as Clare caught fire in the final quarter to soar to their first victory of this year’s National Hurling League in Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park, Tullamore this afternoon.
Clare 4-20
Offaly 0-16
Venue: Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park, Tullamore
What was a difficult battle of attrition for the majority eventually opened up as the returning Tony Kelly and in-form Shane Meehan both raided for two goals each to catapult Clare into the ascendancy.
Indeed, with only the minimum between the teams entering the final ten minutes, Kelly’s brace would ignite a powerful 3-7 finish that included impactful contributions from substitutes Aron Shanagher and Peter Duggan, the latter in his first appearance since June 2019.
Clare’s commanding finish was cruel on Offaly who after sizeable defeats to Galway and Cork, didn’t deserve to be on the end of another double figure reverse. However, with both sides craving a victory, just to even stave off any threat of relegation, it was a more clinical Clare that rose to the challenge when needed most.
The roaming Kelly proved the ultimate difference, finishing with a remarkable half of 2-12 in what was his first competitive outing since Ballyea’s quarter-final victory over Kilmaley almost five months previously.
With Patrick Crotty and Darren O’Brien both making their starting senior debuts, Kelly’s experience was crucial in a battling first half display that saw Offaly throw everything at the visitors.
Scoring the first three points through John Murphy (2) and chief marksman Eoghan Cahill, Offaly, despite facing into the conditions, never allowed the visitors any breathing space. Kelly excelled with seven points but the Banner also hit nine wides in that opening period while Ryan Taylor were frustratingly denied a goal twice at 0-9 to 0-9.
The same blow-for-blow pattern greeted the second period until Shanagher’s shot was deflected into the path of Shane Meehan to pull to the net in the 44th minute. From there, Clare grew incrementally in confidence with Meehan turning provider for Kelly to pounce for their second major in the 59th minute before Shanagher earned a 64th minute penalty that Clare’s captain emphatically converted at 3-14 to 0-15.
By that stage, Offaly were a beaten docket and more worryingly lost top scorer Cahill (0-11) to injury before the finish as Clare tacked on another 1-7 including a top drawer finish from Meehan to crown a much-needed triumph
Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 2-12 (1-0 Pen, 7f), Shane Meehan 2-1, Ryan Taylor 0-2, Aron Shanagher 0-2; Shane Golden 0-1, Patrick Crotty 0-1, Diarmuid Ryan 0-1
Scorers for Offaly: Eoghan Cahill 0-11 (10f), John Murphy 0-2, Eimhin Kelly 0-1, Liam Langton 0-1, Luke O’Connor 0-1 (f)
Clare
1. Eibhear Quilligan (Feakle)
2. Rory Hayes (Wolfe Tones)
3. Conor Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
4. Paul Flanagan (Ballyea)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
14. John Conlon (Clonlara)
6. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
9. Paddy Donnellan (Broadford)
20. Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge)
10. Cathal Malone (Sixmilebridge)
18. Patrick Crotty (Scariff)
15. Darren O’Brien (Éire Óg)
13. Shane Meehan (Banner)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea) (Captain)
12. Ryan Taylor (Clooney-Quin)
Subs
17. Aron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones) for O’Brien (HT)
23. Robin Mounsey (Ruan) for Donnellan (40)
21. Mike Gough (Smith O’Brien’s) for Cleary (54)
22. Peter Duggan (Clooney-Quin) for Golden (63)
Offaly
1. Conor Clancy (St Rynagh’s)
2. Joey Keenaghan (Clodiagh Gaels)
6. Ben Conneely (St Rynagh’s)
4. Paddy Delaney (Kinnitty)
5. David King (Coolderry)
3. Ciaran Burke (Durrow)
7. Killian Sampson (Shinrone)
8. Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh)
22. Eoghan Parlon (Coolderry)
10. Brian Duignan (Durrow)
11. Liam Langton (Clodiagh Gaels)
12. Adrian Cleary (Shinrone)
13. Eoghan Cahill (Birr)
14. John Murphy (Ballinamere)
15. Jason Sampson (Shinrone)
Subs
23: Luke O’Connor (St Rynagh’s) for Duignan (49)
24: Paddy Clancy (Belmont) for Parlon (60)
26: Luke Nolan (Birr) for Cahill (65)
17: Padraig Cantwell (Shamrocks) for Burke (68)
18: Dara Maher (Shinrone) for J. Sampson (70)
Referee: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)
