*Eoin Cleary is tackled. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
SLIGO issued a setback to Clare’s hopes of securing promotion to Division 2 of the National Football League by claiming their first win which was the second loss of Peter Keane’s tenure.
Sligo 1-19
Clare 2-14
Venue: Markievicz Park, Sligo
With the stunning backdrop of Benbulben accompanied by clear skies, it made Sligo a picturesque setting as Clare battled to keep their promotion bid on track and the hosts fought to pick up their first win of the league.
However Clare’s performance was not at the pitch it needed to be and they left themselves with too much of a mountain to climb, one to match Benbulben but they failed to scale the summit.
Though not fatal to Clare’s promotion hopes, a second league loss won’t make things easy ensures they must pick up results against Laois and Offaly.
There was a flatness to Clare’s display and although they produced a rally at the finish, it was not enough to see them steal a result. Emmet McMahon goaled and scored a two pointer in additional time while another green flag in injury time from Ikem Ugwueru was disallowed for a square ball, a decision which footage would show was an incorrect call.
Two points inside the opening three minutes had Clare off the mark. Connor Meaney exploited a gap and flew down the left flank to split the posts, Fionn Kelleher, Ikem Ugwueru and Keelan Sexton setting him on his way. Eoin Cleary with a converted free extended the lead before Patrick O’Connor scored two nice points to level matters. The sides were level on a further two occasions in the opening half but by the half-time stage, Sligo led by two points.
By the fortieth minute, Sligo had extended their advantage to four points and they received an almighty lift when Canice Mulligan raided for goal. A double turnover when both Keelan Sexton and Manus Doherty were dispossessed allowed O’Connor set up the midfielder and he left Eamon Tubridy with little chance.
Though Clare’s second half start was incredibly sluggish, they cancelled out the green flag within two minutes. Aaron Griffin got a shot bundled over the line to reduce the arrears back to four points on forty nine minutes. The chance to get a further lift from this was hindered after Keelan Sexton was shown a black card.
Eoin Cleary and Niall Murphy swapped points, Murphy’s shot aided after Connor Meaney gifted Sligo possession.
Two fisted points in a row from Ikem Ugwueru had Clare back within two points on sixty minutes. They were wiped out when substitute Nathan Mullen, a full-back popped up with two points on the bounce to regain Sligo’s four point lead.
To mark his reintroduction, Sexton split the posts but Clare were outnumbered on the resulting kickout enabling Alan Reilly to get a shot away. Darragh Cummins and Niall Murphy added further efforts while Mikey Gordon got on target after Ugwueru’s goal was disallowed making it a seven point gap.
McMahon popped up with 1-2 to narrow this to two but a late chance of a two pointer from Dermot Coughlan drifted wide and with it Clare’s chances of snatching a draw.
For Clare, this was a far cry from their showing versus Kildare, they struggled to claim primary possession in the air and were cut open on too many occasions which Sligo finding gaps to penetrate resulting in scores. There was less vibrancy in Clare’s attack and their troubles in performing on the road must be addressed.
Scorers Sligo: N Murphy (0-5 2f), P O’Connor (0-3), C Mulligan (1-0), D Cummins (0-2), N Mullen (0-2), L Towey (0-2), D Quinn (0-2 TP), A Reilly (0-1), M Gordon (0-1).
Scorers Clare: E McMahon (1-6 2TPf 4f), A Griffin (1-1), I Ugwueru (0-2), K Sexton (0-1), C Meaney (0-1)
Sligo:
1: Daniel Lyons (Shamrock Gaels)
22: Eddie McGuinness (Tubbercurry)
5: Brian Cox (Calry St Joseph’s)
4: Evan Lyons (Shamrock Gaels)
2: Paul McNamara (St John’s)
6: Darragh Cummins (St Vincent’s, Dublin)
21: Luke Towey (St Molaise Gaels)
8: Canice Mulligan (St Patrick’s)
14: Patrick O’Connor (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin)
25: Ross Doherty (Coolera Strandhill)
13: Alan Reilly (Curry)
17: David Quinn (Shamrock Gaels)
11: Alan McLoughlin (St Molaise Gaels)
12: Pat Spillane (St Jude’s, Dublin)
15: Niall Murphy (Coolera Strandhill)
Subs:
3: Nathan Mullen (Coolaney Mullinabreena) for Towey (53)
10: Cian Lally (Drumcliffe Rosses Point) for Doherty (53)
24: Oisin Flynn (Castleconnor) for Quinn (58)
18: Mikey Gordon (Easkey) for Reilly (65)
7: Jack Lavin (Ballymote) for Cummins (70)
Clare:
1: Eamon Tubridy (Doonbeg)
2: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
4: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Alan Sweeney (St Breckan’s)
6: Fionn Kelleher (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield)
18: Connor Meaney (Lissycasey)
8: Brian McNamara (Cooraclare)
9: Ikem Ugwueru (Éire Óg)
13: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
11: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart)
12: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil)
10: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
14: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
15: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
Subs:
19: Evan Cahill (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Walsh (45)
24: Dermot Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Downes (49)
21: Cormac Murray (St Joseph’s Miltown) for Sweeney (60)
20: Darragh Burns (Doonbeg) for Sexton (68)
22: Gavin Murray (Éire Óg) for Ugwueru (71)
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
