*Pearse Lillis. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
CLARE’s senior footballers got their Allianz National Football League for 2022 off to a winning start.
Clare 1-13
Offaly 0-07
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis
It was damp and drizzly but that’s only briefly touching on the quality of the game in what was a dull, dreary January afternoon in Ennis.
Most importantly, Clare collected the win and two points which will be invaluable during the course of this Division 2 campaign.
They did so rather comprehensively, the most impressive aspect being how they remained composed against the breeze while falling 0-05 0-01 behind with twenty three minutes gone in proceedings.
With Offaly having dominated possession for the majority of the first half, Clare were pleased to only trail by a single point at half-time, this thanks to three Keelan Sexton scores in succession.
Colm Collins’ ninth inter-county campaign really sprung to life in the second half when Clare maximised the aid of the elements. Darragh Bohannon raised a green flag, two minutes on from the restart with his shot catching out Offaly goalkeeper Paddy Dunican.
Eoin Cleary and Lee Pearson then traded scores before Clare clocked up 0-04 without reply. The hosts also kicked the last four points of the contest with substitutes Jamie Malone and Ciaran Downes hitting the target alongside Keelan Sexton.
Offaly boss, John Maughan who famously led Clare to Munster SFC glory in 1992 will be disappointed with the manner in which his side’s challenge waned as the game wore on. They welcome Derry to Tullamore next Sunday and will need a sufficient improvement to get off the mark.
Patience was the buzzword of the day from the Clare set-up. Rather than launching straight into attack, they are content to go backwards with goalkeeper Stephen Ryan regularly a target in recycling moves which tend not to leave supporters salivating at the mouth.
Cillian Brennan impressed with a high turnover count, Pearse Lillis got through a mountain of work and also chipped in with two points, Éire Óg duo Ciaran Russell and Manus Doherty were solid in defence, Doherty making his debut in the competition. The options off the bench ensure any replacement is not weakening the cause when players are introduced, the return of 0-03 in additional time from Jamie Malone and Ciaran Downes typifying this.
Scorers Clare: K Sexton (0-05 5f), D Bohannon (1-00), P Lillis (0-02), E Cleary (0-02 1f), J Malone (0-02), D Tubridy (0-01), C Downes (0-01)
Scorers Offaly: B Allen (0-03), R McNamee (0-01 1f), D Hyland (0-01), L Pearson (0-01), P Durican (0-01 1f)
Clare:
1: Stephen Ryan (Kilrush Shamrocks)
4: Cillian Rouine (Ennistymon)
3: Cillian Brennan (Clondegad)
2: Manus Doherty (Éire Óg)
5: Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
6: Ciaran Russell (Éire Óg)
7: Alan Sweeney (St Breckans)
9: Darren O’Neill (Éire Óg)
8: Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)
10: Darragh Bohannon (Shannon Gaels)
11: Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Miltown)
12: Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)
15: David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
14: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
13: Aaron Griffin (Lissycasey)
Subs:
17: Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis) for Rouine (54)
18: Padraic ‘Podge’ Collins (Cratloe) for Tubridy (54)
23: Jamie Malone (Corofin) for Griffin (57)
26: Daniel Walsh (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Russell (64) (inj)
20: Ciaran Downes (Kilmihil) for O’Neill (71)
Offaly:
1: Paddy Dunican (Shamrocks)
19: Lee Pearson (Edenderry)
3: James Lalor (Raheen)
4: Niall Darby (Rhode)
5: Ciaran Donnelly (Bracknagh)
7: Cian Donohoe (St Brigid’s)
6: Johnny Maloney (c) (Tullamore)
8: Jordan Hayes (Edenderry)
9: Cathal Mangan (Kilclonfert)
10: Bill Carroll (Capincur)
11: Anton Sullivan (Rhode)
12: Dylan Hyland (Raheen)
13: Bernard Allen (Tubber)
17: Niall McNamee (Rhode)
15: Ruairi McNamee (Rhode)
Subs:
18: Cormac Egan (Tullamore) for Carroll (34)
23: David Dempsey (Ballycommon) for Sullivan (HT)
2: Declan Hogan (Tullamore) for N McNamee (HT)
14: Jack Bryant (Shamrocks) for Hyland (48)
22: Colm Doyle (Clara) for Pearson (64) (inj)
26: Rory Egan (Edenderry) for Mangan (71) (inj)
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
