Clare Minors Fall To Fierce Tribesmen Challenge In Athenry

Brian O’Connell’s charges went to Kenny Park in Athenry seeking retribution following an agonising penalty shootout defeat in the Munster Minor Hurling Final against Tipperary just 10 days ago.

The Banner faced a Galway side in the first round of the All Ireland Semi-Final Qualifier round robin group stage who where facing into their first competitive game of this years championship.

Clare hopes were bolstered with Clonlara man Diarmuid Stritch recovering from a concussion injury sustained in the Munster Semi Final returning to the starting 15 and lining out at corner forward.

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However Galway had no intentions of yielding to the Clare storyline and burst out of the traps with intent. With sharpshooter full forward Aaron Niland pointing from play just three minutes in. One of 17 points the Clarinbridge man would add to his tally throughout the 60 minutes.

It was day where things simply didn’t go the way of the young Clare side. Despite numerous efforts at the posts, Clare did not open their account until Oisín Whelan pointed in the 14th minute. Leaving the score at 8 points to 1 in favour of the hosts.

The Score line did little to justify the efforts of the Clare side who will rue many missed scoring opportunities. Galway’s Aaron Niland was unrelenting from placed balls and was ably assisted by Rory Burke’s first half tally of 3 points from play leaving the half time score at 14 to 6 in favour of Galway.

Clare got the ideal second half start as Corofin man James Organ scored with a magnificent effort on the restart, however the tribesemen’s physicality and intensity shone through.

Galway would go on to dominate proceedings from there in and ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 25 points to 9.

Clare will know it was a day they performed far from their best and will still have an opportunity to qualify for an All Ireland Semi Final if they can overcome Laois next weekend.