Clare have secured their place in Division 3 of the Allianz National Football Leagues after overcoming the challenge of Fermanagh who have been promoted to Division 2 for 2016.
Clare 1-14
Fermanagh 0-08
Venue: Cusack Park.
Colm Collins’ Clare Senior footballers showed their determination to avoid the drop to the basement division of the NFL after they laid down the law to a previously unbeaten Fermanagh side.
Those gathered in Cusack Park had to wait twelve minutes for the first score and it came courtesy of Corofin man Jamie Malone. The energetic Podge Collins increased the Banner’s lead a minute after and the 2013 All-Star was diligent throughout for the Clare cause. Fermanagh’s opened their account on the fourteenth minute when Seán Quigley superbly doubled on an aerial delivery to beat Joe Hayes in the Clare net. Gary Brennan and Conall Jones swapped scores which left the Ernesiders ahead by one with eighteen minutes played. Two Gary Brennan frees in succession put Clare in the lead with twenty three minutes gone. Roslea’s Sean Quigley levelled matters before a surge of points from Pat Burke and two via Shane McGrath put Clare three clear. Barry Mulrone got the final score of the half to leave the half-time scoreboard reading 0-08 to 1-03 in favour of the hosts.
It was a case of starting as they meant to go on for Clare upon the resumption. Two white flags from Shane McGrath were sandwiched between a lethal finish from Kilmacud Crokes man Pat Burke to leave Clare with a seven point advantage, six minutes in. Clare captain, Gary Brennan and Burke increased the Clare lead with one point each with ten minutes gone. Just like in the earlier half, it was Sean Quigley who would register the first score for the Fermanagh men as he kicked over a free on fourteen minutes. Pat Burke increased his tally with a hard-earned point and this was cancelled out by substitute Darren McQuade with eighteen minutes played. St Flannans PE and Irish teacher Gary Brennan got Clare’s first score in fourteen minutes when he split the posts on the twenty ninth minute. Sean Quigley raised his second green flag of the contest from a penalty to lower the gap to six points. Clare were given a scare when Pete McGrath’s side hit four unanswered points in the closing stages which reduced the distance to three points, but it was too little too late for the Ernesiders as Clare clung on for a vital League victory.
Going into this final round clash, Fermanagh were unbeaten in six games, that was until they faced off with the Banner. While manager Pete McGrath won’t lose sleep over the result, the fact that his side failed to score until the fourteenth minute in each half is a cause for concern. The strong finish of the Fermanagh man frightened the Banner and things could have been a lot different if they started as well as they finished. Nonetheless their aim at the beginning of 2015, was League promotion, that has now been achieved so their next target is silverware and they have an opportunity to claim some versus Armagh in the upcoming League final.Aidan Breen and Sean Quigley were best for the visitors.
Prior to this clash, Clare could have got caught up with other fixtures and hoped certain results went their way. They took the right approach in focusing on their own battle, all they had to do was get a win, they did just that and extended their stay in Division 3 of the NFL for another twelve months at least. One big fault in the Clare camp is that they faded out of the game yet again; maybe it was complacency but failing to score during a fourteen man period is not good enough, luckily for Clare the final whistle sounded when it did because their opponents were on a rampage and it was as a result of the Banner petering out of the game. Selector Ger Keane was noticeably vocal during the contest, Keane was convinced the Banner would get a result and his drive played a big role in the Clare win. The thing is Clare have the potential to mix it with the best, it’s just a lack of self-belief that is holding them back. For all concerned in Clare football let’s hope the panel of players discover their ability sooner rather than later. Gary Brennan, Pat Burke, Shane McGrath and Cathal O’Connor were the key cogs in Clare’s engine today.
Teams: Clare: Joe Hayes (Lissycasey), Ciarán Russell (Éire Óg), Kevin Hartnett (Meelick), Martin McMahon (Kilmurry/Ibrickane), Dean Ryan (Éire Óg), Gordon Kelly (St Josephs Miltown), Shane Hickey (Kilmurry/Ibrickane), Gary Brennan (Clondegad) (0-05 4f), Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen), Seán Collins (Cratloe), Jamie Malone (Corofin) (0-01), Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis) (0-04), Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes) (1-03), Shane Brennan (Clondegad), Pádraic Collins (Cratloe) (0-01). Subs: Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry/Ibrickane) for McMahon (49:22) (BC), Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry/Ibrickane) for McGrath (60:34).
Fermanagh: Chris Snow (Naomh Seosamh), Mickey Jones (Doire Ó gConaile), Tiarnan Daly (Doire Ó gConaile), Niall Cassidy (Ros Liath), Aidan Breen (An Tiompiu) (0-01), Ryan McCluskey (Inis Ceithleann), James McMahon (Ros Liath), Eoin Donnelly (An Cuach) (0-01), Che Cullen (Béal Leice), Paul McCusker (Naomh Seosamh), Conall Jones (Doire Ó gConaile), Barry Mulrone (An Deibhinis) (0-01), Eoin McManus (Tigh Mór), Sean Quigley (Ros Liath) (2-02 1Pen, 1f), Ciarán Flaherty (Beal Cú). Subs: Eamon McHugh (Doire Ó gConaile) for M Jones (HT), Darren McQuade (An Cuach) (0-02) for C Jones (51:45), Ryan Lyons (Gaeil na h-Eirne) for Flaherty (55:53).
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo).