Clare push Kerry all the way

Kerry 1-17 Clare 1-13

Kerry were made to battle all the way by Clare before eventually emerging with a four-point victory at Cusack Park, Ennis, in front of a crowd of 5,938.

Excuses can be offered for what can only be termed a poor showing by Kerry, like the absence through injury of the likes of Seanie Buckley and James O’Donoghue, or the 11-week period since their last competitive outing.

But in the end they scraped through, defeating a gallant Clare outfit who practically controlled matters in the opening half and went in 1-8 to 1-7 ahead at the break.

Opening goal

Clare opened the game with a Martin O’Leary pointed free in the third minute after he was fouled by Kerry’s Shane Enright. But moments later the other Kerry corner-back Paul Murphy grabbed the game’s opening goal.

But this three-pointer didn’t unsettle Clare and with a dominant midfield pairing of Gary Brennan and Shane McGrath they gave the Kerry some headaches. McGrath grabbed Clare’s goal after 18 minutes when dual-star Podge Collins made space for him with a good hand pass.

Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice replaced centrefielder David Moran with Aidan O’Mahony in the 23rd minute in an attempt to halt Clare’s dominance in the middle third.

Clare went in a point ahead at the break and when Kerry re-emerged Darren O’Sullivan made way for Donnchadh Walsh.

Two points by Stephen O’Brien and Paul Geaney regained Kerry’s lead within four minutes. Bryan Sheehan scored to make it a three-point game in the 53rd minute.

As the half progressed, the Kingdom seemed to ease into it and when Clare kicked away possession they capitalized on it. The loss of Anthony Maher in the 58th minute for a second bookable offence prompted the Kerry management to take a more defensive approach and endeavour to hold onto the five-point lead they enjoyed.

With four minutes on the clock, the visitors held a six point advantage but a never say die Banner outfit ploughed ahead until the whistle, yielding two scores by David Tubridy and substitute Eoin Cleary late in the game.

Fitzmaurice was happy to get the win and said as much when he spoke afterwards. “A win’s a win” he said. “We were far from perfect today. We got a result, didn’t play well, made it very hard for ourselves and you have to give a lot of credit to Clare for that.”

Clare manager Colm Collins commented: “We’re fierce disappointed. We were fully convinced that we could win this game today. We came here to win it and getting beaten by whatever amount of points . . . I mean one point is the same as 20 as far as I’m concerned. We felt we had the team to do it.”

KERRY: B Kelly; P Murphy (1-0), M Ó'Sé, S Enright; P Crowley, K Young, F Fitzgerald; A Maher (0-1), D Moran; D O'Sullivan (0-1), B Sheehan (0-5, 0-2 frees), M Geaney (0-1); Declan O'Sullivan, S O'Brien (0-2), P Geaney (0-6). Subs: A O'Mahony for Moran (23 mins), D Walsh for Darren O'Sullivan (half-time), J Lyne for M Geaney (55 mins), BJ Keane (0-1) for O'Brien (63 mins), P Kilkenny for Fitzgerald (67 mins), K Donaghy for P Geaney (67 mins). CLARE: J Hayes; D Ryan, K Harnett, M McMahon; S Hickey, G Kelly, C Russell; G Brennan, S McGrath (1-2); S Collins (0-1), P Collins, S Brennan (0-1); D Tubridy (0-4, 0-2 frees), M O'Leary (0-1), E Coughlan (0-2). Subs: J Malone for Hickey (black card, 5 mins), R Donnelly (0-1) for O'Leary (44 mins), S McNeilis for Harnett (inj, 53 mins), C O'Connor for S Brennan (59 mins), E Cleary (0-1) for Coughlan (69 mins). Referee: D Gough (Meath)