Gaelic Games

Clare sail into a first ever All-Ireland football quarter-final

A flat Roscommon are bullied in Salthill as their six day turnaround proves decisive

Clare’s David Turbidy celebrates scoring the first goal of the game. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Clare’s David Turbidy celebrates scoring the first goal of the game. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Sat Jul 23 2016 - 17:37

Clare 2-12 Roscommon 1-9

Clare had tough outings against Laois and Sligo in the lead up to this game and it gave them the vital edge as they got the better of a deflated Roscommon outfit, with a six-point victory at Pearse Stadium.

Roscommon were always going to struggle, just six days on from their Connacht final replay defeat at the hands of Galway, and Clare continued to build momentum ahead of their second appearance in Croke Park this year.

They were 2-6 to 0-7 up at half-time after goals from David Tubridy and Jamie Malone. And although Enda Smith scored a goal in the second-half Roscommon were too flat. Cathal O'Connor was sent-off for Clare, but Sean Mullooly and David Murray both saw red for Roscommon.

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Ciarain Murtagh and Smith scored early points for Roscommon, but Gary Brennan was on target in the fifth minute and one minute later Tubridy hit the net for Clare.

Murtagh responded for Roscommon but Dean Ryan and Tubridy cancelled that out, before Donie Shine and Sean Mullooly relieved the pressure.

A wonderful run from Brennan created an Eoin Cleary point in the 22nd minute, and then three minutes later Malone struck Clare’s second goal after a move involving Sean Collins, Sexton and Cleary.

Tubridy and Cleary scored again before Niall Kilroy kicked an important free for Roscommon. Cleary added another point five minutes into the second-half.

But that came after midfielder O’Connor was sent-off. Clare selector Mick Bohan was also sent from the line in the 44th minute - furious with some of the questionable decisions being made.

Kevin Higgins got a black card 10 minutes into the second-half, and Mullooly was then sent-off for a second yellow after a late hit on Podge Collins.

But Roscommon were still in it and Smith fisted a goal in the 54th minute, Diarmuid Murtagh added a free but Cleary cancelled that out and Shane McGrath scored a great point before Cleary scored again.

Smith then flashed another goal chance across the goal, before Diarmuid Murtagh missed a close-in free - both chances coming against the run of play.

Conor Devaney did hit back with a score but Cleary pushed it out and Sean Malone sealed the victory with a final point.

Clare: J Hayes; S Hickey, K Hartnett, M McMahon; C O'Dea, G Kelly, D Ryan (0-1); G Brennan (0-1), C O'Connor; J Malone (1-0), S Collins, P Lillis; E Cleary (0-6, 0-2f, 0-1 '45), D Tubridy (1-2, 0-1f), K Sexton.

Subs: P Collins for Tubridy (47), S McGrath (0-1) for Lillis (56), E Coughlan for Sexton (60), S Malone (0-1) for Cleary (73), P Burke for S Collins (75), D Burke for J Malone (76).

Roscommon: D O'Malley; S McDermott, S Mullooly (0-1), N McInerney; J McManus, D Keenan, D Murray; N Daly, C Compton; U Harney, N Kilroy (0-1, 0-1f), E Smith (1-1); C Murtagh (0-3, 0-3f), D Shine (0-1, 0-1f), C Cregg.

Subs: T Corcoran for Compton (32), C Connolly for C Murtagh (35), K Higgins for Harney (35), D Murtagh (0-1, 0-1f) for C Cregg (43), C Devaney (0-1) for Higgins (46, black card), F Cregg for Shine (68).

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh).