NFL DIVISION FOUR: Roscommon 0-16 Clare 1-10:A MUCH-NEEDED win was within their grasp at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday, but the Clare footballers pressed the self-destruct button and allowed Roscommon a soft victory.
Recording 12 wides against Roscommon’s five, told the tale of the game that saw Roscommon lead by 0-10 to 0-6 at the interval.
Donie Shine the visitors’ free-taker, was in tip-top form converting seven frees. On the other hand, Clare’s normally accurate David Tubridy had an off-day and was responsible for six of his team’s misses.
In the opening half Roscommon were allowed far too much space and time on the ball but a good third quarter from the hosts kept the small crowd on their feet. Alan Clohessy had two good early points for Clare and then a Gary Brennan goal in the 50th minute left the minimum between them, 0-12 to 1-8. But further inaccuracies in front of goal as the game progressed allowed Roscommon to forge ahead and take two valuable points.
Clare tried in vain to breach the gap late in the tie but a pair of fine scores by corner-forward John Rogers kept his side in front when, for much of the second half, an upset was on the cards.
ROSCOMMON:G Claffey, S McDermott, D Ward, S Ormsby, N Carty, D Keenan (Capt.), S Purcell, M Finneran, K Higgins (0-2), F Cregg, D Shine (0-9, seven frees), C Cregg (0-1), J Rogers (0-2), S Kilbride (0-2, one free), G Heneghan. Subs: K Mannion for Finneran (30), J Dunning for Heneghan (half-time), C Beirne for Ormsby (56).
CLARE:J Hayes, K Hartnett, B Duggan, M McMahon, L Healy, G Kelly (Capt.), S McNeilis, G Brennan (1-1), N Browne (0-1), M Foran, D Blake, C Ryan, A Clohessy (0-4, one free), C OConnor (0-2), D Tubridy (0-2, one free). Subs: S Brennan for Ryan (34), G Quinlan for Browne (43), D OBrien for Blake (48), A Cahill for Foran (64), D ONeill for Quinlan inj. (69).
Referee:R McBrien (Leitrim)
