Second half comeback not enough for footballers

28.03.10 | Clare 0-12 Longford 0-9 | By Padraic O'Brien

League leaders Clare were able to build up a commanding lead with the aid of the wind in the first half and were denied a couple of goals after Longford keeper Damien Sheridan produced point-blank saves in the early stages of this match on Sunday last in round 7 of the NFL Division 4, Clare held out for a three points win in the end.

While Clare (with former Mayo star Liam McHale a member of their management team) are on course for promotion to Division 3 after winning six games in a row, they looked a very ordinary outfit indeed with just one member of the Kilmurry Ibrickane team, the All-Ireland club finalists, playing from the start at Pearse Park.

The player in question was left-half-back Declan Callinan who figured most prominently for the league leaders along with centre-half-back Gordon Kelly and midfielder Ger Quinlan and Clare were physically stronger than a dismal Longford team who lacked any real urgency until they finally awoke from their slumber in the final quarter.

Francis McGee fired the ball over the bar and while he was on target again moments later, two more wides followed from Ger Dennigan and Kevin Smyth before Clare enjoyed another decisive period of dominance which yielded three quick points from their top forward David Tubridy between the 50th and 52nd minutes.

After Francis McGee converted a close range free in the 53rd minute, a further point followed from Kevin Smyth before a goal attempt by McGee was saved in fine fashion by the outstretched Clare keeper Joe Hayes.

Killoe newcomer Ronan McGoldrick then got a point that his hard work in the full-forward-line deserved and three more scores from play materialised through McGee, Diarmuid Masterson and Declan Reilly before McGee converted a free in the 69th minute.

That strong spell closed the gap to just three points but there was not enough time left for Longford to complete a dramatic comeback and they were left to rue a total of 12 wides during the course of the game which included a couple of handy frees.

LONGFORD: Damien Sheridan (Dromard); Dermot Brady (Longford Slashers), Diarmuid Masterson (Dromard, 0-1), Seamus Hannon (Mostrim); Shane Mulligan (Mullinalaghta), Enda Williams (Clonguish), Noel Farrell (Colmcille); Kevin Smyth (Abbeylara, 0-1), Arthur O'Connor (Abbeylara); Ger Dennigan (Cashel), Francis McGee (Dromard, 0-5, two frees), David Morgan (Mostrim); Declan Reilly (Colmcille, 0-1), Bernard McElvaney (Ballymore), Ronan McGoldrick (Killoe, 0-1).

Subs:- Danny Keenan (Ardagh) for D Morgan (41 mins); Barry Gilleran (Longford Slashers) for G Dennigan (53 mins); Martin Brady (Sean Connolly's) for N Farrell (55 mins).

CLARE: Joe Hayes; Laurence Healy, Shane McNeiles, Pat Ahern; Dean Ryan, Gordon Kelly, Declan Callinan; Ger Quinlan, David Russell; Mark Tubridy, Alan Clohessy (0-1), Barry Toner (0-1); David Tubridy (0-4, one free), Gary Brennan (0-3), Michael O'Shea (0-3, one free).

Subs:- Brian Carrigh for P Ahern (16 mins); Paul Hehir for B Toner (41 mins); Martin McMahon for D Carrigh (46 mins); Graham Kelly for D Callinan (injured, 62 mins); Chris Dunning for M Tubridy (66 mins).

Referee: Paul Finnegan (Louth).

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