Championship favourites Clara impress in comfortable win over Gracefield
OFFALY Senior “B” Football Championship favourites had things easier than anticipated as they sauntered to a comfortable win over Gracefield in the first round in Clara last weekend.
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship Round 1
Clara 2-13
Gracefield 0-8
Desperate to quickly bounce back to senior after their relegation last year, Clara hit the ground running with an impressive performance. While a last gasp Marcas Dalton goal put the icing on the cake, they had the points wrapped up at that stage and this was an impressive start by them.
Gracefield got the deficit back to four points at one stage in the second half but didn't get the goal they had to get and eight points was a very disappointing tally for them.
A 29th minute goal from hard working full forward Adam Kelly gave Clara a 1-7 to 0-3 half time lead. Jack Walsh spearheaded a Gracefield revival in the second half, getting a run of four points in a row, three of them from frees, to give them hope.
Clara, however, found another gear, kicking some good points to get the start that they wanted.
The scorers
Clara: Marcas Dalton 1-2, Adam Kelly 1-0, Darragh McKeon 0-3 (3fs), Conor Egan, Graham Guilfoyle and Cormac Delaney 0-2 each, Conor Doyle and Matthew Mitchell 0-1 each.
Gracefield: Jack Walsh 0-6 (5fs), Jamie Evans and Jason Slattery 0-1 each.
The teams
CLARA: Mark Fallon; Kevin Minnock, Cathal O’Meara, Ryan Carroll; Christian McKeon, Alan Gavin, Darragh McKeon; John Ledwith, Conor Doyle; Bobby Mitchell, Marcas Dalton, Cormac Delaney; Conor Egan, Adam Kelly, Myles Handy. Subs: Graham Guilfoyle for Handy (40 min), Edward Cullen for Kelly (50 min), Matthew Mitchell for Ledwith (51 min).
GRACEFIELD: Jonathan Knight; Jason Slattery, Mark Ward, Gavin Smyth; Corey McEvoy, Niall Smith, David Hickey; Jack Walsh, Jamie Evans; Ciaran Conroy, Stephen Flanagan, Dan Hanlon; Jamie Hanlon, Philip Hurley, Michael Wilcox. Subs: Tom Walsh for Wilcox (half-time), Craig Weldon for Hickey (37 min).
Referee – Adam Kinahan (Clodiagh Gaels).