Late Clare blitz gives them flattering victory margin over Offaly

ONLY a point down with 12 minutes remaining Offaly were finally undone by a late Clare blitz, which gave them a flattering 16 point victory over the home side at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday.

Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A

OFFALY 0-16

CLARE 4-20

Offaly gave their best display of the league to date and the final scoreline certainly doesn't do them any justice. They were very much in the game up to the 59th minute when Tony Kelly netted Clare's second goal but from there to the finish, Clare outscored Offaly by 3-7 to 0-1 to give them a huge winning margin.

It was tough luck on Offaly, who had really battled well for so long and were very much in the game heading into that final quarter but once the second goal went in, the dam burst and they were overwhelmed in those closing minutes.

The home side gave as good as they got for three quarters of the game and the sides were level on seven occasions overall. Offaly started well with three early points but Clare were quickly back on level terms but Offaly kept in touch for the remainder of the half and the sides went in level 0-9 each at half time.

Offaly went ahead again early in the second half when Clare struck for their first goal and when they went three points ahead, they threatened to pull away. But Offaly were having none of it and got the gap down to a single point on two further occasions before Kelly struck for that 59th goal, followed a short time later by another from a penalty and Offaly wilted in the closing minutes.

The returning Tony Kelly made a huge impact for Clare. He has been out injured since the Autumn and this was his first game back and he was quickly back in the thick of things, scoring four points from play in the opening 14 minutes. He did miss a few frees in the first half but by the end of the game he had notched a tally of 2-12, 1-5 from play, and he made a big difference to Clare as they recorded their first win of the campaign.

The final scoreline will be a big disappointment for Offaly. They were competitive for those first 58 minutes and gave Clare plenty of problems. Their reliance on placed balls for scores is still a concern, only five of their 16 points coming from play, and two of those in the first minute, but their effort and commitment could not be questioned. Their decision making lets them down on occasions and in the latter stages, their efforts were more of a hit and hope variety, but overall it was an improved performance on their opening two outings.

Ben Conneely, Paddy Delaney and David King worked hard in defence, Eimhin Kelly played well in the middle of the field and Eoghan Cahill contributed another 11 points, with John Murphy also making a contribution.

Offaly began well and John Murphy fired over two points in the first minute, quickly followed by an Eoghan Cahill free to put them three clear. Clare responded well and hit three points inside a minute, two from Tony Kelly and one from Shane Meenan, the latter two points coming from errors after Offaly puck outs.

Eoghan Cahill pointed another free but Tony Kelly and Shane Golden with a point from inside his own half put Clare ahead for the first time after nine minutes. Ryan Taylor then had a great goal chance when he cut in from the right but Conor Clancy pulled off a great save.

A good point from Eimhin Kelly levelled matters again but Tony Kelly put Clare back in front but then missed a simple chance from a free, the first of three misses from placed balls in the first half. Three pointed frees from Eoghan Cahill put Offaly two up after 25 minutes but Tony Kelly replied with three frees for Clare to restore their advantage but a final Cahill free brought the sides level again for the sixth time after 33 minutes and they went in level at half time, 0-9 each.

Eoghan Cahill and Tony Kelly exchanged early frees after the break before Offaly went two up from two more Cahill frees after eight minutes.

Clare got their first goal a minute later when Aaron Shanagher bore down on goal but his effort was saved on the line only for Ryan Taylor to sweep home the rebound. He added a point and Tony Kelly pointed a a free to put them three clear after 13 minutes.

Offaly hit back and Eoghan Cahill scored two points, one a free, to leave the minimum in it. Ryan Taylor was on target again for Clare but Liam Langton scored a great point from the right sideline to leave it 1-13 to 0-15 after 58 minutes.

Then the floodgates opened. Shane Meenan picked out the unmarked Tony Kelly in front of goal and he fired low to the net and five minutes later when Aaron Shanagher was fouled, Kelly sent the penalty to the net. Shanagher (2), Patrick Crotty and Kelly (2, one free), added points before Luke O'Connor replied with an Offaly free.

From the puckout Shane Meenan won possession and fired home the fourth goal and Tony Kelly (free) and Diarmuid Ryan had time to add further points to give Clare a flattering victory margin.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, Jack Browne; Shane Golden, Paddy Donnellan; Cathal Malone, Patrick Crotty, Darren O'Brien; Shane Meehan, Tony Kelly, Ryan Taylor. Subs. Aaron Shanaher (for Daren O'Brien, half time), Robyn Mounsey (for Paddy Donnellan, 40 mins), Mike Gough (for Conor Cleary, 53 mins), Peter Duggan (for Shane Golden, 62 mins).

OFFALY: Conor Clancy; Joey Keenaghan, Ciaran Burke, Paddy Delaney; David King, Ben Conneely, Killian Sampson; Eimhin Kelly, Adrian Cleary; Brian Duignan, Liam Langton, Eoghan Parlon; Eoghan Cahill, John Murphy, Jason Sampson. Subs. Luke O'Connor (for Brian Duignan, 48 mins), Paddy Clancy (for Eoghan Parlon, 59 mins), Luke Nolan (for Eoghan Cahill, 64 mins), Padraig Cantwell (for Ciaran Burke, 67 mins), Dara Maher (for Jason Sampson, 69 mins).

REFEREE: Kevin Jordan (Tipperary)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Tony Kelly made a remarkable return from a long term injury and contributed 2-12 of his side's total. He had four points from play on the board after just 14 minutes and he looked lively throughout, and he got the decisive second goal which opened the floodgates for his side's late blitz.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Clare's second goal in the 59th minute was the turning point of the game. Offaly were still very much in the game up to that but once Tony Kelly fired home that goal, the dam burst and Clare outscored Offaly by 3-7 to 0-1 for the remainder of the game.

REFEREE WATCH

Kevin Jordan handled the game well. He was consistent in his application of the rules, particularly off the ball fouling and he handed out four yellow cards in the first half. He possibly could have issued a couple of those players with a second yellow but showed a little leniency in not issuing reds.

TALKING POINT

This was a much improved performance from Offaly. People looking at the final scoreline might think “the same old story” but it was far from that and they played well for almost an hour before succumbing in the final minutes. The trick now will be to build on that and make more progress in the games ahead.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly travel to take on Wexford on Saturday next in Wexford Park, while Clare take on old rivals and neighbours, Limerick.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was in fine condition for the game, particularly as the footballers had played on the pitch the previous day, but there was a disappointingly small crowd present for the game.

STATISTICS

Wides; Clare 15 (9 in first half) 10 (Offaly (3 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Clare 3 (Conor Cleary, Diarmuid Ryan, Shane Golden,) Offaly2 (Adrian Cleary, Joey Keenaghan)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

SCORERS

Clare; Tony Kelly (2-12, 1-0 penalty, 0-7 frees), Ryan Taylor (1-2), Shane Meenan (1-1), Aaron Shanaher (0-2), Shane Golden, Patrick Crotty and Diarmuid Ryan (0-1 each).

Offaly; Eoghan Cahill (0-11, 0-10 frees), John Murphy (0-2), Eimhin Kelly, Liam Langton and Luke O'Connor (free) (0-1 each).