All the Banner headlines written by Galway

AS I strolled down to Cusack Park from the centre of Ennis on Saturday, I passed a funeral home a hundred metres or so from the pitch. The thought flashed through my mind that the joust with Galway might be the final nail in the coffin for Clare’s hurling season where they have failed to win a game in league or championship.

Clare used defender Paddy Vaughan at midfield in a protective role in front of their centre back, Brendan Bugler. Clare’s centre back Bugler and the aforementioned Vaughan marked space rather than man-marking Galway’s centre forward Cyril Donnellan. The latter benefited by notching a goal and two good points in that first half – also hitting three wides from good positions. His direct, forceful running had the Clare defence in trouble and Galway’s goal in the first half decided this game. Donnellan followed up a nothing ball from Damien Hayes and inexcusably no defender went with him. A defender’s job is to cover back to the edge of the square if danger threatens. This lapse by the defence provided Galway with the lead goal that slammed the coffin lid on Clare. Because of the Clare tactics, Galway’s Eoin Lynch and particularly Kevin Hynes owned midfield and dominated possession. Clare’s half back line and midfield were in trouble. Clare may have benefited from using Vaughan as a man marker on Donnellan, Bugler going to left half back with Alan Markham switching wings, thereby releasing Brian O Connell to play as an orthodox midfielder. Switches were needed but none were made and the game was over at half time.

GALWAY set up in a straight 15 v 15 formation and did not change if you discount some positional switches in attack during the game. John Lee and the half back line were imperious throughout; indeed there was a good balance in the Galway defence overall. They had their homework done and decided that Niall Gilligan was the big threat. Fergal Moore, named at right half back, dropped back to the left corner back to man mark Gilligan and he did a thorough job.