Galway rocked as Bannermen strike late to poach points

Clare 2-16

No-one was more frustrated than manager Conor Hayes, in his first year in charge of the Tribesmen but already experiencing the tribulations that go with that position.

“We played well enough to win the game, but we didn’t. The statistics will show the scoreline went against us, but I think that was the only place we were beaten today.

"We competed very well, played good hurling in the first half, should have been well up at half-time, but we let in two soft goals and that put a bad look on it.

"We competed well throughout the field, but other than that (the two goals conceded), we would have won the game. I was happy enough with the performance, but disappointed to lose a game like that”.

The other side of that coin was Clare manager Cyril Lyons. “Happy with the result, but we didn’t play well. All the luck that was going today went to Clare, I think the only thing we missed was the last shot at goal, everything else went our way.

"We were level at half-time but really we should have been five or six points down, two fortunate goals”.

Seldom can the perils of the goalkeeping position have been so illustrated. Two errors by the normally reliable Damian Howe helped decide the affair.

The first occurred when he failed to hold a low mis-hit free from out on the sideline by Niall Gilligan, the second when he dallied over a clearance and was dispossessed by the same player.

Seldom can the spine of this side have been so bent out of shape; from full-back Brian Lohan through Seanie McMahon, Jamsie O’Connor at midfield, Tony Carmody and Eamonn Taaffe on the 40 and edge of the square but so it was as Clare were playing second fiddle for most of this game.

Liam Hodgins was in total control at full-back for Galway, as was the mighty Diarmuid Cloonan at centre-half; Rory Gantley had a good battle with Colin Lynch for command of midfield, while Cathal Moore, ending with three points from play, and Ollie Fahy especially, were, in charge up front.

How then did Clare win this one?

It comes back to those two soft goals of course, but throw in several dangerous situations saved by returning Clare keeper Davy Fitzgerald, the deadly accuracy of Gilligan from placed balls (two pointed frees in the second half, one from each wing on the 45 line, by way of illustration), strong play from the two wing-backs, Conor Plunkett and Gerry Quinn, and above all, the work-rate and tremendous distribution of Alan Markham. Galway? How they’ll rue this one.

Playing with the strong wind in the first half, they were on top from end to end. They had 1-9 in that period but it could easily have been 2-13 or 3-13 but for the alertness of Fitz and several point opportunities missed.

Against that Clare had 2-6, (1-4 from Gilligan frees) and went in level when they should have had a mountain to climb in the second period.

Even with the wind at their backs, Clare still struggled for parity and it wasn’t until 24 minutes into that half that they finally managed to put some daylight between the sides with a four-point lead (2-14 to 1-13).

It should have marked the end for Galway but with Rory Gantley now gone to the corner and causing even more problems than he had outfield, Alan Kerins operating to good effect in the middle of the park, that comfort cushion soon evaporated.

“Looked like if we got a point or two we’d pull away, but all of a sudden it was level again”, said Clare manager Cyril Lyons.

“Rory Gantley kept them in it, got four points in a row there at one stage. But we got two great points to win it, Fergal Lynch and Frank Lohan.

"The positives I’ll take out of it was that the attitude was good, the hunger was there, the appetite, but definitely there’s a serious amount of work to be done”.

As for Conor Hayes, consolation only, and an uncertain future now in the league.

“We were up against the likes of Seanie McMahon, Brian Lohan, Colin Lynch and those lads. I suppose that’s a good sign from our point of view, that we are competing.

"But if we’re to qualify for the next stage of the league, we certainly have to win our next two games, against Waterford next week at home, then Laois away in the last game. We’ll be under pressure”.

Yes, but so much of it self-inflicted.

Scorers for Clare: N. Gilligan 2-6 (1-6 frees); B. Murphy 0-3; F. Lohan, C. Lynch, J. O'Connor, T. Griffin, A. Markham, F. Lynch, C. Plunkett (free), 0-1 each.

Galway: R. Gantley 0-10 (0-6 frees, 0-2 65's); D. Tierney 1-0; C. Moore 0-3; K. Broderick, O. Fahy, 0-2 each; R. Murray 0-1.

CLARE: D. Fitzgerald; D. Hoey, B. Lohan, F. Lohan; C. Plunkett, S. McMahon (c), G. Quinn; C. Lynch, J. O'Connor; T. Griffin, T. Carmody, A. Markham; N. Gilligan, E. Taaffe, B. Murphy. Subs: C. Harrison (Hoey inj. 18); F. Lynch (Carmody 44); D. O'Connell (Taaffe 54); G. Considine (Murphy 65).

GALWAY: D. Howe; D. Joyce, L. Hodgins, O. Canning (c); T. Og Regan, D. Cloonan, S. Kavanagh; R. Gantley, A. Coen; R. Murray, C. Moore, D. Tierney; A. Kerins, O. Fahy, K. Broderick.

Subs: L. Donoghue (Howe 35); G. Glynn (Murray 44); J. Conroy (Kavanagh 46); E. Lynch (Coen 65); K. Burke (Glynn 66)

Referee: P. O’Connor (Limerick)