Donnelly delivers as Clare pushed to the limit
Hot favourites to qualify for a semi-final meeting with Cork in a fortnights time, Clare had to dig deep to see off their very tenacious opponents in a rollercoaster of a game. Clare can thank their lucky stars corner-forward Ray Donnelly had his shooting boots on, while a snap goal from impressive centre-forward Enda Coughlan, three minutes from the end of normal time, finally swung the seesaw battle in the home side’s favour.
Without Donnelly’s immense contribution, allied to the midfield heroics of David Russell, it is doubtful Clare would have survived this acid test. The Cooraclare sharp shooter scored a goal and seven points, five from frees, and was the only Clare forward to register his name on the scoresheet in the first half, while Russell, both in attack and defence, was the most influential figure on the park.
