Better team won, concedes McGrath

“No complaints, the better team won,” was the immediate and sporting reaction of beaten Cratloe manager Joe McGrath.

“We got a very bad start, conceded a goal in the first minute and we seemed to be holding on after that. In the second half with the wind we got a few chances but our forwards didn’t take full advantage. Fair dues to Newmarket, they were the hungrier team and the better team on the day.”

The major problem for Cratloe was that even though their attack contained four senior Clare panellists (including Joe’s son Conor), they simply couldn’t get through a fired-up Newmarket defence.