Tubridy leads charge as Clare’s second-half surge decisive

Leitrim 2-8 Clare 1-14

Leitrim dominated the opening 24 minutes, after which they led 1-5 to 0 -1. Emlyn Mulligan orchestrated matters for the hosts, hitting 0-3 and creating a goal for Conor Beirne.

David Tubridy answered with a point from a fifth minute free but then the game was delayed for eight minutes following an injury to Leitrim’s Adrian Croal.

When the action resumed Clare rallied and closed the gap to the minimum by the break (1-5 to 1-4) with points from Tubridy and Shane McGrath, along with a fine Mark McCarthy goal.

Sub Rory Donnelly had Clare level within a minute of the restart but Paddy McGowan edged Leitrim ahead with a point soon after.

But then it was all Clare, with Tubridy and Podge McMahan leading by example as Mick O’Dwyer’s men landed seven points without reply.

Emlyn Mulligan had a late goal for the hosts.

The only black mark against Clare was the dismissal of Martin McMahon for a foul on Mulligan.

Scorers for Clare: D. Tubridy 0-5(4fs.); M. McCarthy 1-1, S. McGrath, G. Brennan, 0-2 (each), R. Donnelly, P. McMahon, G. Kelly, C. O’Connor, 0-1 (each).

Scorers for Leitrim: E. Mulligan 1-4(3fs.), C. Beirne 1-0, W. McKeon 0-2, P. McGowan, D. Beck, 0-1 (each).

CLARE: J. Hayes; L. Healy, S. McNeilis, E. Coughlan; D. Callinan, G. Kelly, M. McMahon; G. Brennan, C. O’Connor; S. McGrath, A. Clohessy, C. Dunning; M. McCarthy, P. McMahon, D. Tubridy.

Subs: R. Donnelly for Dunning (22), N. Kelly for McMahon (66), C. Duggan for McCarthy (71).

LEITRIM: C. McCrann; D. Beck, C. Egan, P. Maguire; C. Clarke, P. Brennan, A. Wynne; W. McKeon, P. McGowan; A. Croal, E. Mulligan, G. Hickey;

C. Beirne, J. Glancy, K. Conlan.

Subs: B. Flynn for McCrann (22), B. McDonald for Croal (26), C. Reynolds for Hickey (HT), S. McWeeney for Egan (42), R. Cox for Conlan

Referee: P. Neilan (Roscommon).