Lively Clare take Sligo by storm

Clare 1-11 Sligo 0-7: Clare got their Division 3 campaign off to a strong start with a merited win over Sligo at Miltown Malbay yesterday.

Colm Collins’ side overturned a two-point deficit at the break to emerge seven points ahead at the final whistle.

Playing with a strong breeze at their back in the opening half, Sligo needed to be much further ahead at half-time.

They did race into a three-point to no-score lead by the 13th minute with points by Noel Gaughan and two from the boot of centre-forward Niall Murphy.

Clare opened their account through Shane McGrath and David Tubridy, but while Murphy score stretched the advantage, the 0-4 to 0-2 half-time scoreline left Sligo with an uphill struggle in the second half.

Clare knuckled down after the break and used the elements to notch up 1-9 in that period.

Four unanswered points, all by Tubridy, inside the opening 12 minutes of the half got them on their way. But they couldn’t pull clear until four minutes from time when substitute Pat Burke hand-passed across the Sligo square to the awaiting Gary Brennan who fisted to the net. From there, they eased home with more well-taken points.

Scorers for Clare:

D Tubridy (0-6, 3 frees), G Brennan (1-0), E Cleary (0-3, 2 frees), S McGrath, C O’Connor (0-1 each).

Scorers for Sligo:

N Murphy (0-3, 2 frees), Brian Egan, K McDonnell, M Breheny, N Gaughan (0-1 each).

CLARE:

J Hayes, C O’Dea, K Harnett, M McMahon, J Malone, Gordon Kelly, P Lillis, G Brennan (Capt.), S Collins E Coughlan, S McGrath, M O’Leary, E Cleary, D Tubridy.

Subs:

K Sexton for O’Leary (26), P Burke for McGrath (53), Graham Kelly for Coughlan (62), S Haugh for Tubridy B/C (69), S Malone for J Malone (69).

SLIGO:

A Devaney, J Rodgers, , E Flanagan M Gordon K Cawley, Brendan Egan, G O’Kelly- Lynch, E McHugh, K McDonnell, N Ewing, N Murphy, N Gaughan, Brian Egan, P Hughes, C Davey.

Subs:

C Breheny for Davey (44), A McIntyre for McHugh (48), J Hynes for Murphy B/C (53), M Breheny for Brian Egan B/C (58), K Sweeney for Gaughan (69).

Referee:

J Bermingham (Cork).