Clare kickstart Division three promotion bid with impressive win over Leitrim
GOAL-SCORER: Clare's Ikem Ugwueru scored a goal against Leitrim. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Clare finally announced their Division 3 promotion candidacy following a comprehensive victory over newcomers Leitrim in Cusack Park, Ennis.
With Peter Keane making his home competitive bow as manager, a new-look Banner bounced back from an underwhelming first display against Antrim to never trail at any stage of this high-scoring contest in front of just 1,030 supporters.
Kickstarted by historic first two-pointers for Eoin Cleary (2) and Emmet McMahon, the hosts established a 0-13 to 0-04 interval cushion.
Leitrim, with only four survivors from last year’s Division 4 Final showdown against Laois in Croke Park, did impress new manager Steven Poacher on the restart as talismanic midfielder Barry McNulty, Keith Beirne and Jack Flynn lessened the damage to seven.
However, emphatic goals for Ikem Ugwueru and Alan Sweeney quelled any murmurings of a revolt as Clare fleshed out a 13 point winning margin.
It was much cagier in the first period though as having had their fingers burned in Belfast, Clare took time to rebuild confidence early on.
An Emmet McMahon free was cancelled out by Keith Beirne by the sixth minute but once the former arrowed over the hosts’ first ever two pointer in the 12th minute after great build-up play from Manus Doherty and Aaron Griffin, Clare swiftly moved through the gears.
With only McNulty providing any scoring resistance for Leitrim, Aaron Griffin, Daniel Walsh and Eoin Cleary got in on the scoring action, with the latter soaring to a brace of two-pointers to bolster the Banner’s bounty to 0-10 to 0-03 by the 26th minute.
Down the other end, Leitrim weren’t as fortunate as McNulty’s effort for two ricocheted off the upright before Griffin, Cleary and Ciaran Downes closed out the first half with the last three points to carve out a nine point cushion.
In contrast to the atrocious weather conditions seven days earlier, the sun proved more of an inhibitor than any breeze as Leitrim did their utmost to reel in their hosts with three of the first four points of the new half.
A superb solo goal from Ikem Uguwueru at the turn of the final quarter effectively ended any Leitrim backlash though as the midfielder produced a trademark slaloming run through the heart of the visitors’ defence to billow the net at 1-14 to 0-07.
A second major would put the result beyond any doubt only five minutes later, this time debutante substitute Evan Cahill broke through before offloading to Alan Sweeney to nestle his shot beyond goalkeeper Daire O’Shea.
It was a welcome tonic for Clare who can now look up the Division 3 table as they await the visit of Fermanagh in a fortnight’s time whereas it doesn’t get any easier for Leitrim who despite the prospect of their first home game are up against flawless table toppers Kildare.
E Cleary 0-6 (2tp); E McMahon 0-4 (1tp, 1f); A Griffin 0-3; I Ugwueru, A Sweeney 1-0 each; D Walsh, C Downes, S McAllister, K Sexton 0-1 each.
B McNulty 0-4 (1f); K Beirne 0-3 (1f); R O’Rourke, J Flynn, D Cox 0-1 each.
E Tubridy; M Doherty, C Brennan, C Rouine; C McGroary, F Kelleher, A Sweeney; I Ugwueru, S McAllister; D Walsh, E McMahon, C Downes; K Sexton, A Griffin, E Cleary.
E Cahill for McAllister (55), S Griffin for Cleary (61), R McMahon for McGroary (62), C Murray for Sexton (63), C Meaney for Sweeney (67).
D O’Shea; E McLoughlin, K Clancy, C McHugh; S Harkin, M Diffley, M Keegan; B McNulty, K Keegan; J Reynolds, J Flynn, T Prior; P Honeyman, R O’Rourke, K Beirne.
E McNamara for McHugh (29), S McLoughlin for Keegan (HT), D Cox for Reynolds (46), C Quinn for Prior (57), D Kelleher for Flynn (67).
J Molloy (Galway).
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