'We are staying at home and everybody else is going to the dance': Keane realises harsh reality
Dermot Coughlan of Clare in action against John Furlong of Offaly. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile
Division 3 attempted its own final day game of snakes and ladders. Most enjoyable it was too, albeit lacking in logic and leapfrogging.
Offaly lost and still went up. Clare beat promoted Offaly and Kildare but still finished outside the promotion places.
Clare needed to win by 11. They could have won by close to double their targeted figure. Four goal chances not taken. 15 wides in total, at least eight of them from beyond the arc. Four more short.
When the final whistle went around the Division 3 grounds, Kildare, Offaly, and Clare were locked on 10 points. Score difference held sway. The Lilywhites finished +59, Offaly +32, and Clare +21.
The Lilywhites bounce immediately back up. Offaly, after an absence of three years, return to the second tier. Clare, for the second year in succession, finish third.
“It is disappointing because we beat the two of them, but we are staying at home and everybody else is going to the dance,” remarked Banner boss Peter Keane.
Spring informs summer. Clare must reach a third successive Munster final if they are to maintain the county’s perfect record of Sam Maguire involvement since the championship was split into two tiers four years ago.
That Munster final can be reached with victory at home against Tipperary or Waterford on April 19.
“If we don't win that game, you have a different path and we'll have to go on that path,” Keane continued.
Sunday’s five-point win maintained their perfect home record of 2025. What vexed Keane, and many more besides, was that they engineered ample opportunities to reach the magic winning margin of 11.
“It was always going to be a stretch to think you were going to win a game by 11 points. Thought we played very well in the first-half, but our efficiency was terrible. Thought we played exceptional in the second half and went after the game.”
After Keelan Sexton hit the post, Emmet McMahon hit the side-netting, and Brian McNamara punched wide with first-half goal chances, Clare eventually found joy and the net at the fourth attempt on 64 minutes through Aaron Griffin. It moved them 1-14 to 2-8 in front.
They had another goal opportunity immediately after to get within five points of their target but Offaly ‘keeper Paddy Dunican, who kicked the game’s sole two-pointer, denied Cormac Murray.
Griffin grabbed a second major in the fifth injury-time minute of the seven allotted, but time ran out on their promotion push.
Offaly were in disbelief at half-time. They could not believe their good fortune. They could not believe the five-point interval lead that had fallen into their lap.
Yes, they’d been clinical, converting seven out of nine scoring chances. But, in the round, they had been completely outplayed.
Their first-half majors swam successfully against the tide. Offaly's opening goal was their opening score. A Jordan Hayes delivery on 12 minutes was touched to the net by John Furlong. Their second, on 34 minutes, involved Furlong and Cormac Egan and was finished by Cathal Flynn. 2-5 to 0-6 to the visitors at the break.
Offaly kicked only three scores in the second period. It was enough. After finishing one place above the Division 3 drop zone this time last year and then losing all three of their Tailteann Cup group games, joint-manager Declan Kelly insisted this spring rising was neither a surprise nor ahead of schedule.
“People are decrying them a bit, but League finals are great for teams that don't get many chances to go there,” said fellow joint-manager Mickey Harte.
“It won't be a packed house, but there will be a lot of people very happy who don't get there very often. You have to seize the opportunity when it comes because a lot of players go through their career without the opportunity to play for a national title.”
A Griffin (2-0); K Sexton (0-4, 0-1 ‘45), M McInerney (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘45), E Cleary (0-4, 0-1 free); C Rouine, E McMahon (0-1 each).
J Furlong, C Flynn (1-0 each); P Dunican (tpf) J Bryant (0-2 each); K O’Neill, D Hyland, S Tierney, N Dunne (free), M Dalton (0-1 each).
E Tubridy; R Lanigan, C Brennan, M Doherty; I Ugweuru, C Rouine, A Sweeney; B McNamara, E McMahon; D Coughlan, A Griffin, C Downes; E Cleary, M McInerney, K Sexton.
D Burns for Sexton (55, inj); C Murray for Cleary (58, inj); E Cahill for Downes (67); S Griffin for Sweeney (73); D Walsh for McInerney (75).
P Dunican; R Egan, L Pearson, D McDaid; C Egan, J Furlong, A Bracken; J McEvoy, J Hayes; M Dalton, C Flynn, K O’Neill; D Hyland, J Bryant, S Tierney.
A Leavy for Bracken (HT); R McNamee for Dalton (59); N Dunne for C Egan (67).
D Hickey (Carlow).
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