Rampant Rodgers helps Banner tyros blow past Dublin

RED HOT: Paul Rodgers of Clare during the Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship Semi-Final match between Kilkenny and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

All-Ireland MHC preliminary quarter-final: Clare 2-20 Dublin 0-13 

Paul Rodgers’ first-half haul saw Clare cruise to the All-Ireland minor quarter-finals at Dublin’s expense.

The Scariff full-forward, a brother of All-Star Mark, scored 11 of the Banner’s opening 12 points at Semple Stadium. Liam Murphy and Ben Talty added goals for a 2-13 to 0-7 interval advantage.

Their work was done by then. Rodgers finished on 0-13 (0-4 from play), and Clare held onto their clean sheet to win by that very margin.

Dublin looked right in the fight when leading 0-4 to 0-3 after 10 minutes. Rory Flannery, Conaill O’Sullivan, and Corey Kelly all registered, but they wouldn’t score again from play for the next half hour.

Clare targeted their puck-out and made major gains with that possession.

Rodgers was having a field day at the far end. He reeled off six of the Banner’s first seven points, including four in row after the Dubs took their only lead.

In the 18th minute, Clare put daylight between the sides with their opening goal. Midfielders Evan Cleary and Graham Ball combined to feed Murphy. The O’Callaghan’s Mills poacher only had goal on his mind as he caught the sliotar and spun away to finish.

Rodgers added the next three points for a 1-10 to 0-5 lead.

Clare completed another 1-3 streak before half-time. The goal arrived on the half hour after two Rodgers frees and a Colm Daly score.

From a short puck-out, Dara Kennedy delivered a ball which nicked off of Rodgers and fell perfectly into Talty’s path. He raced away to find the top corner. 2-13 to 0-7 at half-time.

Clare pressed on in the opening moments of the second half with Cleary, Colm Daly, and Murphy raising white flags.

The Dubs were counting the cost of their inefficient shooting with 10 wides to Clare’s three by that juncture.

They went bald-headed for goals in the second half. Richie Hession and Daniel Ward fired wide. Flannery hit the side-netting. The free-taker was denied by three further goal-line blocks. Full-back Jack O’Halloran produced one while centre-back Kennedy could audition for a goalkeeper’s jersey after his two saves.

Flannery ended with 0-9 (0-7 frees) to his name, while Seán Culleton scored a brace.

Clare carved out a pair of chances, but Ian O’Brien’s sublime solo run ended with a point, and Talty was denied a second by Hugh Leahy’s flying save.

Scorers for Clare: P Rodgers (0-13, 8 frees, 1 65); L Murphy (1-1); B Talty (1-0); D Kennedy, C Daly, E Cleary, R Ralph, J O’Donnell, I O’Brien (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dublin: R Flannery (0-9, 7 frees); S Culleton (0-2); C Kelly, C O’Sullivan (0-1 each).

CLARE: L Talty (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); N Doyle (Éire Óg Ennis), J O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge), Z Phelan (Sixmilebridge); E Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus), D Kennedy (Ballyea), C Daly (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); G Ball (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, capt), E Cleary (Ballyea); J O’Donnell (Broadford), R Ralph (Clarecastle), I O’Brien (Cratloe); B Talty (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), P Rodgers (Scariff), L Murphy (O’Callaghan’s Mills).

Subs: S Connellan (Kilmaley) for O’Brien (45), D Murrihy (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Cleary (45), J Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Ralph (50), G Marshall (Parteen-Meelick) for O’Donnell (53), C Gunning (Broadford) for O’Halloran (58).

DUBLIN: H Leahy (Kilmacud Crokes); J Graham (St Jude’s), P O’Connell (St Vincent’s), D Murphy (Kilmacud Crokes); D Nolan (Naomh Barróg), R Duffy (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh, j-capt), C Fitzgerald (St Jude’s, j-capt); C Mac Canna (St Vincent’s), L Hayes (Clontarf); D Ware (Lucan Sarsfields), R Flannery (Kilmacud Crokes), C Kelly (Trinity Gaels); R Hession (St Vincent’s), S Culleton (Ballyboden St Enda’s), C O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes).

Subs: D Fallon (Castleknock) for Graham (23-27, temp), F Reville (Clontarf) for Mac Canna (40), H Greene (Lucan Sarsfields) for Hayes (41), D Ward (Round Towers, Clondalkin) for O’Sullivan (46), S Gavigan (Crumlin) for Kelly (51), D Brady (St Vincent’s) for Hession (54).

Referee: C Doyle (Tipperary).