Clare survive chaos to edge 14-man Laois and keep promotion push alive

Laois’ Brian Byrne was sent off after 22 minutes while Clare captain Cillian Brennan was black-carded but Laois missed the subsequent penalty

Eoin Cleary scored 10 points for Clare in the NFL Division 3 victory over Laois. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

National Football League Division 3: Clare 0-24 Laois 2-15 

Best watched between your fingers, Clare’s grandstand finish finally edged a madcap showdown with Laois to keep their promotion hopes alive in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg in Ennis.

It may not have been a defensive coach’s dream but it was certainly compelling viewing as there were red and black cards, crucial goals, seven two-pointers and a saved penalty. Most significantly though, amidst a thoroughly seesaw narrative, the home side eventually produced a seven point second half turnaround to complete back-to-back victories for new manager Paul Madden.

With Laois’ Brian Byrne handed a straight red card for an off-the-ball strike on Ikem Ugwueru in the 22nd minute, it seemed to be advantage Clare, particularly as the wind-assisted visitors were only 0-5 to 0-4 clear at the time.

However, while the hosts kicked the next two points through Mark McInerney, a defiant Laois admirably refused to accept their perceived fate, with Clare native Killian Roche lofting over a two-point free to ensure a 0-9 to 0-8 edge.

Clare went for the jugular straight from the resumption as Manus Doherty raced through, only to see his shot blocked by Simon Fingleton. Instead, it was 14-man Laois that made the breakthrough only five minutes later when talisman Evan O’Carroll made space in the centre before rifling to the right corner of Stephen Ryan’s net at 1-10 to 0-09.

It only seemed to anger the home side who kicked the next seven points in a six minute blitz, five from the boot of the outstanding Eoin Cleary while Aaron Griffin also grabbed a two-pointer to nudge the Banner 0-16 to 1-10 in front by the 47th minute.

Game over? Not even close as goalkeeper Killian Roche doubled his two-point free tally before former Clare captain Cillian Brennan was black-carded at the turn of the final quarter to concede a penalty. Inevitably up stepped Evan O’Carroll but this time he found goalkeeper Ryan in stubborn mood as he touched the penalty off the post and into the welcome arms of defender Manus Doherty.

Another major plot twist surfaced entering the final ten minutes when UL’s Sigerson Cup winning captain Brian McNamara flashed a powerful effort just wide of Laois’ goal whereas from the restart, Paul Kingston teed up Patrick O’Sullivan to play a one-two with O’Carroll to flick the ball to the net at the back post on the visitors’ way to a 2-14 to 0-17 advantage.

The return of Clare’s full complement unearthed one final charge though as inspirational two-pointers from substitute Cormac Murray and Aaron Griffin carved out a minimum lead by the final minute, only for Evan O’Carroll to miss a glorious chance at an equaliser from a free.

Instead, a relieved Clare countered with Eoin Cleary’s tenth point of the afternoon while replacement Jamie Stack robbed the restart from Patrick O’Sullivan to arrow over the insurance point to the welcome sound of the hooter.

It’s still must-win for both sides for the remaining games, with Saturday’s fare throwing up two pivotal derbies between Laois and Westmeath and Limerick and Clare.

Scorers for Clare: E Cleary 0-10 (1tpf, 2f); A Griffin 0-6 (2tp, 1f); M McInerney (1f), C Murray (1tp) 0-3 each; D Coughlan, J Stack 0-1 each 

Scorers for Laois: E O’Carroll 1-5 (3f); K Roche 0-4 (2tpf); P O’Sullivan 1-0; Brian Byrne (1tp), Rioghan Murphy (1f) 0-2 each; Ciaran Burke, Darren Brennan 0-1 each 

CLARE: S Ryan; A Sweeney, R Lanigan, M Doherty; I Ugwueru, C Meaney, B Rouine; C Brennan; B McNamara; D Walsh, D Coughlan, J Vaughan; E Cleary, M McInerney, A Griffin 

Subs: C Murray for McInerney (46, inj), S Griffin for Walsh (49), J Stack for Vaughan (62) 

LAOIS: K Roche; B Dempsey, T Collins, S Fingleton; P O’Sullivan, K Swayne, J Lacey; R Tyrrell, M Dempsey; J Hogan, B Byrne, C Heffernan; R Murphy, E O’Carroll, D Galvin 

Subs: J Darcy for Lacey (HT), D Brennan for Hogan (HT), C Burke for M. Dempsey (46), R Coffey for Galvin (49), P Kingston for Tyrrell (59) 

Referee: J Molloy (Galway)