Future bright for Banner as U20s make another step up

Clare had too much for Galway in the All-Ireland decider at Thurles. 

RAISING THE BANNER: Clare's Eoghan Gunning celebrates with team mates. Pic: INPHO/Stephen Heaney

CLARE 4-20 GALWAY 2-16 

The Clare kids did not fatten on their minor success. The collective attitude never slipped. The appetite never waned. The system minded them and helped them mature. Their collection now includes U20 All-Ireland honours.

At the same venue as the minor decider of three years ago, they once again had the measure of their maroon counterparts. A five-point winning margin from that afternoon doubled here.

Eleven players from the 2023 minor final progressed up the ladder to feature in this latest Thurles triumph. Their development continues to be accentuated and accelerated by important pieces of underage silverware. Confidence continues to grow that this group offers a prosperous Clare future.

At the very least, they offer the foundation to the Banner rebuild that is inevitable in the coming few years.

A group that managed only 1-10 on the opening night of the Munster championship on March 25 concluded their campaign with a stunning 4-20 haul. Each one of the starting forwards contributed at least two scores from play. Fred Hegarty again delivered the audacious. The inside line delivered a devastating 3-6.

Graham Ball was outstanding on his return to the starting team. The midfielder clipped a point and assisted two more. The 1-1 contribution of No.5 Jamie Moylan meant the Clare half-back line bettered the solitary white flag managed from play by Galway’s cleaned-out half-forward line.

Captain and corner-back Eoghan Gunning held Vince Morgan scoreless from play. Matthew O’Halloran bested Jason Rabbitte in three of the first four contests between the pair. Behind them, Munster final hero Mark Sheedy produced three superb second half saves.

This was balanced brilliance from the Banner.

“We have 38 in our group. It is very hard to pick our team, very hard to pick our 24. That is not lip service, we have tremendous quality across our squad and we have tremendous depth,” said Clare manager Terence Fahy.

“It was a very unusual feeling for us to be comfortably ahead in the last 10 minutes. We're normally behind. They brought a special performance on the biggest day. It was our most complete performance, and it's a great credit to the group.” 

Clare chased three-point deficits during the closing 10 minutes of the Munster semi-final and final. Outside of the opening exchanges, there was no chasing here. They led untouched from the fifth minute. They were out of sight by the 38th minute, the scoreboard showing them 4-10 to 0-9 clear.

The three goals of the previous 10 minutes removed all suspense from the outcome. A Galway full-back line that had recovered and settled from the concession of Thomas O’Connor’s fifth-minute green flag was ripped apart so ruthlessly that a second recovery was not possible.

Jamie Moylan’s major in the final minute of the opening half was arguably the most important of the three that arrived in quick succession.

Galway had closed to within the minimum for a third time. But Moylan’s gallop and stinging finish, followed by a point from Paul Rodgers, who assisted the goal, created a 2-8 to 0-9 interval difference.

That 1-1 transformed into an unanswered 3-3. Clare’s first four shots of the second period all stuck.

The points came from the corner-forward pair of Marco Cleary and 2025 minor Rodgers. The third member of the inside line, O’Connor, doubled his goal count on 36 minutes. Fred Hegarty's free came back down off the post. The towering O'Connor reacted quickest. Possession was snapped up and pistoled to the net.

Two minutes later, a long ball was gathered by Cleary. Michael Fallon hooked his initial shot. Cleary's whipped second attempt reached the desired destination.

Galway, by contrast, converted only two of seven chances in the 12 minutes after half-time. Galway, by contrast, were disjointed.

Aaron Niland entered the fray on 33 minutes for what was his first U20 involvement since their Leinster opener on April 4. Jason Rabbitte was making his first U20 start since the same April 4 date.

Rabbitte was the sole target in the Galway attack prior to Niland’s arrival and never shirked responsibility. He pulled down deliveries, won frees, hit 1-2, and started Brian Callanan’s goal.

The westerners had none of Clare’s balance or cohesion.

“When you are playing from behind all day long and Clare on the front foot, it becomes a difficult afternoon,” said Galway boss Gavin Keary.

Galway have already got two seniors from this U20 class. Clare will mine a great many more from their fifth group to go the distance at this age-grade.

Scorers for Clare: F Hegarty (0-7, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); T O’Connor (2-0); M Cleary (1-2); J Moylan (1-1); P Rodgers (0-4, 0-1 sc); R Kilroy, M Collins (0-2); S Boyce, G Ball (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: B Callanan, J Rabbitte (1-2 each); J Shaughnessy (0-5, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘65); A Niland (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65); M Burke, C Killeen, C Leen (0-1 each).

CLARE: M Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); E Gunning (Broadford), R Loftus (Éire Óg Ennis), M O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge); J Moylan (Cratloe), J Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), R Hayes (Tulla); D Costello (Ballyea), G Ball (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); M Collins (Clonlara), R Kilroy (Banner), F Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona); P Rodgers (Scariff), T O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), M Cleary (Éire Óg Ennis).

SUBS: D Moroney (Éire Óg Ennis) for Costello (48); R Keane (Killanena) for Hayes (50); S Boyce (O Callaghan’s Mills) for O’Connor (57); S Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Cleary, J Mescall (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Collins (both 60).

GALWAY: C Callanan (Clarinbridge); T Blake (Oranmore-Maree), E O’Reilly (Liam Mellows), M Fallon (Clarinbridge); D Campbell (Cappataggle), J Donnellan (Padraig Pearses), G Maher (Loughrea); M Burke (Skehana-Mountbellew/Moylough), C Killeen (Loughrea); L Kennedy (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), D Counihan (Clarinbridge), J Shaughnessy (Loughrea); J Rabbitte (Athenry), B Callanan (Ardrahan), V Morgan (Loughrea).

SUBS: A Niland (Clarinbridge) for Killeen (33, inj); G King (Castlegar) for Campbell (37); S Moran (Castlegar) for Burke (43); C Leen (Craughwell) for Kennedy (47); R Cahalan (Killimordaly) for Maher (53).

REFEREE: T Gleeson (Dublin).