Promising Clare forward Paul Rodgers. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland All-Ireland MHC preliminary quarter-final
Clare 2-20 Dublin 0-13
By Stephen Barry at FBD Semple Stadium
Paul Rodgers’ first-half haul saw Clare cruise to the Electric Ireland 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 (four 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 (seven 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: Paul Rodgers 0-13 (8fs, 1 65), Liam Murphy 1-1, Ben Talty 1-0; Dara Kennedy, Colm Daly, Evan Cleary, Rory Ralph, James O’Donnell, Ian O’Brien 0-1 each.
Scorers for Dublin: Rory Flannery 0-9 (7s), Seán Culleton 0-2, Corey Kelly, Conaill O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Clare: Leon Talty; Niall Doyle, Jack O’Halloran, Zak Phelan; Evan Crimmins, Dara Kennedy, Colm Daly; Graham Ball, Evan Cleary; James O’Donnell, Rory Ralph, Ian O’Brien; Ben Talty, Paul Rodgers, Liam Murphy.
Subs: Seán Connellan for O’Brien (45), Darragh Murrihy for Cleary (45), John Barry for Ralph (50), Gavin Marshall for O’Donnell (53), Cormac Gunning for O’Halloran (58).
Dublin: Hugh Leahy; Josh Graham, Paul O’Connell, Deimhne Murphy; Darragh Nolan, Rory Duffy, Ciarán Fitzgerald; Cormac Mac Canna, Luke Hayes; Derry Ware, Rory Flannery, Corey Kelly; Richie Hession, Seán Culleton, Conaill O’Sullivan.
Subs: Diarmuid Fallon for Graham (23-27, temp), Finn Reville for Mac Canna (40), Henry Greene for Hayes (41), Daniel Ward for O’Sullivan (46), Seán Gavigan for Kelly (51), Daniel Brady for Hession (54).
Referee: Conor Doyle (Tipperary).
