A general view of FBD Semple Stadium. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Electric Ireland MHC Quarter-Final
Clare 2-21 Galway 2-13
By Tom Clancy at FBD Semple Stadium
A dominant second half showing from Clare saw them advance to an All Ireland Minor semi-final, seeing off beaten Leinster finalists, Galway, at Semple Stadium.
Trailing by the minimum at half, time, Clare limited the Tribesmen to just 1-1 in the second period, and posting 1-10 at the other end to comfortably take the win in the end.
It sets up a meeting with Munster champions Cork, who won their Munster round robin game in early April. There will be plenty of improvement required, but overall Clare showed their considerable class, especially in the first half, when playing into a strong Thurles breeze.
In a free-scoring opening half, there was plenty to bring the support of both counties to life, with fine point taking very much the order of the day.
Galway managed to get five of their forwards on target early on with the highly impressive Gus Lohan and Tadhg Mac Cártaigh among their early scores.
The Tribesmen were 0-5 to 0-2, wind assisted by the tenth minute but there was a purple patch from Clare that brought them into the game to lead. The hugely impressive Paul Rodgers got his third point before Ian O’Brien levelled it 1-3 to 0-6 after surging through the middle before blasting to the net.
There was a chance of a second goal soon after but as the move broken down slightly, Ian O’Brien, sensibly, flicked the ball over for a point. The same man added another, after Cathal Mannion made a smart save and it seemed like Clare had found their spark.
However, it was blow for blow from here as Galway, through the likes of Mikey Maher and captain Sean Moran gained back some control.
Two points to the good after a Rodgers sideline cut split the posts, Clare were hopeful, and likely to lead at half-time. A stunning pass from Mac Cártaigh split the defence and Ronan Cahalan raced in before find the net. At half-time it was 1-12 to 1-11, Galway ahead, with both free takers trading late frees.
Kenneth Burke’s Galway were awarded a penalty just seconds into the second half. A long ball into the large square saw Cillain Roche halted and despite Jack Shaughnessy seeing his penalty saved by Leon Talty, Mac Cártaigh followed up and somehow found a gap to score.
Despite that, Galway played second fiddle during the second half, with points from Rodgers, Dara Kennedy and then a Liam Murphy goal putting them into the lead.
They simply didn’t look back and as well as tightening up at the back, they dominated in the middled and ruthlessly finished off their neighbours with plenty of quality and class.
Scorers for Clare: Paul Rodgers 0-11 (0-6f, 0-1 s/l), Liam Murphy 1-3, Ian O’Brien 0-4, Dara Kennedy 0-1, Ben Talty 0-1, John Barry (f) 0-1.Scorers for Galway: Ronan Cahalan 1-2, Tadhg Mac Cártaigh 1-2, Cillian Roche 0-3 (2fs), Jack Shaughnessy 0-3 (2fs), Gus Lohan 0-2, Mikey Maher 0-1.
Clare: Leon Talty; Niall Doyle, Jack O’Halloran, Zak Phelan; Evan Crimmins, Dara Kennedy, Colm Daly; Graham Ball (C), Evan Cleary; Rory Ralph, James O’Donnell, Ben Talty; Ian O’Brien, Paul Rodgers, Liam Murphy.Subs: Eoin O’Connor for Murphy (blood 28 -30); John Barry for Ralph (45), Sean Connellan for O’Donnell (50), Eoin O’Connor for Talty (57); Darragh Murrihy for Daly (57); Jake Gibbons for Rodgers (inj – 60); Cormac Gunning for Kennedy (blood – 60 – ft).Galway: Cathal Mannion; Lee Murphy, Aodhán McDonagh, Robert Burke; Mikey Maher, Shay Brady, Dara Zimmerer; Seán Moran (Capt), Cian Hannon; Gus Lohan, Jack Shaughnessy, Ronan Cahalan; Tadhg McCárthaigh, Cillian Roche, Ethan Coleman.**
Subs:** Stephen Keane for Lohan (45); Jody Canning for Hannon (49), Senan Coen for Maher (51); Shay Glennon for Brady (54); Cian O’Loughlin for Coleman (60).**
Referee:** Nicky Barry (Waterford).
