Tue 10 January 17 SPORT 67 FOOTBALL î PETER MCNULTY UNDER 21 TOURNAMENT ROUND 1 Clare outgunned in Kilmihil opener Limerick 4-11 Clare 2-13 At St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil Eoin Brennan when manager Neil Hawes thought [email protected] that a goal would never come, Clare ensured a grandstand finish when a IT WASN’T simply the fog that re- move involving Sexton and Conall Ó stricted the Clare’s Under 21’s open- hAiniféin ended with a David Foran ing tie of 2017 as four timely goals shot which was parried by goalkeep- effectively allowed Limerick to leave er Aaron Murphy, only for McGann Kilmihil with the derby spoils on to flick the rebound to the net and Friday evening. halve the arrears to just three by the Clare, who are using this compe- 52nd minute. tition to evaluate their entire squad Limerick’s attempts to regain con- ahead of their championship dead- trol were frustrated while up the oth- line against three-in-a-row All-Ire- er end, Finnucane made it a two point land Minor winners Kerry on March game at 4-09 to 2-13 as tensions 8, more than played their part in a heightened. However, some poor tie that defied the tricky conditions decision-making under pressure en- but were ultimately undone by those sured that this was as close as Clare repeated sucker-punch goals that left would get as Limerick switched play the Banner with just too much to do to the other end. And while a Ryan in a strong finish. goal effort was denied by goalkeep- Limerick senior Hughie Bourke, er Roche, Limerick would fire in- who made his championship debut surance points through Ryan and against Clare last May, proved the Bourke to complete the derby hon- difference between the sides with a ours. first half hat-trick showing his full This Saturday sees the Banner array of skills as the visitors turned travel to holders Kildare for Round around a four point deficit to lead 2, with further experimentation ex- by three at the break. And Clare’s pected. And while Neil Hawes will opening mission became much more be genuinely excited by the attack- improbable after a fourth goal on the Alan Sweeney and Keelan Sexton by Bourke that between the crossbar off the crossbar and wide, the Adare ing talent at his disposal, a more restart through Josh Ryan left the the sixth minute. and Roche would agonisingly cross star would gather from the kick-out hardened, miserly defence will be hosts trailing by eight entering the However, once Limerick final- the line to give the visitors the lead to outpace the home back-line from required if Clare are to avoid succes- final quarter. ly breached the halfway line, they for the first time at 1-2 to 0-3. 45 metres before billowing the top sive defeats. To their credit, they did rally suffi- clearly signalled their intent for goals Clare’s woes mounted as midfielder right corner of the net and ensure a ciently and backed by a fresh impetus as a move involving Bourke and Bri- Sean O’Donoghue had to succumb to 3-4 to 1-7 half-time turnaround. Limerick from the bench, had ample chances an Donovan ended with a stinging injury but it inadvertently sparked the While Keelan Sexton twice Aaron Murphy (Fr. Casey’s); Ross Kennedy to leapfrog their neighbours but de- effort from Killian Ryan that had to hosts into life once more as Keelan matched Limerick points on the (Murroe Boher), David Connolly (Adare), Edward Sheehy (Granagh-Ballingarry); Brian spite raiding for an unanswered 1-3, be tipped away by goalkeeper Kil- Sexton was moved out to centre-for- resumption, the visitors were duly Fanning (Pallasgreen), Sean Murphy (New- a further brace of goal opportunities lian Roche. ward and began to cause Limerick back for a decisive fourth goal only castlewest), Robert Childs (Galtee Gaels); went abegging before Limerick final- The ease at which they carved open real problems in the increased space. six minutes into the new half as they Tommie Childs (Galtee Gaels), Adam Kearns ly shored up victory thanks inevita- Clare’s rearguard was a clear warn- A brace of points sandwiched Clare’s broke down the Clare defence once (St Senan’s); Eoin Ryan (Adare), Josh Ryan bly to Bourke. ing sign but while Limerick’s open- breakthrough goal when a quick free more for Ryan to finish at the back (Oola) (1-3 ’45), Brian Donovan (Monaleen); It was all so different early on as a ing goal would arrive before the end from halfway put Sexton through to post. Killian Ryan (Mungret St Pauls) (0-3 2f), rampant home side eased to a three of the opening quarter, it was more dummy his marker and see his shot Keelan Sexton answered with an- Hughie Bourke (Adare) (3-5, 1-0 Pen, 3f), point advantage through David Egan, a fortuitous long range effort from deflect off another defender to the other free but three further Limerick Kieran Daly (Na Piarsaigh) Subs Fiachra net while Clare made it 1-6 to 1-2 by points, two from Bourke, pushed the O’Grady (Oola) for Kennedy (36 mins), the 22nd minute after a second Egan visitors eight points clear by the turn Steven Brosnan (Newcastlewest) for E. Ryan point. of the final quarter at 4-09 to 1-11. (39 mins), Sean O’Sullivan (Dromcollogher/ FOOTBALL î PETER MCNULTY TOURNAMENT Broadford) for R. Childs (48 mins), Eoin It should have provided the platform Clare craved a response and by Mahony (Ballylanders) for Daly (57 mins), (Top two teams from each group advance to the Cup Semi-Finals while the remaining two to consolidate that advantage into the emptying the bench, they did domi- Adam Storan (Mungret St Pauls) for K. Ryan sides in each group contest the last four of the Shield competition) break but in such an unpredictable nate the next ten minutes albeit that (63 mins) seesaw tie, Limerick’s slick attack two glorious goal opportunities, Round 1 would create four goal chances, with both set up by substitute Joseph Mc- Clare Group A a 50 per cent success rate proving Gann, were passed up. Points from Killian Roche (Cooraclare); Peter Collins Laois 2-13 Carlow 1-12 enough to snatch the initiative once Darragh Bohannon and substitute (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Ryan Griffin Galway 3-12 Tipperary 1-07 more, particularly through spinal at- Jonah Culligan were offset when a (Lissycasey), Colm Pyne (Killimer); Conall Ó tackers Bourke and Josh Ryan. Conor Finnucane shot deflected off hAiniféin (Éire Óg), Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora), Group B Oisin Hanrahan (Lissycasey); Sean O’Dono- Limerick 4-11 Clare 2-13 In the 24th minute, Kieran Daly was both goalkeeper and post for a ’45 hauled down for Bourke to expertly while in the 50th minute, Egan fired ghue (Cooraclare), Darragh Bohannon Kildare 1-10 Wexford 1-07 (Shannon Gaels) (0-1); Cillian Brennan convert the resulting penalty while a shot across the goal-line that just (Clondegad), Cathal Downes (Kilmihil), Round 2 (Saturday @ 2pm) after a Killian Ryan shot cannoned drifted beyond the back post. Just David Egan (Kilmihil) (0-2); Keelan Sexton Group A (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (1-6 5f), Alan Sweeney Laois v Tipperary @ Crettyard (St Breckan’s) (0-2), David Foran (Killim- Carlow v Galway @ Cullen Park er) Subs Conor Finnucane (Lissycasey) (0-1) for O’Donoghue (13 mins, inj), Jonah Group B Culligan (Ballyvaughan) (0-1) for Hanrahan Kildare v Clare @ Hawkfield Centre of Excellence (Seamus Mulhare, Laois) (41 mins), Joseph McGann (St Breckan’s) Limerick v Wexford (1-0) for Brennan (41 mins), Aiden Davidson (St Breckan’s) for Bohannon (46 mins), Shay Roinn 3 (Saturday, January 21 @ 2pm) Malone (Corofin) for Foran (57 mins) Group A Tipperary v Carlow Man of the Match Galway v Laois Hughie Bourke (Limerick) Group B Referee Shane Hehir (Galway) Wexford v Clare @ Ferns Centre of Excellence Kildare v Limerick Above: Clare’s Keelan Sexton drives forward with the ball; Cup and Shield Semi-Finals (Wednesday, January 25) Far left: Clare manager Neil Hawes; Left: Clare’s David Egan is frustrated Cup and Shield Finals (Sunday, January 29) after missing a chance at goal. Natasha Barton.