Sligo 1-13
Clare 2-17

John Fallon at Markievicz Park

CLARE’S GLORIOUS FOOTBALL season just keeps getting better and they deservedly advanced to the last 12 in the race for the All-Ireland SFC when they swept Sligo aside.

And with their hurlers also firing on all cyclinders, these are wonderful times for the Banner County.

Once again, it was a great second-half display which paved the way for Colm Collins’ men as they backed up their win over Laois with another solid display.

Sligo, playing with the wind, led by 0-9 to 1-4 at the interval, having never trailed in the opening half.

They opened up a 0-5 to 0-2 advantage after 19 minutes with Adrian Marren and Niall Murphy kicking two points apiece.

Eoin Cleary’s third point for Clare reduced the margin but efforts from Mark Breheny and Brian Egan saw Sligo lead by 0-7 to 0-3 11 minutes from the break.

But then Clare got a big breakthrough after 27 minutes when David Tubridy was fouled and he sent the resultant penalty into the bottom right corner to cut the gap to the minimum.

However, there was a big set-back for the Banner County moments later when dual star Podge Collins picked up a black card for a clumsy challenge after he lost possession.

Marren rubbed salt in the wound by landing the resultant free from 45 metres before Tubridy and Breheny swapped points before the interval.

But it was all Clare after the restart and they outscored the home county by 1-13 to 1-4 in the second-half.

Gary Brennan, who lorded midfield with Cathal O’Connor, sealed the win with their second goal 10 minutes from time.

The Banner shot points from all angles and while Sligo pulled a goal back from substitute Pat Hughes, they never looked like saving their season.

Scorers for Clare: D Tubridy 1-3, (1-0 pen, 0-2f), E Cleary 0-5 (0-2f), C O’Connor 0-4, K Sexton 0-3, G Brennan 1-0, S McGrath 0-1, P Lillis 0-1.

Scorers for Sligo: P Hughes 1-0, N Murphy 0-3 (0-1), M Breheny 0-3 (0-2f), A Marren 0-3 (0-2f), A McIntyre 0-1, Kyle Cawley 0-1, Brian Egan 0-1, C Henry 0-1.

Clare

1. Joe Hayes (Lissycasey)

3. Kevin Hartnett (Meelick)
21. Shane Hickey (Kilmurry Ibrickane)
4. Martin McMahon (Kilmurry Ibrickane)

10. Jamie Malone (Corofin)
6. Gordon Kelly (St Joseph’s Milltown)
2. Dean Ryan (Eire Óg Ennis)

8. Gary Brennan (Clondegad)
9. Cathal O’Connor (Coolmeen)

5. Cian O’Dea (Kilfenora)
18. Padraic Collins (Cratloe)
7. Sean Collins (Cratloe)

13. Eoin Cleary (St Joseph’s Milltown)
14. David Tubridy (Doonbeg)
12. Pearse Lillis (Cooraclare)

Subs:
11. Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for P Collins (bc 30)
17. Shane McGrath (Thomas Davis) for Tubridy (61)
19. Enda Coughlan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) for Lillis (63)
15. Pat Burke (Kilmacud Crokes) for Malone (66)
20. Sean Malone (St Joseph’s Milltown) for Cleary (67)
24. Darren Nagle (Liscannor) for S Collins (69).

Sligo

1. Aidan Devaney (Calry St Joseph’s)

4. Eoin Flanagan (St John’s)
3. Kevin McDonnell (Castleconnor)
2. Daniel Maye (Tubbercurry)

7. Brendan Egan (St Vincent’s)
6. Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch (St Mary’s)
5. Keelan Cawley (Coolera/Strandhill)

10. James Hynes (St Farnan’s)
9. Aidan McInbtyre (Tourlestrane)

12. Neil Ewing (Drumcliffe Rosses Point)
11. Mark Breheny (St Mary’s)
8. Niall Murphy (Coolera/Strandhill)

15. Kyle Cawley (St Mary’s)
21. Brian Egan (Tourlestrane)
13. Adrian Marren (Curry)

Subs:
14. Pat Hughes (Geevagh) for Hynes (47)
17. Cathal Henry (Tourlestrane)for Marren (bc 66)
18. Noel Gaughan (Tourlestrane) for Cleary (67)

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