Hurlers lose out to fine Clare side

1 August 2012

DOWN’S Minor hurlers were no match for a powerful Clare side in their All-Ireland quarter-final contest at Cusack Park, Mullingar, on Saturday afternoon.

The beaten Munster finalists had wind advantage in the first half which was spoiled by driving rain, but a point from a free and a goal from their outstanding player on the day, Bobby Duggan, had them four points to the good with less than two minutes played.

Another point followed from Jamie Shanahan before Caolan Bailie opened Down’s account from a 45-metre free.

Two more converted frees by Duggan were cancelled out by a point apiece from Eoin Sands and Gareth Lynch. However, it was virtually one-way traffic for the remainder of the half.

A great individual goal from Shane O’Donnell put Clare ten points ahead in the 20th minute, and by half-time the margin had risen to 14 points, 2-11 to 0-3.

Niall Deasy and Caolan Bailie, from a free, traded points at the start of the second half.

However, despite playing with the elements in their favour, Down continued to be outplayed in most areas of the pitch and Clare tagged on another 1-3 by the 40th minute.

Goalkeeper Seán Savage, who fared well overall in a very busy afternoon, was unlucky in the 35th minute after producing a great save from Jamie Shanahan, to see an alert Niall Deasy, who was outstanding all through, tap the rebound into an unguarded net.

Caolan Bailie pointed from play in the 43rd minute, but a superior Clare side rifled over four more unanswered points in the time remaining, to qualify for a very difficult All-Ireland semi-final encounter with Dublin next month.

Despite the heavy defeat, Down manager Fergus Cooper was upbeat after the game.

“I’m obviously disappointed as the lads put in an absolutely fantastic season. They are a very special bunch of lads and are a young team, but we didn’t bring our game to the quarter-final today.

“They didn’t produce the hurling that they have and the lads are very disappointed themselves.

“We exited the Ulster semi-final last year in June against Derry and at that stage we knew something had to change.

“We looked at 105 hurlers from June 2011 onwards. Down hurling is in better shape than it has been in a few years. There’s hope for the seniors, but like every county we’re losing players to London.

“Next year we have to develop and move on. Everybody in Down has got behind underage hurling in the county and Mickey McCullagh, the Ulster coach, has been a great help to us also.”

Down: S. Savage, C. Costello, J. McGrath, C. Taggart, R. Brannigan, G. O’Neill, J. McManus, L. McMullan, C. Egan, R. Burns, C. O’Neill, C. Bailie (0-3, 2f), G. Lynch (0-1), M. Nicholson, E. Sands (0-1). Subs: S. Mageean for Lynch (21), C. Fitzsimmons for G. O’Neill (41), S. O’Callaghan for Mageean (41), P. Óg McCrickard for Burns (54), B. Byers for Costello (56).

Referee: P O’Dwyer (Carlow).

Clare: E. Quilligan, S. O’Brien, B. Carey, G Ryan, A. McGuane, C. Cleary, E. Quirke, D. Conroy, A. O’Gorman (0-1), N. Deasy (1-5), J. Malone (0-1), J. Shanahan (0-1), B. Duggan (1-7, 5f), S. Taylor, S. O’Donnell (1-0). Subs: C. Deasy (0-1) for Taylor (15), M. O’Leary (0-1) for O’Gorman (h/t), S Gleeson (0-2) for O’Donnell (36), N Bolton for Quirke (40), E Tuohy for Cleary (49).

Clare 3-19

Down 0-5

ALL-IRELAND MHC QUARTER-FINAL

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