Allianz National League
Division 3
Clare 1-11
Sligo 0-7
@Miltown Malbay
By Gavin Cawley
A 60th. minute goal from Gary Brennan proved the game's turning point as before that there was only a point between the sides. A long ball from Jamie Malone flew over the head of David Tubridy and Sligo goal keeper Aidan Devaney and ended up in the hands of substitute Pat Burke who flicked the ball across to Gary Brennan and he fisted the ball to the back of the net for the only goal of the match.
Sligo had the wind in the opening half and the windy conditions in Miltown Malbay were always going be tricky for both sides as both teams knew it was going a game of two halves. Sligo opened a three point to no score lead after 13 minutes of play. A Noel Gaughan score and a brace from Niall Murphy had Niall Carew's men well on top in the early stages but the home side started to get to grips with the Sligo men and got their first score of the match through Shane McGrath on 16 mins as they reduced the margin to two points.
Clare were starting to create great scoring opportunities and a goal chance came for them on 23 minutes when a Martin O'Leary shot was well saved by the Sligo defence . But Clare did reduce the margin to a single point when marque forward David Tubridy scored. In a 15 minute period Sligo failed to score and the 'wide' tally continued to mount as the visitors had seven In the opening 28 minutes of play. The Yeats' men did have a goal chance of their own when Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch joined the attack but Martin McMahon got a great hand in to deny the Sligo defender. Sligo did go two points in front at the break with a free from Murphy. 0-04 to 0-02.
Clare who had the wind in the second half got off to great start as they scored four unanswered points all coming from Tubridy as they led 06-04. Brian Egan did get Sligo's first score of the second half which was timely. Just as Sligo reduced the score to a single point the Clare men went back in front by 2 points as they used their wind advantage with a free from Eoin Cleary to go 07-05 in front after 50 minutes. Sligo's best chance of coming away with the win in Miltown Malbay came minutes later when Brian Egan's shot came off the post and came out to Murphy but his shot was blocked. Minutes later Murphy was shown a black card for dissent which was a massive blow for the yeats' men but they did regroup with a point from Kevin McDonnell after a fine team effort from both Keelan Cawley and Cian Breheny. Clare ensured victory with points from Cleary and Cathal O'Connor who cancelled out Mark Breheny's late free . As Clare did enough with the wind to get over the line .
Clare Joe Hayes, Cian O'Dea, Kevin Harnett, Martin McMahon, Jamie Malone, Gordon Kelly, Pearse Lillis, Gary Brennan (1-0), Cathal O'Connor (0-1), Sean Collins, Enda Coughlan, Shane McGrath(0-1),Martin O'Leary, Eoin Cleary(0-3,2fs), David Tubridy(0-6,3fs)
Subs used : Keelan Sexton for Martin O'Leary (26), Pat Burke for Shane McGrath (53), Graham Kelly for Enda Coughlan (61) Sean Haugh for David Tubridy BC (70), Sean Malone for Jamie Malone (70)
Sligo Aidan Devaney, Johnny Kelly, Eoin Flanagan , Michael Gordon , Keelan Cawley, Brendan Egan, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch, Eoin McHugh, Kevin McDonnell(0-1) Neil Ewing, Niall Murphy (0-3,1f), Noel Gaughan(0-1), Brian Egan (0-1), Pat Hughes, Criostoir Davey
Subs used Cian Breheny for Criostoir Davey (45), Adrian McIntyre for Eoin McHugh (48),James Hynes for Niall Murphy BC (53), Mark Breheny (0-1,1f) for Brian Egan BC(57), Kenny Sweeney for Noel Gaughan (70)
Referee James Bermingham