Allianz Football League Division 4 – Clare 0-13 Offaly 2-5

Tubridy keeps Clare in hunt

By Alan Walsh for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Offaly 2-05 Clare 0-13

David Tubridy contributed six quality points as Mick O’Dwyer’s Clare kept their promotion push alive with a vital victory over Offaly, one that was far more convincing than the scoreline suggests. Four Tubridy points and another from Alan Clohessy helped Clare establish a 0-5 to 0-2 lead by the 22nd minute. Niall McNamee’s goal six minutes later levelled proceedings but Clare finished the first half far stronger and points by Chris Dunning, Shane McGrath and Enda Coughlan saw the visitors deservedly lead by 0-8 to 1-2 at the interval.

Offaly manager Emmet McDonnell had called four players ashore by half-time, giving an indication of the problems they were experiencing. Yet, against the run of play, corner-back Brian Darby’s 54th minute goal put Offaly 2-4 to 0-9 ahead. Clare were unfortunate not to be out of sight by this stage. Their captain Gary Brennan crashed a powerful shot against the crossbar and Offaly goalkeeper Alan Mulhall, who scored a first half point, produced a brave save to deny Podge McMahon. However, the Banner landed the next four points through Tubridy (two), Shane Ryan and Brennan to wrap up the win and McMahon also blazed wide in the 65th minute with the goal at his mercy.

OFFALY: A Mulhall 0-1 (free); B Darby 1-0, P McConway, E Rigney; G Guilfoyle, J Moloney, M Brazil; R Brady 0-1 (free), A McNamee; M Mitchell, B Connor 0-1, E Carroll; B Allen, N McNamee 1-1, P Cunningham.

Subs: S Pender for Rigney (25 mins), P McPadden for Cunningham (29), D Kelly for Mitchell (33), R Dalton 0-1 for Allen (half time), J Maher for McPadden (blood sub 56 -59 mins), M Young for A McNamee (63).

CLARE: J Hayes; M McMahon, S McNelis, E Coughlan 0-1; S Haugh, G Kelly, D Callinan; G Brennan 0-1, C O’Connor; C Dunning 0-1, S McGrath 0-2, A Clohessy 0-1; M McCarthy, R Donnelly, D Tubridy 0-6 (0-1 free, 0-1 ’45).

Subs: P McMahon for Donnelly (53), S Ryan 0-1 for Clohessy (inj, 55).

Referee: B O’Shea (Dublin)