Allianz Hurling League Division 2 – Clare 6-23 Kerry 1-18

Clare defeated Kerry by 6-23 to 1-18 in Round 5 of the Allianz Hurling League Division 2 on Saturday at Cusack Park Ennis.

Banner boss bemoans imbalance in second tier

Clare 6-23 Kerry 1-18

By Gerry Quinn for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Monday, March 28, 2011

CLARE manager Ger O’Loughlin bemoaned the imbalance in the second tier of the hurling league after Saturday’s mismatch at Cusack Park, Ennis. “Kerry were very poor I thought. But as John Meyler was saying, that’s the imbalance that’s in Division Two. “We are bordering on being good enough to be in Division 1 but at times we looked as if we are a Division 2 team as well. But on the day Kerry were very weak and it worked out handy enough for us. At times we looked awful loose and we gave away seven or eight needless frees — I’d be disappointed with that.” The hosts led 4-15 to 1-6 at the break. Man of the match John Conlon grabbed a pair of first-half goals while Nicky O’Connell and Diarmuid McMahon also netted with John Egan on target for the visitors. In the second period Kerry battled valiantly but further Clare goals by substitute Caimin Morey and McMahon sealed the issue.

Scorers for Clare: J Conlon (2-1), D McMahon (2-1), N O’Connell (1-4) 0-1 f, 0-1 ‘65, C Morey (1-0) f, S Collins (0-3), D Honan (0-3), J Clancy (0-3), C McGrath (0-3) 1 f, F Lynch (0-2), C Ryan (0-2), f’s, J McInerney (0-1) f.

Scorers for Kerry: D O’Connell (0-11) 11 f’s, J Egan (1-1), S Nolan (0-3), R Kenny (0-1), C Harris (0-1), M Conway (0-1) f.

CLARE: D Tuohy, P Vaughan (Capt.), C Cooney, D O’Donovan, B Bugler, J McInerney, C Dillon, N O’Connell, S Collins, J Colon, F Lynch, J Clancy, C Ryan, D McMahon, C McGrath.

Subs: D Honan for Ryan inj. (17), P Donnellan for McInerney (49), C McInerney for McMahon (51), C Morey for Lynch (57), L Markham for O’Connell (64).

KERRY: B Rochford, E Fitzgerald, T Murnane, C Harris, P O’Grady, M Conway, A Royle, P Costello, D Dineen, S Nolan, L Boyle (Capt.), D Wallace, D O’Connell, R Kenny, J Egan.

Subs: J Casey for Royle (17), J Flaherty for Wallace (59), T Moloney for Kenny (59), D Fitzell for Costello (63).

Referee: P Green (Galway)

Team News

The Kerry Senior Hurling team to play Clare on Saturday 26th March at 2.30pm in Ennis is as follows:

1. Bernard Rochford (Killeagh, Cork)
2. Colin Harris (Ballincollig, Cork ) 3. Tom Murnane (Kilmoyley) 4. James Godley (Kilmoyley)

5. Padraig O’Grady (Ballyduff) 6. Mike Conway (Lixnaw) 7. Eamon Fitzgerald (Causeway)

8. Paud Costello (Ballyduff) 9. Darren Dineen (Ardfert)

10. Shane Nolan (Crotta O’Neills) 11. Liam Boyle (Ballyduff) 12. Michael Boyle (Captain) (Ballyduff)

13. John Egan (Ardfert) 14. Ronan Kenny (Ballyheigue) 15. Darragh O’Connell (Abbeydorney)

The substitutes are as follows:

16. John B. O’Halloran (Kilmoyley)

17. Jason Casey (Ballyheigue) 18. Adrian Royle (Kilmoyley) 19. James Flaherty (Lixnaw)

20. Patrick O’Keeffe (Glenflesk) 21. Darren Wallace (Ardfert) 22. Thomas Moloney (Ardfert )

23. Aidan Boyle (Ballyduff) 24. David Fitzell (Kilmoyley)

Manager: John Meyler

Selectors: John Hennessey & Sean O’Shea

Coach/trainer: Joe O’Connor