THE FLASHBACK
AUGUST 2, 1999
NIALL GILLIGAN ran riot in this All-Ireland SHC quarter-final replay, scoring 2-3 as the Banner County advanced to the semi-finals. Gilligan had scored 1-1 in the drawn encounter but Galway paid a heavy price for not finishing off Clare when they had the chance. It looked as if the Tribesmen had the first meeting wrapped up before Clare came back to force a replay. And in the Ger Loughnane era, you didn’t get a second chance against Clare, as Tipperary had already found out to their cost in the Munster Championship. Earlier in the summer, Davy Fitzgerald’s late penalty salvaged a draw for Clare against Tipp before the Banner boys ran riot in the replay, winning by 10 points. And Clare were in similarly merciless mood against Galway at the second time of asking as they ran out comfortable seven-point winners on a Monday afternoon at Croke Park. Ultimately, it was defensive dominance that paved the way for victory as Liam Doyle, Seanie McMahon and current Dublin boss Anthony Daly provided huge solidity in the half-back line. At full back, Brian Lohan wrapped up Ollie Fahy, who had scored 2-2 when the sides first met. Colin Lynch ruled the roost at midfield and in Gilligan, Clare had a proven matchwinner. In contrast, not one of Galway’s six starting forwards scored a point from play. Eugene Cloonan finished with 2-10 and netted twice in the second half but his 10 points were all from placed balls. Clare led by 1-7 to 0-8 at half-time and were off to a flier in the second half when Alan Markham set up PJ O’Connell for a crucial goal. Clare never looked back from there but they would come unstuck against Kilkenny in the semi-final as the Cats, with DJ Carey hitting 1-3, secured a four-point victory.