Clare run continues but Laois rue missed chances
IF this run of results continues an immediate return to Division 1A looks likely for the 2013 All-Ireland champions, but the final day tussle with Limerick still looms large after this average display from Clare.
John Conlon’s firsthalf injury-time goal proved crucial, while David Reidy and Bobby Duggan showed the way for the Banner men with strong displays on a night that Podge Collins remained an unused sub for the visitors.
Collins is still believed to be a couple of weeks away from action as he recovers from a cruciate ligament injury, but the injury list was vast for the Banner men, who had to plan without several of their main front line performers.
And they won’t be too happy with this sloppy display, but while Laois fired 16 wides at the other end, the sharp shooting of Duggan and Colin Ryan saw them over the line with ease.
Clare were quick out of the blocks and hit three points in as many minutes with Aaron Cunningham, Gearoid O’Connell and Ryan all on the mark for the Banner.
From the start the Laois management decided to employ Tom Delaney as a sweeper in front of his full-back line and with his wingbacks dropping back, space was at a premium in the Clare attack. At the other end of the field the opposite was true, with Willie Hyland and Ross King manning the inside line for the home side.
But the lack of support didn’t deter Hyland who gave Cian Dillon a tough time in the early stages, and the Clough/ Ballacolla man hit two brilliant points in the fourth and sixth minutes to make it 0-3 to 0-2.
Laois will no doubt be disappointed with their shooting though.
Too often they shot hopefully at the target and after three scores in a row from Clare — including two from the impressive David Reidy — they held a four point lead after 15 minutes.
Having a fit John Conlon in his side was a real boost for Fitzgerald and it was his high catch, carry and pass that sent Conor Ryan in for his first point in the 17th minute.
But after the introduction of PJ Scully Laois looked brighter in attack. Only a great block from David McInerney denied the sub in the 24th minute, but Zane Keenan and Hyland landed a couple of great points to claw back the gap to just four in injury-time.
However, Clare finished the remaining two minutes the stronger, and after Bobby Duggan pointed a long range free, the same man delivered a long ball into the edge of the square, and Conlon poked the loose ball into the empty net for a 1-13 to 0-9 lead at the interval.
Laois had given Clare very little room to operate in during the first-half but with their increased intensity in the tackle after the interval, there was even less space for the Munster side.
As a result there was plenty of rucks as the two sides fought for possession, and at one stage it spilled over as a group of 20 players got to know each other.
Yet despite Laois’ improved play in possession they will be dissapointed in their failure to make it count on the scoreboard.
Again it was their poor shooting that cost Laois — their wastefulness resulting in hit eight wides in the 20 minutes after the break — while Bobby Duggan continued to chip away at the other end as Clare eased over the line to claim victory.