COLM: DERRY DESERVED IT

CLARE boss Colm Collins could only laugh heartily as someone consoled him with a “hard luck” as he arrived to address the media after Saturday’s comprehensive defeat to Derry.

“That had nothing to do with it,” he smiled, as he acknowledged that his side had been beaten by a far superior force.

“First of all, full credit to Derry, a clinical display, fantastic finishing, a fantastic display all around the pitch.

“To match that things needed to go really right for us and I don’t think they did. I don’t think we played particularly well and we were punished.”

Given how adept Derry have proven to be at defending as well as building a lead, conceding an early goal to them was disastrous for Clare, particularly as it came from a botched kickout on their part.

“One of the key things about any of the top teams, which I would rate Derry as one of, is that you don’t concede silly goals.

“If you’re on the back foot then things change. I thought we were doing quite well up to then, Derry were taking pot shots from places and they weren’t scoring, but that was a killer.”

Having taken Clare to two All-ireland quarterfinals now, Collins has seen his side fail to compete on either occasion having shipped an 11-point defeat to Kerry six years ago.

“That’s a tough one. Even if it was only an under-12 team and you took them out and they didn’t perform, you’d be cheesed off afterwards.

“I don’t think the lads would have been happy with how they played. But you’re only as good as you’re allowed to play.

“Sometimes you can take away from the winning team and I’m in no way taking from Derry’s performance.”