Clare 2-17 Sligo 1-13
Clare produced another superb second-half to book their place in the last twelve in the race for the All-Ireland SFC title with a deserved success in Sligo.
Clare came from two points behind at the interval and used the wind superbly in the second-half to fashion a superb victory.
They outscored Sligo by 1-13 to 1-04 in that second-half to keep their superb year going as Colm Collins’ men backed up their league success with an extended run in the Championship.
Clare got a major breakthrough after 27 minutes with a goal from a penalty, but inside a minute lost dual star Podge Collins to a black card,
David Tubridy won the penalty and duly slotted it into the bottom right corner to cut the gap to 0-07 to 1-03.
Almost directly afterwards Collins was black-carded for a challenge on Niall Murphy after he lost possession. Adrian Marren scored the resultant free from 45 metres to double Sligo’s lead.
Tubridy and Mark Breheny then exchanged points before the interval for Sligo to lead by 0-09 to 1-04 at the interval.
Sligo, with the breeze behind them, opened up 0-05 to 0-02 advantage after 19 minutes with Marren and Murphy landing two points apiece.
Eoin Cleary’s third point for Clare cut the margin but efforts from Mark Breheny and Brian Egan resulting in Sligo leading by 0-07 to 0-03 with 11 minutes to the break.
Breheny extended Sligo’s lead four minutes after the restart with a good free, but it was cancelled a minute later with another free from Tubridy.
But then Clare just took over. Gary Brennan and Cathal O’Connor dominated midfield and their attack showed showed a great willingness to shoot from any distance or angle.
They hit four without reply to lead by 1-09 to 0-10 after 49 minutes before Adrian McIntyre responded for Sligo.
But Clare hit another four in a row and midfielder Brennan then wrapped up the issue when he soloed through to score a fine goal ten minutes from time.
Substitute Pat Hughes gave Sligo a glimmer of hope with a goal three minutes later.
But Clare closed out the win with another string of points to book their place in the last 12 of the title race on a day when seven players found the target for them.
Clare: J Hayes; K Harnett, S Hickey, M McMahon; J Malone, G Kelly, D Ryan; G Brennan (1-00), C O’Connor (0-04); C O’Dea, P Collins, S Collins; E Cleary (0-05, 0-02f), D Tubridy (1-03, 1-00 pen, 0-02f), P Lillis (0-01).
Subs: K Sexton (0-03) for P Collins (bc 30), S McGrath (0-01) for Tubridy (61), E Coughlan for Lillis (63), P Burke for Malone (66), S Malone for Cleary (67), D Nagle for S Collins (69).
Sligo: A Devaney; E Flanagan, K McDonnell, D Maye; Brendan Egan, G O’Kelly-Lynch, Keelan Cawley; J Hynes, A McIntyre (0-01); N Ewing, M Breheny (0-03, 0-02f), N Murphy (0-03, 0-01f); Kyle Cawley (0-01), Brian Egan (0-01), A Marren (0-03, 0-02f).
Subs: P Hughes (1-00) for Hynes (47), C Henry (0-01) for Marren (bc 66), N Gaughan for O’Kelly-Lynch (67).
Referee: A Nolan (Wicklow)
