Brian Lohan's decision to dip deep into his panel for this afternoon’s final round robin game in the Allianz Hurling League was vindicated when his understrength team overcame a poor shooting display in the first half to gradually reel in an Offaly side that took a six-point lead into the interval.
Offaly were a transformed team from the side that suffered such a heavy beating to Cork last time out, even allowing for the depleted Banner County side that took to the field at St Brendan’s Park in Birr.
From early on, it was evident that Offaly had put that previous outing as they moved the ball sharply and caused Clare some problems with their movement and energy up front. Their goal came after 15 minutes, Jack Clancy getting on the end of a sharp pass by Eimhin Kelly before beating Eibhear Quilligan in the Clare goal from close range.
Throughout the game, Offaly’s Eoghan Cahill impressed from dead balls, notching five frees and a 65 before half-time. The miserable conditions in Birr made life more difficult for both sides as play became sloppy at times, adding value to the accuracy of the free-taker, operating on his home club pitch. Clare were far less clinical from their chances, with seven wides before the break to Offaly’s three.
From open play, Clare’s Patrick Crotty was dangerous, managing two points from play before the break. At half-time, Offaly lead by six, 1-12 to 0-09, so the challenge now was to avoid a repeat of events in Nowlan Park, where they accumulated a decent lead with the breeze but were reeled in almost immediately.
Clare’s forwards came alive in the second half and really pushed Offaly back, with several of the less well-established names in the panel giving manager Brian Lohan plenty to think about.
David Conroy got the Banner off to a flyer right from the restart, then Ian Galvin and Crotty followed with two more from play. Offaly managed to stay with the visitors’ pace but appeared to flag as the half wore on and struggled to win their own ball more and more going into the final quarter.
Clare really ramped things up with more direct forward play and they were far more clinical in front of the posts, scoring four without reply. Ian Galvin really came into the game and life really difficult for Offaly mainstay, Ben Conneely. Galvin finished up with four from play.
The rain eased up and play became freer as a result. With ten minutes left, Offaly held a goal advantage at 1-18 to 0-18 but they struggled to make good use of their puckouts as Clare swallowed up any space around the middle. David Reidy was a key difference after coming off the bench. He brought a degree of composure to the Clare attack.
As Offaly struggled to push on, Clare got two quick-fire points from play to put a point between them. Offaly looked tired but a win, or at worst a draw, was well within their control. Two scoreable shots dropping short and wide sucked the life out of the home side before Clare equalised through a David Reidy free.
Clare then took the lead for the first time in the game from another Reidy free. Effectively the last puck of the game, Offaly only have themselves to blame for dilly-dallying on the ball inside their own half, deep into injury time.
Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes (0-01), John Conneally, Conor Leen; Ross Hayes, Conn Smyth, Cian Galvin; Seadna Morey (0-02), Darragh Lohan; Gearóid Sheedy, David Conroy (0-05, 3f), Patrick Crotty (0-03); Keith Smyth (0-02f), Ian Galvin (0-04), Shane Meehan (0-02).
Subs: David Reidy (0-03, 0-02 frees) for G Sheedy (HT), Conor Cleary for C Leen (HT), Aron Shanagher for D Conroy (50), Colm O’Meara for K Smyth (56), Paddy Donnellan (0-01) for D Lohan (63).
Offaly: Mark Troy; Padraig Cantwell, Ben Conneely, Sam Bourke (0-02); Luke Watkins (0-02), Dara Maher (0-01), Killian Sampson; Jason Sampson, David King (0-01); Jack Clancy (1-00), Leon Fox (0-01), David Nally (0-01); Eimhin Kelly (0-01), Oisín Kelly, Eoghan Cahill (0-10, 8f, 1 '65).
Subs: Ross Ravenhill for D Maher (56), Paul Cleary for L Fox (69), James Nally for O Kelly (70+2).
Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath).
