TMC – Quarter-Final – Clare v Leitrim
Leitrim advanced to the semi-final of the Tommy Murphy Cup when they dismissed the challenge of Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis on Saturday evening. Over the seventy minutes the visitors were the better side and when Clare were reduced to 14 men shortly after the interval, Leitrim seized the initiative to record a merited victory.
Clare 1-8 Leitrim 1-12
The Banner had marginally the better of the first-half exchanges and lead b 1-5 to 0-6 at the break after playing with the wind at their backs. The goal came in the 27th minute. Gary Brennan fisted to the Leitrim net following a strong run by Rory Donnelly after he was put into space by corner-back Laurance Healy.
But the visitors had the better start in the opening period and were in front by two points to no score after ten minutes thanks to Donal Brennan and a pointed free by Emlyn Mulligan. But once Clare settled and got to grips at midfield, they picked off a few points hauling them back into contention.
But within a minute and a half of the re-start Leitrim regained the lead when Emlyn MulliganÓgoaled from the penalty spot after sub Darren Duignan was fouled in possession by Clare wing-back John Hayes.
Hughes added a point to put two between them and then Clare were reduced to 14 whenÓgordon Kelly was dismissed on a straight red card for an incident with Leitrims Colin Regan.
The home-side couldnt add to their half-time tally until the 58th minute when Donnelly pointed, but by this stage Leitrim side had taken control and now lead by 1-10 to 1-6.
A fine individual performance by Leitrim centre-forward Mulligan who contributed 1-6, helped in this convincing win against a rather poor Clare outfit.
Leitrim: E Mulligan (1-6) 1-0 pen, 0-3 fs, M Foley (0-2), D Brennan, S Foley, P McGuinness, J Glancy (0-1) each.
Clare: G Brennan (1-1), D Tubridy (0-3) 2 f,s F ODea, R Donnelly, S Hickey, M OShea (f), (0-1) each.
LEITRIM: E Lyons, D Reynolds, G Reynolds, A OFlynn, B Prior, B McWeeney, N Doonan, M Duignan, C Regan, E Mulligan, M Foley, J Glancy, P McGuinness, D Brennan.
SUBS: D Duignan for S Foley (half-time), F McBride for Brennan (52), C Duignan for Foley (57).
CLARE: Joe Hayes, L Healy, C Whelan, D Ryan, D Connole, G Kelly, John Hayes, G Quinlan, F ODea, D Russell, M OShea, M Tubridy, R Donnelly, G Brennan, D Tubridy.
SUBS: S Hickey for M Tubridy (25), E Doyle for D Tubridy (47), D Kelly for Quinlan (58).
REFEREE: M Daly (Mayo)
20-Jul-08 by Setanta Sport
