Clare GAA Discussion part 2 , No Purple Jumpers Allowed !!

Just back home from a most interesting Clare senior football final, which included a first for me, who has watched GAA for over 22 years, an own point.

The start was all about Quilty's pressure game and the manner in which they tore into the match early doors. Michael Hogan and Keelan Sexton along with the industrious Dermot Coughlan, began well and were well deserving 4 points to 1 ahead after 20 mins. However Coughlan took two nasty hits midway through the 1st half and came on in the 2nd half with a bandage all around his head and was never the same player since.

However like all great champions do, Miltown hit back and 3 points in a row, including a Seanie Malone score in the last kick of the first half made it 4 points apiece at half-time, with Miltown set to have the aid of the elements for the 2nd 30 mins.

The second half started well for Miltown, who increased their workrate considerably in the 2nd half. An early point gave them the early edge, before a bizarre incident led to Kilmurry's opening score in the 2nd half. What looked like a simple kickpass by Seanie Malone back to the goalkeeper Sean O'Brien, turned into a nightmare and incredibly, albeit under huge pressure by the Quilty men, Malone kicked the ball inexplicably over the bar, but in the wrong goal!!!!!

The rest of the match itself was tit for tat. Points were traded between both teams. At 8 points apiece heading into the 3rd minute of injury time out of 5, Cormac Murray stood with a 45. The young Miltown man scuffed his kick, but like all good players do, Conor Cleary gathered the breaking ball and tapped over the bar, what appeared to be the winning score for the defending Jack Daly champions. However in typical Quilty's never say die attitude, they won a free with goalie Ian McInerney running from his goal. From just over 45 metres out, and the fate and the pressure all on the veteran Quilty netminder's shoulders, he absolutely nailed it. Straight between the posts and just soon afterwards, referee Chris Maguire, who had a competent game, blew the final whistle. A draw.

Little between both teams throughout the 60 plus minutes. For KIB I felt that the evergreen Michael Hogan was immense. He was everywhere in the field and to me I was surprised that he was taken off quite early, as I felt he had plenty of more to give. Darragh Sexton and Daniel Walsh were outstanding, in particular Sexton with his attacking runs, a huge handful for Miltown. While I felt that Mark Killeen, also put in a huge shift for the Quilty men.

For Miltown I felt that their best performers on the day included Seanie Malone and in general the defensive performances were far more impressive than their attacking players, who flattered to deceive. However that malaise in attack was more down to the outstanding displays in the green and red jerseys, who quite simply did not give the much vaunted Miltown forward line, not a sniff of space.

So a replay is required to decide who will lift the Jack Daly for the final time this decade. Incredibly in the Clare FM pre-match show on Friday, two of the three guests they had, including Seamus Hayes, Joe Garry and former referee Rory Hickey said that it would end in honours even! Personally I can't call the replay. Both sides cancelled each other out, with tremendous displays in defense. If any of the forwards can click and in the case of Miltown, their forwards must deliver a far more composed performance in front of goal, if they are to come out on top next week. The case for both sides to come out victorious next week is compelling.

Before all that though, all focus will be on next week and the updates regarding the vacant Clare senior hurling manager's role. Expect developments throughout the next 7 days.