Clare have a few unsettling past experiences to confront in the upcoming weeks. Even though they have consistently given a sturdy performance against Limerick, particularly in the Munster championship, Clare has always been peculiarly unsettled by the sight of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland series. However, they now have the opportunity to rectify old scores in the upcoming league final, following a convincing victory over a rather uninspiring Tipperary team in Portlaoise.
The team delivered a decisive 1-24 to 2-13 victory, thanks to a flawless display by the first-half replacement Aidan McCarthy and the league’s star player David Fitzgerald. This victory has now paved the way for Clare’s potential first league title post-2016. Although Brian Lohan kept his excitement under wraps, he would surely be looking forward to conquests that await.
Lohan voiced his team’s aspirations saying, “We take every game with the ambition to come out as victors. We have a commendable record of winning games and now we are presented with the opportunity to battle Kilkenny in another critical game. This is exactly what intercounty players yearn for during this season.”
Regarding the quality Kilkenny brings to the table, he added, “we are well aware of their prowess. We will continue to refine our skills, strive for betterment and accept the challenge to improve.”
For Tipperary, the manner of the defeat was certainly more alarming than the defeat itself. They utterly failed to match the intensity of Clare and were essentially left trailing throughout the game. Even though manager Liam Cahill tried to change the tide of the match by utilising his reserves, the outcome was barely fruitful.
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Cahill observed,”We had 20 overall wides, including nine or ten from frees. Much of the pre-game talk was revolving around who will take the frees. Even though we had options, unfortunately, every player was off-form on the same day. Such days are disappointing, and when they occur, they certainly sting.”
“I still hold an unwavering faith in all my team members, no matter how insurmountable conditions may seem. We’ve weathered horrendous conditions for months, but it’s no excuse to falter. The disappointment stings, as we’re unable to reach the league final – that’s the fundamental reality.”
On a generally mundane Sunday for football versus the usual excitement, the concluding day of the league was unexpectedly uneventful. In Division One, there were easy victories for Dublin and Derry over Tyrone and Roscommon, paving the way for a final face-off between Dessie Farrell and Mickey Harte a week later. Unfortunately, Monaghan and the Rossies succumbed and fell into Division Two.
Dublin confidently dismissed Tyrone to secure a final against Derry.
Only Division Three hosted a real all-or-nothing match, and even then, Down dominated Clare, winning by an impressive 11 points in Newry. This allowed Westmeath to incur their inaugural defeat to Sligo and still ascend side by side with Down.
As for the underdogs, Limerick faced relegation way before the day kicked off, with Wicklow staying hopeful. Yet, despite nearing victory over Antrim, Wicklow failed to clinch the desired result. However, it was irrelevant as Wicklow faced demotion due to Offaly’s triumph over Limerick.
Turning to Division Four, Laois swiftly accomplished their objective early in the game, leading 4-5 to 0-0 against Waterford within the initial 20 minutes in Cariganore. This squashed any lingering concerns of a last-minute fault. In the end, Justin McNulty’s team clinched a 5-19 to 0-9 victory, securing their promotion with ease.
In the upcoming Division Four final, Leitrim will team up following their 0-15 to 0-9 triumph against Tipperary. The result of the match between Wexford and Longford was irrelevant in this context. Wexford, however, managed to impress with another victory, outscoring Paddy Christie’s team 2-18 to 2-9. Still, it is Leitrim who will gain promotion, thanks to their superior head-to-head record.
Wexford, who experienced a defeat against Leitrim due to a debatable last-minute penalty on 18th February, are undoubtedly feeling the sting. Despite winning every subsequent match by at least ten points, the loss lingers. They are preparing to face Carlow in the inaugural round of the championship in just two weeks’ time.
The final matches are as follows: Division One concludes with Dublin versus Derry at Croke Park on Sunday at 4 PM. Roscommon and Monaghan have been relegated. In Division Two, Armagh will meet Donegal at Croke Park on Sunday, with kick-off at 1.45 PM. Fermanagh and Kildare have been relegated in this division. The Division Three final will see Down and Westmeath face off at Croke Park on Saturday at 7.15 PM, with Wicklow and Limerick relegated. Finally, Division Four culminates in a showdown between Laois and Leitrim, scheduled for Croke Park on Saturday at 5 PM.