Brilliant Galway march on but Clare minor steals the show with his pure class

Niall McIntyre

Galway 1-24 Clare 1-22

Clare needed a miracle, they weren’t far off getting one.

With the quarter final stages being played in a round-robin format this year, score difference was always going to be crucial. As it worked out, the Clare minors needed a six point win against Galway in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Saturday afternoon.

The six point win didn’t come, nor did the win but this bunch of minors can still hold their heads high. They turned in a spirited performance against a brilliant Galway team and were it not for a moment of madness from corner back Storm Devanney to earn himself a red card, they were looking like winners.

The Tribesmen were on balance the better team however. Sean McDonagh was exceptional last weekend in Croke Park and the Mountbellew Moylough sharpshooter kept up that form here. Alex Connaire was industrious in midfield while Gavin Lee and then the game changing sub Sean O’Hanlon were also to the fore.

On they bound to the semis now where Wexford and Limerick are waiting. Brian Hanley’s side will take beating on this evidence.

Clare have lots of positives to take from this campaign though. Chief among them no doubt is the potential being shown by Banner Ennis club man Shane Meehan.

The speedster of a forward was in unplayable form in the midlands, ending his afternoon with 0-13 to his name. He terrorised the Galway backs with his sheer drive, pace and will to burst past defenders causing absolute wreckage.

He’s not just a scorer though. A clever, unselfish player, he brought his teammates into the game with incisive passing. He was faultless from frees too, frees he had won himself after the Galway defenders could do nothing but foul him, such was the panic he caused.

A name we are guaranteed to hear more of 🔊

Clare minor Shane Meehan of @BannerGAAEnnis has been outrageous for the Clare minor hurlers today

0-12 for him so far

This just a sample of the exhibition he's putting onpic.twitter.com/C5u47m1yh8

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 20, 2019

And while his scores were finished off with such confidence and flair, it was a late pass to set up a goal for centre back Cian Galvin that showed off his genius best.

Dummies once, twice. Looks like he’s about to add to his tally. This is no individualist though, and he sent it in to bring Clare back into the game.

This fella is a genius

What a goal from Clare centre back Cian Galvin, but it's all about that man Meehan

Dummies once, dummies twice, could easily take the point to add to his tally.

Instead, sends it in for Galvin.

Pure classpic.twitter.com/QKw9LLLqIZ

— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 20, 2019

Galway kicked on though, Connaire and sub Paddy Cummins pointing them home.

Clare

Aaron Shanahan, Tony Butler (0-1) Adam Hogan, Storm Devanney, Jarlath Collins, Cian Galvin (1-1), Colm O’Meara (0-1), Conner Hegarty (0-1) Oisin Clune, Oisin O’Donnell (0-2) Diarmuid Cahill (0-1), Cormac Murphy, Shane Meehan (0-13, 0-9f) Dylan Downes, Cormac Murphy.

Subs:

Sean Ronan (0-2) for Cormac Murphy (42), Shane Punch for Dylan Downes (50), Keith Smith for Diarmuid Cahill (53)

Galway

Mike Egan, Eanna Davoren, Eoin Lawless, Adam Nolan, Enda Collins (0-1) Ian McGlynn, Christy Brennan, Alex Connaire (0-3), Liam Leen, Colm Cunningham (0-1), Sean McDonagh (1-10 1-7f), Tiernan Killeen (0-1), Gavin Lee (0-1) Shane Morgan, Greg Thomas (0-2)