Dublin 2-17
Clare 0-17
AFTER THEIR TORRID opening day experience against Galway, Dublin’s hurlers returned to form on home soil this afternoon.
Back in Parnell Park after being humbled in the west last Sunday, Anthony Daly’s side showed greater fight and heart in today’s Division 1A encounter.
Goals in either half from Conal Keaney and Colm Cronin helped them see off a Clare team who never scaled the heights they reached against Kilkenny last Sunday.
Dublin were excellent in the opening period with Alan McCrabbe, a notable returnee to the attack, proficient in pointing frees while David O’Callaghan was superb in prising apart the Clare rearguard to create scoring opportunities.
Dublin lead 0-6 to 0-2 when they hit the net in the 15th minute after Keaney lashed a shot to the net when he seized on a long delivery from Johnny McCaffrey.
Clare tried to keep in touch in the opening period, assisted by points from frees by Colin Ryan and from play by John Conlon. But Dublin were ahead by 1-12 to 0-10 at the interval and were full value for that advantage.
Dublin exploded from the blocks after the break and raised their second green flag in the 44th minute when McCrabbe played in Colm Cronin and he cleverly flicked the ball to the net.
Shane Durkin added a point soon after to send Dublin nine points clear, 2-15 to 0-12, and they nearly notched a third goal but O’Callaghan hammered a shot against the bar.
Clare did their best to haul themselves back into contention and they did outscore their opponents by 0-7 to 0-2 in the remainder of the game. Substitutes Bobby Duggan and Cathal O’Connell enhanced their attack yet they could not hit the net.
O’Connell flashed a shot wide while in injury-time goalkeeper Gary Maguire did brilliantly to get down and tip a batted effort by Conlon around the post.
Dublin protected their lead to run out six-point victors and provide a huge boost ahead of their trip to face Waterford on March 9th. Clare will be on the road as well that day when they take on Tipperary in Thurles.
Scorers for Dublin: Alan McCrabbe 0-9 (0-7f, 0-1 sideline), Conal Keaney 1-3, Colm Cronin 1-1, Shane Durkin 0-2, Johnny McCaffrey, David O’Callaghan 0-1 each.Scorers for Clare: Colin Ryan 0-7 (0-7f), John Conlon 0-3, Bobby Duggan (0-2f), Tony Kelly (0-1f) 0-2 each, Conor McGrath, Patrick O’Connor, Cathal O’Connell 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: Gary Maguire (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Niall Corcoran (Kilmacud Crokes), Peter Kelly (Lucan Sarsfields), Simon Timlin (Cuala); Shane Durkin (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Liam Rushe (St Pat’s, Palmerstown), Michael Carton (O’Toole’s); Johnny McCaffrey (Lucan Sarsfields), Colm Cronin (Cuala); Conal Keaney (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Ryan O’Dwyer (Kilmacud Crokes), Danny Sutcliffe (St Jude’s); David O’Callaghan (St Mark’s), Mark Schuttte (Cuala), Alan McCrabbe (Craobh Chiaráin).
Subs: Jack Dougan (Kilmacud Crokes) for Timlin (32), Eamonn Dillon (Naomh Fionbarra) for McCrabbe (63), David Treacy (Cuala) for O’Callaghan (66), Niall McMorrow (Ballyboden St-Enda’s) for O’Dwyer (69).
CLARE: Donal Tuohy (Crusheen); Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), David McInerney (Tulla), Cian Dillon (Crusheen); Patrick O’Connor (Tubber), Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Brendan Bugler (Whitegate); Shane Golden (Sixmilebridge), Patrick Donnellan (O’Callaghan Mills); John Conlon (Clonlara), Tony Kelly (Ballyea), Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus); Conor McGrath (Cratloe), Shane O’Donnell (Eire Og), Colm Galvin (Clonlara).
Subs: Nicky O’Connell (Clonlara) for Golden (half-time), Cathal O’Connell (Clonlara) for Conor Ryan (42), Bobby Duggan (Clarecastle) for Colin Ryan (51), David Reidy (Eire Og) for Morey (64).
Referee: Alan Kelly (Galway).
