Clare's class slow to show

CLARE'S hurlers took their time about this; but they finally got up an impressive head of steam to bundle a tiring Laois out of their way and earn a 10-point victory in their opening Division One match at Cusack Park in Ennis yesterday.

There were times in the first half when Clare supporters shook their heads in disbelief as their players shuffled and stumbled in their efforts to quell a lively Laois side. Clare shot no fewer than seven wides in the first half, but they finally found the sweet spot to lift the spirits of the supporters, and they were showing a previously well concealed class at the end.

It is probably correct to insert a caveat here to the effect that Laois ran out of steam when the real pressure came on in the last 20 minutes or so. It has to be accepted also that although Jamesie O'Connor's qualifications as a consummate hurler are beyond question a few of his later points (he got six in all) were scored with a significant lack of pressure from the opposition.

Clare started in casual fashion, but they got a jolt in the sixth minute when Laois's Owen Coss drilled the ball to the net to give his team a three point lead. From then until half time there was little to choose between the teams with Laois freetaker David Cuddy punishing Clare indiscretions from various angles and with Niall Gilligan and Eamonn Taaffe keeping Clare in the hunt with their individual efforts.

Taaffe had replied to Coss's goal with one of his own in the 12th minute, and the teams were level at 1-3 each in the 15th minute.

Laois midfielder Declan Conroy, who was well supported by Niall Rigney, was causing concern for Clare, as they struggled to find their rhythm. Before the start Laois had moved Coss to full forward and Joe Dollard to the left corner with Damian Culleton on the right. But it was Cuddy's free taking which was crucial to the Laois effort and they were one point ahead, 1-6 to 1-5, at the break.

Yet another successful Cuddy free put Laois two points clear immediately after the break; but O'Connor from play, Sean McMahon from a 65 and Taaffe from a free, edged Clare into the lead by the 10th minute.

Another long range McMahon free and a neatly taken Gilligan point from play gave Clare a three point cushion; but back came Laois with a second Coss goal and a point by Rigney to put them back in front again.

It was then that O'Connor opened his shoulders and began to run at the faltering Laois defence. He, Gilligan and Taaffe put Clare back into the lead before a great run by Colin Lynch who, by this stage was getting a grip on the situation at midfield, set up Conor Clancy for a goal. Laois collapsed before the onslaught, which was as fierce as it was unexpected.

Between the 13th and the 31st minutes of the second half, the only Laois score came from a Cuddy free. It was a telling measure of Clare's superiority at the end.

On a fine, balmy day and on a firm pitch, the standard of hurling was short of what could have been expected; but players like O'Connor, Gilligan, Lynch, Anthony Daly, McMahon and Clancy for Clare and Rigney, Cuddy, Coss and Dollard for Laois will always provide moments of class, regardless of the circumstances.

To this extent the match was an acceptable offering on the first day of what promises to be a new era in hurling.

It was interesting, too, to see Jimmy Cooney, the former combative Galway corner back, in the role of poacher turned gamekeeper. Never a man to shirk a responsibility, his refereeing was every bit as convincing as his hurling was in the past.