Clare's net gains

Since Clare's rise in 1995 much has been made of their inability to score goals on a consistent basis. Perhaps, at last, they are beginning to rid themselves of that unwanted tag. If so, Niall Gilligan is the man that can be given most credit for their deliverance. Clare's 27 goals in the last five championship seasons have come from a variety of sources - PJ O'Connell's effort yesterday was his third, Alan Markham, David Forde, Stephen McNamara, Conor Clancy, Barry Murphy, David Fitzgerald, Fergie Tuohy and Ger O'Loughlin have contributed others - but Gilligan now leads the way with four.