Clare survive a valiant challenge by battling 14-man Laois

Clare 2-23
Laois 2-19

Davy Fitzgerald reckoned that his charges almost paid for complacency and warned they will have to improve considerably if they are to account for Tipperary in the semi-final.

The All-Ireland champions were tested severely by 14-man Laois, who Fitzgerald praised for the progress they have made under Séamus Plunkett.

“I don’t think people have given Laois enough credit in the last year” said Fitzgerald. “Were our lads a little complacent today? Probably were..I think Laois were better than us today. I think we were lucky to get out of there.

“I’d be very disappointed with some of our play but in saying that, you have to give Laois credit as well the way they played.”

Tom Delaney was sent off in the 22nd minute, at which stage there was just a point between the sides. It was for an off-the-ball incident involving John Conlon. Delaney seemed very aggrieved and Plunkett described the decision as “harsh”, but referee Alan Kelly had no doubt.

“Maybe we thought we had our work done once they had a man sent off. We were very lethargic,” said Fitzgerald.

A seventh-minute goal from Neil Foyle after tremendous work by Tommy Fitzgerald gave Laois the perfect start but they were conceding too many frees and with Colin Ryan helping himself to six points, trailed by 0-9 to 1-3 by the 19th minute.

Laois’s inaccuracy – they had 11 wides by half-time – prevented them from being ahead.

Paddy Purcell and Matthew Whelan (free) kept them in touch though before Delaney was sent packing. Stephen Maher was retained in the sweeper role despite the numerical disadvantage. Laois showed their resolve by hitting the front via a monster point from Charlie Dwyer and a Whelan ‘65’.

Conlon and Conor McGrath made it a two-point game once more but back came Laois with a 60m point from corner-back Brian Stapleton and the score of the day from Purcell.

McGrath had Clare in front entering injury time when Patrick Kelly made a good save from Fitzgerald. Seconds later, O’Donnell had the ball in the Laois net, after receiving a pass from McGrath and it was 1-12 to 1-9 at half time.

When O’Donnell converted another chance created by McGrath in the 45th minute the margin was seven and Ryan made it eight. But Clare were conceding frees and Maher punished them. Willie Hyland had an inspirational score before Purcell set up substitute Brendan Reddin to goal in the 69th minute and leave just two points between the sides. But Clare’s experience shone through and a fantastic point by Tony Kelly from out on the left, followed by Colin Ryan’s 10th point sealed the win.

CLARE: P Kelly, D McInerney, C Dillon, C Cooney, B Bugler, Conor Ryan, P O'Connor (0-1), P Donnellan, T Kelly (0-3), P Duggan, Colin Ryan (0-10, 8fs), J Conlon (0-1), B Duggan (0-1), S O'Donnell (2-0), C McGrath (0-4). Subs: A Cunningham (0-2) for Donnellan (46); C McInerney (0-1) for B Duggan (52), J Browne for Dillon (58); PJ Scully for Fitzgerald (68); D Reidy for Conlon (70+2)

LAOIS: E Reilly, JA Delaney, B Campion, B Stapleton (0-1), J Fitzpatrick, M Whelan (0-2, 1f, 1 65), T Delaney, D Palmer, P Purcell (0-3), C Dwyer (0-1), J Purcell, W Hyland (0-2), S Maher (0-6,fs), N Foyle (1-0), T Fitzgerald (0-3). Subs: R King for Foyle (ht), P Whelan for J Purcell (42), B Reddin (1-1) for Dwyer (54), PJ Scully for Fitzgerald (68)

Referee: A Kelly (Galway)