Goals crucial for Clare away to wasteful Fermanagh
Clare proved the adage that goals win games side showed in picking up two precious points against wasteful Fermanagh in Brewster Park.
The scores came in the 13th and 60th minute from the elegant Aaron Griffin and Daniel Walsh to effectively seal this see saw affair.
The Banner deserved their win as they were more clinical in front of goals and hit six wides to their opponent's tally of ten.
Both of Clare’s goals came from turnovers as the Erne side badly missed the towering presence of Lee and Che Cullen and Ryan Lyons in defence.
Walsh’s goal on the hour mark was the killer blow for the Ernesiders who had narrowed the gap to a point thanks to a great point from Josh Largo Ellis.
Suddenly the margin was out to four points and Fermanagh never really looked like bridging the gap as the spectre of relegation looms amid a tough away match with Westmeath next week.
For Clare, who led by 1-10 to 0-10 at the break, full-forward Mark McInerney and centre forward Griffin were outstanding while the free scoring Ronan McCaffrey and Josh Largo Eliis shone for the home side.
Recently returned Joe McDade opened the scoring for the home side after a minute’s play, but Griffin swiftly responded for the Banner which set the pattern for a ding-dong opening half.
McCaffrey then landed a monster point for the home with Eoin Cleary’s dipping shot just clearing the bar to level matters.
On his first league start, Conor O’Hanlon landed a fine two-pointer for the home side as Brian McNamara skied a superb point for the visitors.
However a cheap turnover when attacking was to cost Fermanagh dearly as Clare raced down the pitch with Ronan Lanigan and Cleary finding the unmarked Griffin deep inside the Erne defence and he cooly picked his spot to put Clare into a 1-3 to 0-4 lead after 12 minutes.
The athletic McInerney pointed for Clare, but Garvan Jones converted a free outside the arc to ensure the bare minimum between the teams.
Clare pushed on with Darragh McGurn two-pointer and a point from McDaid, 0-09 to 1-04 in front.
McInerney pointed a close-range free after Fermanagh were punished for dissent and towering midfielder McNamara levelled matters at 0-09 to 1-06.
Clare hit a fine two-pointer from Cleary as Griffin and McCaffrey swapped points to leave the winners ahead 1-10 to 0-10 at the break.
Fermanagh hit a purple patch on the restart and the points flowed from McCaffrey, Jones, and Largo Ellis.
Two needless breaches by Clare were punished with points from Love and Jones, McInerney clipping over Clare’s first score in 11 minutes. He added two more with Cleary also adding another to his tally to make it a three-point game.
McCaffrey and Largo Ellis kept the scoreboard ticking over, but they failed to score after Walsh’s 60th-minute goal.
Shane Griffin and Cleary raised further white flags for the Banner and while Fermanagh had a late chance of a goal, Clare keeper Stephen Ryan superbly smothered Conor Love’s point-blank shot as Clare went home with two precious points.
Fermanagh: Jack Kelly; Jonathan Cassidy, Oisin Smyth Ronan McCaffrey (0-3); Fionan O’Brien, Shane McGulliion, Josh Largo Ellis (0-3); Joe McDade (0-2) Brandon Horan; Declan McCusker, Darragh McGurn (0-3,1tp) Paul Breen; Conor O’Hanlon (0-2tp) Garvan Jones (0-5,1tp) Jack Largo Ellis
Subs: Conor Love for Paul Breen (h-time), Ciaran Corrigan for Conor O’Hanlon (50), Stephen McGullion for Declan McCusker (57), Aogan Kelm for Jack Largo Ellis (62),Oisin Kelm for Fionan O’Brien (65),
Clare: Stephen Ryan; Alan Sweeney, Ronan Lanigan, Manus Doherty; Dermot Coughlan, Ikem Ugweru, Cillian Rouine; Brian McNamara (0-2) Darragh Bohannon; Daniel Walsh (1-0) Aaron Griffin (1-4,1tp) Brendy Rouine; Eoin Cleary (0-3) Mark McInerney (0-8,1tp, 5f) Josh Vaughan.
Subs: Conor Meaney for Cillian Rouine (34), Shane Griffin (0-1) for Josh Vaughan (59), Cormac Murray for Aaron Griffin (67).
Referee: Alan Coyne (Westmeath)
