Goals were pivotal to Doonbeg’s winning start in the Clare Senior Football Championship as they had four points to spare over Clondegad.
Doonbeg 2-07
Clondegad 0-09
Venue: Labasheeda
Both of these sides were semi-finalists in 2015 but at completely different ends of the spectrum. Clondegad reached the last four in the race for Jack Daly while Doonbeg competed in the relegation semi-finals where they had too much for Wolfe Tones to retain their status.
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze, Clondegad held a three point advantage at the break. With nineteen minutes on the clock the John Connolle managed outfit had gone four points clear as it took the Magpies twenty one minutes to finally register a score. Their cause was dealt a blow before half-time as the experienced Frank O’Dea was shown a black card.
This didn’t deter Doonbeg and within eleven minutes of the second half they were on level terms. Paul Dillon got their fourth score without reply as he slotted past Declan O’Loughlin to put them in front for the first time in the game with forty two minutes played. County star David Tubridy raised another green flag in the final few minutes of the contest to give the Brian Shanahan managed side enough momentum to close out the game.
Although they were playing against a strong breeze Clondegad’s second half tally of two points isn’t good enough for a team of their calibre and they must now regroup in the losers section of the Clare SFC. Doonbeg never said die and they took everything Clondegad threw at them to ensure they will have no part to play in the 2016 relegation battle.
Referee: John Hannon (Michael Cusacks)