Sport

Clare cut loose at end

Mayo seemed headed for victory at Kilmihil yesterday but they had no answer when Clare belatedly raised their game to stage a…

Mon Feb 14 2000 - 00:00

Mayo seemed headed for victory at Kilmihil yesterday but they had no answer when Clare belatedly raised their game to stage a magnificent fight-back which yielded eight points without reply in the closing stages.

When Mayo led 0-5 to 0-1 at half-time it was difficult to foresee a Clare win such had been the Westerners' dominance.

Mayo were three points ahead after five minutes thanks to Kevin O'Neill (two frees) and a fine Trevor Mortimer effort.

Clare's attack stuttered badly in the opening half and their only score of the half was a point from a free by Martin Daly in the 34th minute. Besides from some dreadful shooting by their forwards, Clare also found Mayo full back by Kevin Cahill in top form.

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In the second half Mayo threatened to continue where they had left off, but four wides in as many minutes proved costly.

Eventually the home side recorded their second score, through Ger Keane, but O'Neill made it 0-6 to 0-2 by the 45th minute.

Clare's half-time substitute Brian McMahon reduced the deficit with a well-taken point and this was followed by further scores from Ger Quinlan and Daly.

Mayo pulled away yet again thanks to scores by Mortimer, substitute James Gill and the impressive Austin O'Malley but Clare's great spirit saw them convert another eight points before the end.

Daly pointed frees and Denis Russell and Brian McMahon levelled matters before Russell kicked the score of the afternoon from an acute angle almost on the sideline to give the Banner men the lead for the first time in the game. Daly, Russell and McMahon added the insurance points.

Clare: J Hanrahan; P Gallagher, B Considine, C Whelan; B Keating, B Rouine, C Nagle; D O'Sullivan, D Russell (0-3); D O'Driscoll, G Quinlan (0-1), P McMahon; G Keane (0-1, free), C Considine, M Daly (0-5, four frees). Subs: B McMahon (0-3) for P McMahon, K Hynes for C Considine.

Mayo: P Burke; K Mortimer, K Cahill, A Higgins; D Higgins, B Ruane, N Connelly; P Fallon, D Heaney; C McManamon, A O'Malley (0-1), K O'Neill (0-4, two frees); D Nestor, T Mortimer (0- 2), K Filan (0-1). Subs: B Moloney for K Filan, S Fitzmaurice for D Heaney, J Gill (0-1) for D Nestor.

Referee: D Joyce (Galway).