| Faithful and Banner lack killer instinct
 Offaly
1-16
Clare 1-16
Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A
When both the Offaly and Clare management teams look back on Sunday’s
draw in Birr they’ll ask themselves how they didn’t take full
points.
Clare led for most of this match but in the end will probably have been
relieved as Barry Nugent’s late score rescued the game for the Bannermen.
Offaly started much the better and thanks to some fine scoring from Joe
Bergin they led by 0-4 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. But Clare found themselves
in the driving seat when the outstanding Bernard Gaffney, who finished
with a personal total of 1-8, finished a long Phillip Brennan puck-out
into the net to level matters as the first-half neared its conclusion.
The Munster men outscored their rivals in a 10-minute purple patch to
lead by 1-8 to 0-7 at the interval having battled their way back into
the clash.
Offaly had the wind at their backs after the break and hit points from
Rory Haniffy, Barry Teehan, and Bergin to cut their arrears then Barry
Molloy goaled to put the Faithful into the lead.
Clare had by far the better of the exchanges from that point on but were
far less efficient in front of the posts than their opponents.
The sides traded points and until the dying minutes of the match it looked
as though Offaly would cause a shock before Nugent popped up with the
equalising point leaving two managers relieved not to have lost but unhappy
not to have won.
Bernard Gaffney of Clare and Joe Bergin of Offaly are two of the games
rising stars and their form could dictate how their respective counties
do in the Championship.
Offaly have the trickiest of all ties next weekend when they travel south
to face table-toppers Waterford. Meanwhile Clare will be hoping that home
advantage sees them come through a huge challenge when they welcome Munster
champions Cork to Ennis in a winner-take-all tie. |
