Gaelic Games

Clare score five goals and 32 points against Laois

Aaron Shanagher scores a hat-tricks as Laois are reduced to 13 men at Cusack Park

Aaron Shanagher e celebrates scoring Clare’s fourth goal with Podge Collins during the All-Ireland SHC Round 1 Qualifier at Cusack Park in Ennis. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Aaron Shanagher e celebrates scoring Clare’s fourth goal with Podge Collins during the All-Ireland SHC Round 1 Qualifier at Cusack Park in Ennis. Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Sat Jul 02 2016 - 22:04

Clare 5-32 Laois 0-12

Clare are into the next round of the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers as a result of a thumping 35 point win over Laois at Cusack Park.

They proved far too strong for their opponents in front of a crowd of 5,518 - as Laois finished the game with just 13 players on the park.

The visitors got off to a good start when Charles Dwyer pointed from a distance after only 10 seconds. Tony Kelly got Clare off the mark with a free moments later - before  Shane O'Donnell scrambled to the Laois net to send Clare on their way.

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Laois were dealt further blows as they lost defenders Leigh Bergin and Cahir Healy through injury in that first period.

As the half progressed, the Banner County upped their game and by the time the half-time whistle sounded the scoreboard read 2-14 to 0-5. With young Shanagher grabbing his first goal in injury time.

If the first half was tough - the second half must have seemed a nightmare for Séamus Plunkett’s charges. They didn’t find a further score until the 40th minute when Willy Hyland pointed from a free. Clare had put over eight in the same time frame.

Shanagher then made it a memorable evening for himself and his fellow team mates adding two further goals in the 59th and 61st minute. So that made it three goals for him - others to shine for Clare on the night, were joint-team captains Cian Dillon and Tony Kelly, David Reidy, David McInerney and Shane O’Donnell.

Both Laois wing forwards Ben Conroy and Charles Dwyer were dismissed for second bookable offences over the 70 minutes. Dwyer was sent off six minutes from time while Conroy received his marching orders in the 27th minute. Making matters even more difficult for the visitors.

Overall though, this proved a futile exercise as the gulf in class was enormous and Davy Fitzgerald knows well that he will face a much sterner contest next weekend.

Clare: A Fahy; C Dillon, O O'Brien, P O'Connor; J Browne, D McInerney (0-03), B Bugler; C Cleary (0-02), D Reidy; C Galvin (0-02), P Collins (1-03), J Conlon (0-02); T Kelly (0-10, 0-03f), S O'Donnell (1-03), A Shanagher (3-01).

Subs: D Fitzgerald for McInerney (43), S Morey for Cleary (43), C O’Connell (0-05, 0-04f) for Kelly (48), S Golden (0-01) for Reidy (52), C Ryan for Conlon (55).

Laois: E Rowland (0-02, 0-02f); R Mullaney, D Palmer, C Healy; M Whelan (0-01), L Bergin, P Purcell; J Lennon, B Conroy; C Dwyer (0-02), PJ Scully (0-01, 0-01f), C Stapleton; N Foyle (0-01), W Dunphy (0-01), W Hyland (0-03, 0-03f).

Subs: R King for Bergin (9), P Lawlor for Healy (28), M Kavanagh (0-01) for Scully (41), D Maher for Stapleton (49), J Phelan for Dunphy (58).

Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).