ALLIANZ NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE:THREE INTO two doesn't go, as every kindergarten kid knows, and Clare, Waterford or Limerick will be the odd one out when Division Four of the Allianz National Football League is decided on Sunday. All three are still in contention to escape the bottom of the pile, and fittingly enough, the climax of it all is the meeting between table-toppers Clare and Waterford.
It would be bitterly disappointing for Clare should they miss out at this stage, having set the pace over the last two months, and going unbeaten up until last Saturday’s one-point defeat to Limerick.
Their impressive form and progress was reflected yesterday when young forward David Tubridy was named the Vodafone Footballer of the Month for March – and for good reason. The 22-year-old from Doonbeg clocked up 1-31 in the first five games, including a massive 1-11 against Carlow at the end of March.
“It’s a great honour, the first big award for myself, a great honour for Clare,” said Tubridy, who admitted it would something of an anti-climax now if Clare don’t gain promotion on Sunday.
Waterford will have home advantage in Dungarvan, but Clare still have the confidence from beating the likes of Wicklow, Carlow, Longford and Leitrim in recent weeks.
“It was disappointing last Saturday, to lose by a point, but we were beaten by the better team. We didn’t play for the whole game, we only really played for the last 15 minutes. I had a chance to get a draw with the last kick of the game. It was a free from around the 45 but it just tailed a bit to the right.
“It was just inches wide. But the season is going really well, winning six out of seven is not bad. And it’s a great buzz, winning every week, compared to last year when it was just defeat after defeat. It’s great to be in the top half of the table this year.
“But if we lose on Sunday our good work would be gone down the drain. It’s do or die. If we draw, and Limerick beat Leitrim, they’ll go up because they beat us last Saturday. It’s very tight between the three teams. If we draw we go up, I think, with Waterford.”
Asked what the difference is in Clare football this year, Tubridy pointed to a number of things, including the appointment of manager Michael McDermott, who also recently took Kilmurry-Ibrickane to the All-Ireland club final: “I think we have been given the extra belief. With Kilmurry getting to the final it showed Clare clubs can play against the best teams.
“And Michael has been there throughout the year, given a lot to Clare football, and hopefully we’re giving him something back.
“I think between ourselves and Kilmurry we’ve put Clare back on the map in football. The hurlers are still there and hopefully they’ll get promoted.”
Sunday’s meeting with Waterford is a pivotal game in more ways than one. Not only will the winners snatch the coveted promotional spot to Division Three, they could likely meet again in the Division Four final, if Limerick lose – and again, for the third time, in their Munster championship opener on May 23rd.
“It’s such a big game,” explained Tubridy. “Our whole year comes down to this game really. As Micheal McDermott said at the start of the year, we have two phases. Phase one is the league and concentrating on getting out of Division Four, and phase two is the championship.
“We also have Waterford in the first round and the winners play Limerick. We’re avoiding Cork and Kerry but you can see Waterford, they’re improving every year and they’ll give us enough down in Dungarvan.
“Just to get to a Munster final would be a great achievement for ourselves or Waterford.”
But first things first: “Every team wants to get out of Division Four at the same time. Look at Tipperary and Antrim, they’ve gone up and done well.
“Limerick and Antrim in provincial finals last year as well, so it is a competitive league. It’s hard to get out of it but hopefully we can.”
The Vodafone Hurler of the Month for March was Cork’s Pat Horgan, who has played a key role in helping them reach the league final next month.
