Sport

Clare prompt Ó Sé exit

Clare 0-12 Westmeath 0-9: Páidí Ó Sé, who brought Westmeath to Leinster glory last year, resigned yesterday as their team manager…

Mon Jul 04 2005 - 01:00

Clare 0-12 Westmeath 0-9: Páidí Ó Sé, who brought Westmeath to Leinster glory last year, resigned yesterday as their team manager. He announced his decision minutes after his side suffered a three-point defeat to Clare at Cusack Park, Ennis.

Before an attendance of over 4,000, Clare, managed by Ó Sé's former Kerry team-mate John Kennedy, outclassed the Leinster men and would have won by a greater margin but for some poor shooting in the first half.

As it was they led by 0-6 to 0-2 at the break. with their defence allowing the Westmeath attack few clear-cut scoring chances.

Stephen Hickey was guilty of squandering goal chances on two occasions in that opening half. He hit the Westmeath upright with a shot after five minutes and in the 22nd minute he blazed wide from close range.

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Yet these misses failed to unnerve a determined outfit intent on making amends for a poor showing against Cork in the Munster semi-final.

From the restart they increased their lead with a good score from wing back Alan Clohessy and then Westmeath rallied somewhat.

Three points in as many minutes, two by Denis Glennon from frees and an Alan Mangan effort from play, marked probably their most productive period of the game.

The midland side's cause was not helped by the sending off of David O'Shaughnessy for a second yellow card on 61 minutes, and Clare struck back with points from Odran O'Dwyer and Rory Donnelly to remain in command.

Kennedy's men kept plugging away and even though their goalkeeper, Dermot O'Brien, had to come to their rescue late in the game, stopping what looked a certain goal by Westmeath's Alan Mangan, they deservedly advanced to the next round.

CLARE: D O'Brien; P Gallagher, D Kelly, G Tubridy; A Clohessy (0-1), K Dilleen, D Callinan; G Quinlan (0-1), David Russell (Kilkee, 0-1); E Coughlan (0-2), S Daniels, P O'Dwyer (0-1); O O'Dwyer (0-3, two frees), S Hickey, R Donnelly (0-3, two frees). Subs: M O'Shea for Daniels (15 mins), M O'Connell for Callinan (inj, 38 mins),

WESTMEATH: G Connaughton; J McAteer, D O'Donoghue, J Keane; M Ennis, D Healy, T Mulvihill (0-1); C Galligan, D O'Shaughnessy; F Wilson (0-1), D Heavin, J Fallon; David Glennon (0-2), Denis Glennon (0-3, frees), A Mangan (0-2). Subs: D Duffy for McAteer (27 mins), R O'Connell for Fallon (49 mins), D Kilmartin for Duffy (49 mins), D Gavin for Galligan (56 mins), D Martin for Heavin (inj, 69 mins).

Referee: F Flynn (Leitrim).