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Donegal League 1 - Clare League 1at Killgordon, Donegal (Oscar Traynor Cup)
 IT’S a long way from Clare to there, but at the end of a mammoth day on and off the field hopes still remain high that the county’s flagship team can reach the quarter-final stages of this 26-county inter-league showpiece competition.
All thanks to the Clare League’s thoroughly deserved draw from their maiden voyage in this year’s Oscar Traynor Cup, a competition they won memorably back in 2004 in Ballycasey on what was a famous day for the game in the county.
That hope still floats for the 2008/2009 competition is down to Jimmy Houlihan’s super-sub role – the Bunratty player was sprung from the bench with 25 minutes remaining of this game and then struck for the equalizing goal ten minutes from time.
It was the very least Clare deserved from their travels. They dominated much of the first half of this tight encounter, even though the first opportunity to open the scoring fell to the home side.
It was down to what proved to be a rare mistake in the Clare defence, something that coughed up a great chance for centre-forward Paul Colhoun, but when facing down Clare keeper Pierce Deloughrey he fired over from six yards.
This early shock seemed to galvinise Clare and from there until the latter stages of the first half they were the dominant team, albeit that they failed to press home their advantage and take the lead.
After 15 minutes Peter Ballough sent Evan Glynn through on goal but just as he was about to pull the trigger the flag went up for offside. Five minutes later Scott Hennessy flashed a shot from outside the area against the crossbar. Then in the 23rd minute the failure of Donegal keeper Denis Sheridan to cope with a Clare corner saw the ball fall to David Russell in the area, whose well struck shot was scrambled to safety off the goal line by Ciaran McFadden.
Before half-time Donegal had two great chances to take the lead. First Colhoun shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box and moments later Paddy Peoples rattled the crossbar after intercepting a pass from Eoin Fitzgerald.
Clare should have opened the scoring in the 50th minute when Shane O’Connor was one-on-one with Sheridan in the Donegal goal. Sheridan came off better though when making a smart save and ten minutes later Clare were left to rue their profligacy.
Donegal took the lead in controversial circumstances. Russell and goalkeeper Pierce DeLoughery both looked to be fouled when attempting to clear a cross from the left, but when Liam Porter waved play on, Paddy Peoples was left with the simple task of rolling home the opening goal.
It was soon afterwards that Clare decided to give Jimmy Houlihan his chance, but Clare’s chances of getting something from the game looked to have taken a hammer blow when inspirational captain David Russell was forced off with a head injury.
However, in adversity Clare showed their mettle when they dominated the closing 20 minutes. The breakthrough came in the 80th minute when Houlihan ran on to a pass from Evan Glynn 40 yards from goal, showed the Donegal defence a clean pair of heels and raced through to score with a well placed finish to the bottom right corner.
It should have got better for Clare – with four minutes remaining substitute Lunga Ballman made an instant impact when with his first touch he forced Sheridan into a great save. Then in the 87th minute he had a penalty claim, while in the last minute he headed over the bar from Peter Ballough’s cross.
A victory at home to the Roscommon League on December 5 will secure Clare’s quarter-final berth.
Clare
Pierce DeLoughrey (Rineanna Rovers), Liam Murphy (Newmarket Celtic), David Russell (Avenue Utd) Eoin Fitzgerald (Kilrush Rangers) Derek Byrne (Bunratty), Con Collins (Bunratty) Peter Ballough (Bunratty), Mike O’Malley (Newmarket Celtic), Scott Hennessy (Lifford), Evan Glynn (Bunratty), Shane O’Connor (Bunratty) Subs Jimmy Houlihan (Newmarket Celtic) for O’Connor, Ally McMillan (Rineanna Rovers) for Russell (inj) Lunga Ballman (Lifford) for Hennessy. Unused Subs John Keane (Corofin Harps), Trevor Clancy (Kilrush Rangers), Davy Ryan (Newmarket Celtic), John Healy (Avenue Utd)
Donegal
Denis Sheridan, Paudie Curley, Eugene Maguire, Dermot Shiels, Ciaran McFadden, Paddy Peoples, James O’Donnell, Kevin Mulhern, Paul Colhoun, Chris Bradley, Aidan Friel.
Man of the Match
David Russell (Clare League)
Referee
Liam Porter
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