Highly rated Sallins pushed hard before getting away from fired up Clara

IF you were to take the extent of the favouritism of Sallins at face value, then Clara may have been as well off heading to Newbridge on a shopping expedition rather than for a game of football but they were of course reading from a very different script for this Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship semi-final opener – giving a really good account of themselves until the closing quarter when Sallins got away for a convincing win.

Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship semi-final

Sallins (Kildare) 2-18

Clara 1-12

The Kildare intermediate champions were red hot favourites. They had waltzed to the Kildare title and continued their blistering form in the opening two rounds of this competition. With a former Offaly minor football manager and Ferbane exile in Kildare, George Digan among their management, Sallins were unbeatable in the books of many observers and it was certainly strange to see Clara written off to such an extent.

That was down to the esteem in which Sallins are held but Clara certainly deserved more respect and were in an ideal position in many ways. The Offaly senior B champions should hold their own in the top flight next year and as expected, they put their best foot forward here, with a calm and focused display but going for everything with real intent.

It was as close to a free shot as you will ever get in football with very few repercussions for a Clara loss. They would of course have loved to have extended their season into December but their season's work had been done with promotion back to the top flight in Offaly and this was very much bonus territory.

They gave it their best shot, asking serious questions of Sallins for three quarters of the game before the home side finally clicked into top gear and showed why they had such a fine reputation. And as defeats go, this was a very acceptable one for Clara. They in no way lay down, gave what they had and they won't spend much time pondering on this one.

It would be wrong to over dress the Clara display with platitudes. A nine point defeat is still a big one and they were out of contention a long time before the final whistle but they still gave Sallins possibly their toughest test of the year.

Clara certainly showed their worth in the first half, making the Sallins' hype look very overblown. There was absolutely nothing in the first half to justify Sallins being such warm favourites and Clara fully deserved their 0-9 to 0-8 half time lead.

They were 0-4 to 0-2 down after 15 minutes but led by 0-6 to 0-4 just four minutes later with an excellent Conor Doyle two pointer a big help. With Marcas Dalton and Carl Stewart also raiding forward for points, four of Clara's first six points came from their half back line. The other two came from Thomas Deehan, the first when he gathered the break after Matthew Farrelly saved very well from Graham Guilfoyle,

Crucially, Clara were holding their own at midfield and a two point free from Josh Fleming put them 0-8 to 0-6 in front in the 22^nd minute. Sallins levelled it with points from Colm Dalton and Stephen Kelly put a Cormac Delaney '45' after he drew a great save from Farrelly gave the visitors that half time lead.

With whatever wind that was in it favouring Sallins in the second half, we wondered if Clara would be able to sustain the pressure or would they run out of legs.

Both questions were answered negatively for Clara in the second half but not before they had the Sallins support wondering if their season was going to end suddenly.

A 34^th minute Ed Cullen goal brought the Clara supporters to their feet. Conor Doyle was brilliant in the build up, turning down an easy point and setting up Cullen for a goal that gave them a 1-9 to 0-9 lead.

Conor Delaney's point made it 1-10 to 0-11 in the 41^st minute but by the time Clara's next point was scored by Josh Fleming from a free in the 57^th minute, the game was way out of reach.

Sallins were sensational for fifteen minutes, scoring 2-5 without reply and running Clara ragged. Clara's legs went and they just couldn't get their hands on the ball. A great passing movement ended with James Dalton slotting to the net to give Sallins a 1-12 to 1-10 lead in the 45^th minute. They added four points and Clara knew the game was up before a super Stephen Kelly goal in the 55^th minute killed them off.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Daragh Mangan (Sallins): Daragh Mangan is the choice after a very impressive display at midfield for Sallins. He fielded a lot of good ball, moved very well and worked hard. He was excellent for Sallins' second goal and his usage of the ball commanded complete respect.

Clara can be pleased with the way they performed and there was no shame in defeat. Conor Doyle was their best player, turning in another tour-de-force in defence while Christian McDeon, Ed Cullen, Cormac Delaney and Thomas Deehan impressed at different times.

THE SCORERS

Sallins: Cian Grimes 0-6 (4f), James Dalton and Stephen Kelly (1f) 1-2 each, Colm Dalton 0-3, Luke Killian 0-2, Luke Kelly, Eoin McConnon, Sean McDonnell 0-1 each.

Clara: Ed Cullen 1-0, Josh Fleming 0-3 (1 x 2pf, 1f), Cormac Delaney (1 '45'), Thomas Deehan and Conor Doyle (2p) 0-2 each, Marcas Dalton, Carl Stewart, Jack Reynolds 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

CLARA: Adam Scanlon; Ryan Carroll, Christian McKeon, Darragh McKeon; Conor Doyle, Marcas Dalton, Carl Stewart; Ed Cullen, Graham Guilfoyle; Cormac Delaney, Adam Kelly, Myles Handy; Barry Egan, Josh Fleming, Thomas Deehan. Subs – Jack Reynolds for Barry Egan (44m), David Falsey for Deehan (50m), Alan Gavin for Carroll (54m), Ben Loughran for Delaney (57m)

SALLINS: Matthew Farrelly; Ruari O'Domhnaill, Mark Moynihan, Sean O'Domhnaill; Luke Kelly, Eoin McConnon, Glen McEvoy; Daragh Mangan, Paul Farrelly; Cian Grimes, Colm Dalton, Luke Killian; Stephen Kelly, Emmet Ralph, James Dalton. Subs – Alan Marshall for Ralph (39m), Aaron Carney for Moynihan (53m)., Sean Conway for Kelly (57m), Kevin Foley for Grimes (60m), Sean McDonnell for James Dalton (60m).

Referee – James Foley, Carlow.

REFEREE WATCH

James Foley had a good game. One Sallins point in the first half came when he didn't stop play for what looked a head injury to Conor Doyle but there were not many questionable decisions and he was not a factor in the result.

There may have seemed an imbalance in the cards dished out with Clara getting five yellows but none of those players could complain, even if Sallins could have picked up a couple more.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Sallins' first goal from James Dalton in the 45^th minute gave them a 1-12 to 1-10 lead and changed the whole trajectory of the game,.

VENUE WATCH

The Newbridge pitch had a very short cut of grass and it looked a bit ropey and patchy – a big Leinster club senior football clash between Athy and Portarlington had taken place there on Saturday. Once again, Kildare were perfect hosts and the fixture was well managed.

WHAT'S NEXT

Sallins go into the final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Clara – 3 (2 in first half); Sallins - 3 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Clara – 5 (Marcas Dalton, Christian McKeon, Thomas Deehan, Barry Egan, Conor Doyle); Sallins – 1 (Daragh Mangan).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0