Joe Carroll: A free that wasn’t gives Clare a vital league win

It could have been a free in for Louth. Or was it just a clash for a 50-50 ball in which no foul was committed? One thing it wasn’t, was a free out for Clare.

As last Sunday’s National League Division Two tie at Cusack Park, Ennis, drew to a close, Louth’s Conor Grimes tussled for the ball with a defender and was knocked to the ground.

Was he fouled, or did he come off on equal terms with the defender? Had it been the former, a free would have been awarded to Louth and because it would be well within his range, you’d have to fancy Sam Murloy knocking it over to put his side one point ahead.

Referee, Sean Lonergan, saw it totally different than the vast majority of Louth supporters. The Tipperary official deemed the Clare player to have been fouled, and awarded a free out.

The ball was swept down the field, and the move ended with Jamie Malone knocking the ball over, giving the home side a 0-13 to 1-9 win.

By now the clock showed that we were in the 7th minute of time added on, one more than had been indicated as regulation time drew to a close. The winning point, however, wasn’t the only one Louth had conceded in additional time.

There were three others, and when questions are asked in the Louth camp why this crucial first round match didn’t yield the desired result, most will have to focus on why this was allowed to happen. The kick-out strategy will also have to be examined.

A game that looked odds-on to finish level for long stretches of the second half turned markedly in Louth’s favour when Ciaran Downey claimed the only goal of the game well inside the final quarter.

This was the product of a simple but very effective move, Louth taking the most direct route to the Clare goals.

Winning possession from a kick out from Declan Byrne’s goals, one of only a few to go Louth’s way in the second half, Conor Grimes took advantage of the Clare defence concentrating more on setting up attacks than defending to send an inch-perfect pass to the well-placed Ciaran Downey.

The Newtown Blues clubman had an acre of space in front of him, and when left with only David Sexton to beat, angled a beautiful shot to the net to make it 1-8 to 0-9. When Sam Mulroy quickly added a point from play, the big travelling party found their loudest voices.

By now the fourth official had told us there were six minutes extra to be played. A time, perhaps, for Louth to close shop? But if a chance arises take it. One did, and, really, it should have produced another goal, or at least a point.

Mulroy found himself on the edge of the square and could have taken a poke, or maybe box the ball over the bar. But he chose instead to play the well-placed Dan Corcoran to his right.

The Geraldines player’s shot was strong, but a Clare defender was equal to it, making a tremendous block.

What happened in added time was in complete contrast to the rest of the half. Playing with the assistance of a strengthening breeze, Clare couldn’t buy a point as they tried to overcome Louth’s 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead.

The Banner kicked them wide from all angles, ten great chances going a-begging. But they were able to stay in touch as Louth struggled to add to their half-time tally.

The visitors had a change of fortune, the goal a tremendous fillip. But so also did Clare. Every time they took a shot at goal a point resulted, and by far the most important – and controversial – was the one that decided the game.

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This was a four-pointer, the opinion being that both sides along with Limerick would have most to do to avoid relegation from what is certain to be a hugely competitive division.

Now that it went against them, Louth must come up with a few major performances, starting at Ardee tomorrow afternoon.

What needs to be sorted out going into the clash with Derry is the kick-outs. Declan Byrne shipped a lot of criticism on Sunday for sending most of his efforts into a midfield area dominated by Clare in the second half. But how much was the goalie helped by the lack of movement among those on the flanks?