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When it comes to county finals, Kilmurry Ibrickane is unrivaled. They may have been beaten in the 2019 final by the neighbors of St Joseph’s Miltown, but confirmation that this was just a problem came Saturday night when the West Clare giants claimed a seventh senior title since 2008.
They did it thanks to a performance at the top with the characteristics of a team used to winning big games: they were tight on defense and when it came to the crisis they had the advantage in quality up front to ensure Cratloe was on the receiving end. in another senior decision maker.
Having lost the hurling finals in 2018 and ’19, this was the dreaded hat-trick in as many years as the ‘Bricks’ purple patch on either side of the first water break as they hit their opponents 1-6 0-2. provided the basis for victory.
“The goal was the big moment,” admitted winning coach Aiden Moloney, “because it gave us the platform to keep going. We were the best team overall, even though we let things slip away near the end. ”
Cornerback Mark Killeen scored the goal in the ninth minute, after which Keelan Sexton, Ciaran Morrissey and Noel Downes scored good points as soon-to-be 16-time champions began to dominate.
Cratloe had started brilliantly with points from Conal O’Hanlon, Podge Collins and Diarmuid Ryan, but after trailing 1-6-0-5 at halftime it wasn’t until the fourth quarter that they really woke up.
The game was overlooked as the ‘Bricks moved 1-9 to 0-6 in the 40th minute when two more Sexton points and another from Andrew Shannon confirmed their dominance, but Cratloe appeared to have grabbed a lifeline in the 44th minute when O’ Hanlon released an installment of Cathal McInerney to the network.
However, it was controversially overruled by referee Niall Quinn, a decision that ultimately prompted Cratloe to spring into action, as points from McInerney, Sean Collins and two free ones from O’Hanlon returned the margin to just two points with ten minutes remaining.
Briefly, it looked like Colm Collins ‘team could produce a great escape to victory, but the’ Bricks weren’t about to wither as a double from young Daniel Walsh and another from Captain Michael Hogan gave them the cushion to withstand another Cratloe attack in the death.
“It’s amazing, some of these guys now have nine high-level medals,” Moloney said later. “We will talk about these guys for a long time. And they are not done yet. They will look for ten next year. ”
K Sexton (0-5, 2f), M Killeen (1-0), N Downes (0-2), D Walsh (0-2), C Morrissey (0-1), A Shannon (0-1), M Hogan (0-1).
C McInerney (0-4f), CO ‘Hanlon (0-3f), P Collins (0-2), D Ryan (0-1), L Markham (0-1), S Collins (0-1).
D Sexton, S Hickey, M Killeen, D Hickey, D King, C Morrissey, D Sexton, D Walsh, A McCarthy, M Hogan (Captain), D Coughlan, A Shannon, K Sexton, N Downes, M McMahon.
D Callinan for Downes (48), E Coughlan for Hogan (53), M O’Dwyer for D Coughlan (56).
P DeLoughrey, S Chaplin, M Brennan, D Collins, M Murphy, S Collins, L Markham, S Gleeson, D Ryan, S Neville, P Collins (Captain), C O’Hanlon, C McInerney, C McGrath, R Considine.
E Boyce for Chaplin (rest), B Sheehan for Considine (40), K Phair for Neville (40).
N Quinn (Miltown de San José)
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