Bonfires blazed across North Clare on Tuesday evening, after Ennistymon CBS made history by capturing a first-ever hurling title for the school.
A comprehensive 2-15 to 0-2 win over Mercy Mounthawk from Tralee saw the North Clare team capture the senior D crown and Corn Sean Uí hAnragain trophy at Neville Park in Rathkeale.
Following a thrilling one-point win over Crescent Comprehensive in the semi-final, the North Clare outfit travelled to the Limerick venue on Tuesday as favourites. They were well on their way to making history at half-time, when they held a 1-7 to 0-2 lead, after playing against the wind.
With Jason McCarthy in sparkling form at centre-forward and control held at midfield, thanks to the efforts of Simon Ralph and Keelan Sexton, the Tara Rynne-managed side dictated matters from the start.
The winners took the lead in the second minute when Sean Garrihy pointed and they followed with a brace from Jason McCarthy (one from a free) to lead by three after just six minutes. A minute later, McCarthy broke through the middle and passed to his brother, Aidan, who found the net.
Jason McCarthy added a point and the winners were 1-4 to 0-0 in front after 10 minutes. The writing was on the wall for the Kerry side, 12 of whose starting line-up came from St Brendan’s in Ardfert. They had to wait until the 17th minute for their opening score, an Eoin Lee free. Lee also scored their other point, also from a free, on the stroke of half-time, when it was 1-7 to 0-2.
The winners lost corner-back Eoin Leydon to injury at the start of the second half but they took up where they had left off and Jason McCarthy converted a free three minutes in.
When an Adam Ralph effort was stopped five minutes later, Jason McCarthy was on hand to crash the rebound to the net and he quickly followed with a point, to stretch his side’s lead to 13 (2-7 to 0-3). Another McCarthy effort made it 2-10 to 0-2 at the three-quarter stage.
Four points in as many minutes followed, as Ennistymon continued to dominate, with the final score from Simon Ralph.
Conor O’Loughlin, Adam and Simon Ralph, Keelan Sexton and the impressive McCarthy brothers, Jason and Aidan, were outstanding. Munster GAA Council chairman, Robert Frost, was in attendance to present the cup to Jason McCarthy.
Ennistymon CBS: Derek McInerney (Ennistymon); Eoin Leyden (Inagh-Kilnamona), Conor O’Loughlin (Corofin), Darren Nagle (Liscannor); Cathal Frawley (Ennistymon), Adam Ralph (Ennistymon), Keith White (Inagh-Kilnamona); Simon Ralph 0-1 (Ennistymon), Keelan Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane); Sean Garrihy 0-1 (Ennistymon), Jason McCarthy 1-9 (Inagh-Kilnamona), Damian O’Loughlin 0-1 (Corofin); Dioraing McNamara 0-1 (St Breckan’s), Michael Davenport (Ennistymon), Aidan McCarthy 1-2 (Inagh-Kilnamona).
Subs: Cian O’Flaherty (St Breckan’s) for Leyden (inj); Darren Cullinan (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Garrihy (inj); Thomas Barry (Inagh-Kilnamona) for McNamara; Conor O’Donoghue (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) for Nagle; Colm Shannon (Inagh-Kilnamona) for White.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.