‘Bridge dynasty bids to conquer Feakle fairytale

Clare Senior Hurling Championship Final
Feakle v Sixmilebridge at Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 3pm (Joe Mullins, Clonlara)

While it’s the first time that this proud clubs have met each other in a senior decider, their contrasting experience of finals does provide one of the main backdrops to the outcome to the latest winners of the Canon Hamilton.
After all, the ‘Bridge backed by over half the side that captured five senior titles in eight years up to 2020, are old hands at competing for senior honours and possess the necessary winning know-how and experience to be able to take things in their stride and play to their potential.
That guile was noteworthy against both Clonlara and Inagh-Kilnamona in that while they didn’t dominate those ties, they were always within striking difference and managed to step things up when required most to get the job done.
That’s the main fear for Feakle supporters really in their fairytale return to a first county senior final in 36 years. Yes, they played in U-21A finals and even a County and Munster Intermediate decider in 2018 but a senior decider is unlike any other and there’s really nowhere to hide on this lofty stage.
After failing to bring their goggles and swimming hat for the 2011 final, the ‘Bridge have been ruthlessly efficient in finals ever since, toppling five different opponents in Newmarket, Clonlara, Clooney-Quin, Cratloe and O’Callaghan’s Mills, four of which were contesting their first final in at least five years and in the case of Clooney-Quin and O’Callaghan’s Mills considerably longer.
Of course, Clooney-Quin came closest to toppling that enviable record but the ‘Bridge’s never-say-die attitude meant that they could finish the job and would be sunk in the replay.
Feakle will be determined to make the most of their long-awaited return and in truth, they possess the most powerful team and the best player in Shane McGrath who has fired a remarkable 2-55 in five matches, 2-23 of which has stemmed from play.
However, the use of Seadna Morey as their chief shadower has proven transformational for Sixmilebridge in the knock-out stages, having curbed fellow Clare stars Ian Galvin and Aidan McCarthy while previously doing likewise to Shane O’Donnell in the 2022 semi-final.
Outside of Adam Hogan, Morey is the best man-marker in the county and therefore Feakle, while hoping to McGrath to be at his elusive scoring best, will require others to really step up in the scoring stakes.
Captain Oisin Donnellan (0-9), Martin Daly (2-3) and the O’Connor brothers Ronan (0-9) and Oisin (1-6) have all chipped in with nine points each but that two point average won’t be sufficient if Shane McGrath is curtailed.
In contrast, it will be harder for Adam Hogan to hone in on one specific victim as the ‘Bridge’s threat is far more varied.
Brian Corry has stood out from the pack with 17 points but concentrate on him and Alex Morey (2-8), David Kennedy (1-6), Lorcan Fitzpatrick (0-6), Shane Golden (0-4) and captain Jamie Shanahan (1-9) can exploit those gaps.
Indeed, playmaker Shanahan is Sixmilebridge’s lynchpin as he roams deep from his centre-forward berth, not unlike Shane McGrath and sprays passes to his inside line.
Don’t rule out Shanahan being switched to the edge of the square either as the ‘Bridge look to shake things up and that is another major factor as it has been their in-game switches and alterations that have allowed them to solve problems themselves.
The players’ experience allied to a meticulous gameplan have been crucial factors in tight matches. Add in a clean bill of health for the ‘Bridge’s ageing core in contrast to a worrying knee injury for Evan McMahon which Feakle can ill afford and the parameters have switched even more in the last two weeks.
Indeed, while this reporter has predicted Feakle in all five matches to date, there has been such a bank of evidence in Sixmilebridge’s pros column over the past few matches that it’s hard to sustain that pronouncement record.
So while the romantic choice and arguably the neutral’s hopes rest on a fairytale Feakle finish, the more bankable options rests on a sixth Canon Hamilton trophy in 14 seasons going back to the familiar surroundings of O’Garney Park.

Verdict: Sixmilebridge