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Claremen help Kilburn Gaels to first London title


There was a strong Clare involvement with newly crowned London senior hurling champions Kilburn Gaels, who beat Seán Treacy’s to win the title for the first time on Sunday.
Clooney-Quin man Noel Harrison was the team trainer and a selector and also in the selection committee is Brendan O’Connor from Kilmaley.
Ogonnelloe’s Brian Forde captained the team from corner-back while his brother, Colm, was at centre-back. Clonlara’s Phil Fennessy played at wing-back while former Clare player John Reddan, captain of the Banner county’s All-Ireland minor winning team from 1997, lined out at centre-forward and scored 1-3 from play in the team’s 3-11 to 0-7 success.
Former Clare hurler Mickey Burke from Whitegate was one of the founders of the club, which was set up in 1996. They contested the London final in 2006 when they were trained by Clooney-Quin and Clare hurler Fergal Lynch, who was attending college in London at the time. In the final that year, they lost to Robert Emmett’s.
Emmett’s went on to compete in the All-Ireland intermediate club championship and, ironically, beat the then Clare and Munster champions, Clooney-Quin, in the All-Ireland semi-final.
This is team trainer Noel Harrison’s second season involved with the team.
The Forde brothers had two first cousins in the side, Cathal and Niall Forde from Gort. Cathal played at corner-back with Niall, a former Galway minor, at midfield.
Selector Brendan O’Connor’s son, Rory, who is London born, played at corner-forward in Sunday’s final, which took place at Ruislip.
“We will compete in the All-Ireland intermediate club championship and our semi-final opponents later this year will be the Leinster champions,” a delighted Noel Harrison said.

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