Cooney’s Family Fortunes Coming To The Fore In Clare SHC Final

Eoin Brennan

There was never any doubt that Gary Cooney would follow in his father’s footsteps in the famed O’Callaghan’s Mills senior jersey.

Along with elder sibling Ciaran, the Cooney brothers have provided a new injection of talent to an already experienced core, just as their father Donal did when embarking on his first county final in Carron in 1986.

County decider reverses to Clarecastle (1986), Éire Óg (1990) and Sixmilebridge (1993) could never be solaced by a handful of Clare Cup crowns as despite being perennial contenders, Donal Cooney and Co. were unable to emulate the club heroes of the 1930’s or even stop the ‘Bridge from securing back-to-back crowns for the first time in their history.

27 years on and history repeats itself once more as their near neighbours are looking to retain their title once more against the Mills, with Donal Cooney now a selector and his sons proving instrumental cogs on the team.

However, while the circumstances are uncannily similar, county senior Gary is hoping that at least the result might be different this time around.

“He [father] often talks about those finals alright. By the sounds of it they were probably unlucky in some of them but It was well before my time anyway and as a group, we haven’t dwelled on history.

“Particularly this year with all that has happened, we have only tended to focus on the game ahead and it has worked so far so there’s no reason to change that approach for the final.

“And being a first final for me and all the players in fact, it’s something you’d have to be looking forward to. I mean 1993 was the last final the club was in so I’m just cherishing every minute of it.”

It’s not the only first for the Mills as far from the almost 7,000 hardy souls that braved the inclement weather to travel to Cusack Park on the last Sunday of September 27 years previously, there won’t even be 5% of that attendance back in Ennis this Sunday due to the COVID-19 restrictions that have taken a bit of getting used to according to last year’s Clare U- 20 captain.

“It’s new territory for us all round really. I’ve played in big games for the county minors, Under 21’s and seniors but this year is kind of different with no crowds in Cusack Park. At times, it can feel like a challenge game with no great atmosphere there but you get used to that as well. You block that out and concentrate on your own game and that’s what you’ve got to do.

“We’ve become accustomed to not having many supporters there now and the subs would be shouting and encouraging you on anyway so that shouldn’t be any issue.”

The sun has certainly shone on O’Callaghan’s Mills’ star-aligning journey to the final but Gary Cooney is only too happy to see opponents Sixmilebridge assume the strong favourite’s tag for Sunday’s derby showdown.

“We’re used to the underdogs tag now and that won’t change for the final as the ‘Bridge are deservedly favourites so hopefully we can go out and perform as we’ve done in every game so far.

“The ‘Bridge are just a very good team. They’re going for back-to-back titles, they’ve been there, have plenty of experience and know what it’s like to win a final so it will be a very tough challenge but we’re looking forward to it.

“We’re kind of a small club but this team has been together for a long time. We’ve had one or two new players in this year like Cormac Murphy but I would have hurled with him up along at underage so we all know each other and get on very well and do most things together so I think that shows on the field too.

“Look, at the end of the day, finals don’t come around every year, especially for us anyway so hopefully we can take that opportunity on Sunday.”

And finally break that senior hoodoo that has already amounted to six final defeats since the Fireballs’ last title in 1937.