Crusheen retain title in the mud

Inspired by a magnificent defence, Crusheen retained the Clare Senior Hurling Championship against Sixmilebridge at rain soaked Cusack Park on Sunday.
Given the atrocious conditions, it is not surprising that there was much debate afterwards as to whether or not the game should have been allowed to go ahead.
While there could have been few complaints had the match been called off, it would be unfair to suggest the conditions favoured Crusheen, who fully deserved their victory.
The ground had been inspected on a number of occasions on Sunday morning and, as a precaution, the intermediate final which was the scheduled curtain raiser, was switched to Clarecastle.
The defending champions were the hungrier and more committed outfit throughout. It was evident from the moment the they sprinted onto the field that they were in determined mood and their focus remained clear throughout the afternoon as they fought for every ball as if their lives depended on winning possession.
Many tributes have been paid to the champions’ defence throughout the campaign and this unit sparkled again on Sunday.
While the half-back trio and centre-back Cian Dillon – who was named man of the match –  were the launch pad for this latest success, credit must also go to the full-back trio and to goalkeeper, Donal Tuohy, all of whom excelled.
It’s an indication of their superiority that a fancied Sixmilebridge side could only manage two scores from play.
A tally of ten points may not be seen as a huge score in hurling but, given the weather conditions, it was a particularly impressive feat by the Crusheen forwards.
Sunday’s victory makes Crusheen the first club in 11 years to retain the Canon Hamilton Trophy.
They went into the game with an unchanged team from the semi-final win over Kilmaley, while Sixmilebridge had two changes in personnel and some positional changes from their semi-final victory over Cratloe.
Fit again, Derek Fahy resumed goalkeeping duties and was one of his side’s better players on the day. Davy Fitzgerald, who came out of retirement to fill in for the injured Fahy in the semi-final, was amongst the substitutes. Tony Carmody lined-out at midfield in place of Pa Sheehan.
The holders took the lead in the fourth minute when Jamie Fitzgibbon pointed and they had added a second through midfielder Pat Vaughan before Sixmilebridge got off the mark in the twelfth minute. Jamie Fitzgibbon and Danny Morey exchanged points before the challengers were presented with a great chance to hit the front when they were awarded a penalty. However, team captain, Niall Gilligan, who was ruled to have been fouled, saw his effort go over the bar to tie the game 0-3 each. The winners hit back quickly with a Gearóid O’Donnell effort and led 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time.
In the opening minute of the second half, Donal Tuohy made a good stop from Niall Gilligan. The second half was 10 minutes old before the first score came but Gearóid O’Donnell’s point, his second of the game, sparked off a great spell for Crusheen, which saw them hit five points in as many minutes to lead 0-9 to 0-3 entering the final quarter.
In an effort to break the winner’s dominance, the ’Bridge shuffled their players and positions again, making three changes but the alterations failed to break Crusheen’s grip on proceedings, particularly the dominance of their back line.
The game was in its final minute when Niall Gilligan had his side’s only score of the half but it came far too late to prevent Crusheen from taking home the Canon Hamilton Trophy for the second year in a row.
The Dillon and Brigdale brothers, Ciaran O’Doherty, Pat Vaughan, Gearóid O’Donnell and Jamie Fitzgibbon were prominent throughout for the returned title holders, who will travel to play first time Cork winners, Carrigtwohill in the Munster semi-final on November 13.
Aidan Quilligan, Tadhg Keogh, Derek Fahy and Niall Gilligan did best for Sixmile-bridge.