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All-Ireland Minor Final
Clare 2-22 Galway 4-11
At Semple Stadium, Thurles
A stunning third quarter paved the way for a glorious afternoon for Clare hurling as the All-Ireland minor title was claimed for only the second time in the county’s history on the back of a famous five-point victory, writes Joe Ó Muircheartaigh.
This was when a rampant Banner side breached the Galway goal on two occasions and turned what was a one-point interval lead into a convincing 2-16 to 2-8 advantage that had Galway reeling, on the ropes, and on their way out.
The Tribesmen had laid waste all opponents on the way to the decider, but in Clare they met their match as Ogie Fanning’s goal inside a minute of the restart put a fire under them that ultimately burned Galway’s challenge.
The second came via a James Hegarty free that was fumbled to the net by the keeper on 36 minutes and from there it was just about holding their nerve.
They did that, just as they had in the first half after being for two sucker-punch goals – they didn’t blink with the resolve they showed when battling back on both occasions serving notice that they weren’t going to go the way of the Tribesmen’s previous opponents.
The first came as early as the third minute when a long free from Aaron Niland was fetched on the edge of the square by Jason Rabbite and dispatched to the net.
Clare had opened the scoring through a Michael Collins and they led again after 12 minutes when their first rally yielded points from Evan Price, Collins and a Marc O’Brien brace, while restricting the favourites to just an Aaron Niland free.
However, they had to do it all over again when a second Galway goal came in the 12th minute after Cullen Killeen ripped through the Clare defence to hammer to the net.
That Clare didn’t blink was showed in the way they largely dominated the remained of the half, as O’Brien’s accuracy from frees, as well as good points from play by Sean Arthur (2), Ogie Fanning and Eoin Begley put Galway on the back foot.
Indeed, it wasn’t until the 26th minute that they got their first point from play that levelled matters before O’Brien’s fifth of the half edged Clare into a thoroughly deserved 0-12 to 2-5 interval lead.
And with the wind to come, it seemed as if Clare’s just had to nullify the goal threat – they did more than that when grabbing their own brace, which meant that Galway were going for goals long before the end.
Harry Holmes’ wonder strike did come for Galway with four minutes remaining, but the manner in which Clare responded with points by O’Brien (2), Eoin Carey before another strike at the death from Cullen Killeen deep injury time was just a consolation.
It was Clare’s day and a famous triumph as the Irish Press Cup crossed the Shannon into the Banner County for the first time since 1997.
Scorers for Clare: Mark O’Brien (0-7, 5f), James Hegarty (1-2f), Ogie Fanning (1-1), Michael Collins (0-3), Sean Arthur (0-2), Evan Price (0-1), Eoin Begley (0-1), Fred Hegarty (0-1), Jack Mescal (0-1), Harry Doherty (0-1), Eoin Carey (0-1), Michael Power (0-1).
Scorers for Galway: Aaron Niland (0-7, 6f), Jason Rabitte (1-1), Cullen Killeen (1-1), Harry Holmes (1-0), Michael Burke (0-1), Michael Fallon (0-1).
Clare: Mark Sheedy (Sixmilebridge); Eoghan Gunning (Broadford), Ronan Keane (Killanena), Conor Rynne (Inagh-Kilnamona); Jamie Moylan (Cratloe), James Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona), Evan Price (Clarecastle); Matthew O’Halloran (Broadford), Jack Mescal (Inagh-Kilnamona); Sean Arthur (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Michael Collins (Clonlara), Ronan Kilroy (The Banner); Ogie Fanning (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Marc O’Brien (Cratloe), Eoin Begley (Clonlara). Subs: Fred Hegarty (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Keane (Half-Time), Michael Power (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Begley (38), Harry Doherty (Clarecastle) for Fanning (51), Eoin Carey (Cratloe) for Mescal (52), Emmet Mulcahy (Tulla) for Kilroy (63)
Galway: Shane Murray (Kilconieron); Thomas Blake (Oranmore/Maree), Sean Murphy (Clarinbridge), Gearoid King (Castlegar); Dylan Quirke (Athenry), Donnacha Campbell (Cappataggle), Ed O’Reilly (Liam Mellows); Aaron Niland (Clarinbridge), Michael Burke (Skehana/ Mountbellew-Moylough); Colm Burke (Oranmore/Maree), Cullen Killeen (Loughrea), Conor Gilligan (Craughwell), Brian Callanan (Ardrahan), Jason Rabbitte (Athenry), Darragh Counihan (Clarinbridge). Subs: Michael Fallon (Clarinbridge) for (Half-Time), Stephen Keane (Sarsfields) for O’Reilly (38), Harry Holmes (Ballygar) for Colm Burke (38)
Referee: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)
