Senior Football Championship Final

Cratloe 1-10 St Breckan’s 1-8

It was the perfect conclusion to a remarkable renaissance as Cratloe bridged a nine year gap to claim their third Clare Senior Football crown in eleven years in Cusack Park, writes Eoin Brennan. 

Despite being seen as an aging side, it was that added sprinkling of experience that eventually told in this seesaw decider as they never trailed at any stage and took their goal opportunity perfectly to finally put daylight between the sides as they wound down the clock before finally hearing the relieving sound of the fine whistle.

Six of the first eight points, three from chief marksman Cathal McInerney ensured a healthy 0-6 to 0-2 cushion by the 23rd minute. St Breckan’s only first half scorer Jamie Stack did halve the damage by the break at 0-6 to 0-4 while Joe McGann took up the scoring mantle on the restart with two excellent levelling points by the 33rd minute.

Rowan Danaher somehow cleared a Podge Collins shot off the line while David Collins dispossessed the raiding McGann as he was about to pull the trigger.

However, after Cathal McInerney converted a 42nd minute free, the game turned decisively as McInerney intercepted a kick-out to instinctively lob goalkeeper Mark O’Donnell and catapult Cratloe 1-8 to 0-7 clear.

Buoyed by that fortuitous jolt, Cratloe could have out the result beyond doubt only for further goal chances for Podge Collins and Diarmuid Ryan to agonisingly flash wide of the far right post.

However, additional points through championship top-scorer McInerney and Mike Brennan carved out a six point gap by the 50th minute that not even a spectacular Joe McGann goal could alter as Cratloe held on for a famous third ever title.

The Cratloe team and young fans with the cup following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The Cratloe team with the cup following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

An accidental fall from the Cratloe team bench is all part of the celebrations following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cratloe players celebrate with the cup following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cratloe players and young fans celebrate with the cup following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Kevin Harnett and Padraigh Chaplin of Cratloe collect the cup, to the delight of some young fans, following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cathal Mc Inerney of Cratloe collects the man of the match award from martin Donnelly accompanied by his children Tom and Charlie following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cathal Mc Inerney of Cratloe celebrates with his children Tom and Charlie following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A happy looking Cratloe manager Colm Collins following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins and Jack Mc Inerney celebrate following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Tommy Rooney of Cratloe is congratulated following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Conor Ryan and Sean Collins of Cratloe celebrate following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Conor Ryan and Sean Collins are congratulated by fans following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Shane Neville of Cratloe is congratulated following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A young Cratloe fan flys the club colours following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins and Riain Considine of Cratloe celebrate following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins and Riain Considine of Cratloe celebrate following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Conal O Hanlon and Riain Considine celebrate following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins of Cratloe celebrates with his brother Sean following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins of Cratloe celebrates with a young fan following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Manager of Cratloe Colm Collins is congratulated on the sideline following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Diarmuid Ryan and Conor Ryan of Cratloe celebrate following their Senior Championship final win over St Breckan’s at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A concerned looking fan during the Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A St Breckan’s fan cheers on his team during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Podge Collins of Cratloe in action against Joe Mc Gann of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Manager of St Breckan’s Declan O Keeffe on the sideline during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

A fan takes it all in during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Manager of St Breckan’s Declan O Keeffe on the sideline during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cratloe fans during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Liam Tierney of St Breckan’s in action against Liam Markham of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Jamie Stack of St Breckan’s in action against David Collins and Riain Mc Namara of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Shane Fitzpatrick of St Breckan’s in action against Diarmuid Ryan of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Joe Mc Gann of St Breckan’s in action against Kevin Harnett of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Padraig Kelly of St Breckan’s in action against Conor Ryan of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Joe Mc Gann of St Breckan’s in action against David Collins of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Joe Mc Gann of St Breckan’s in action against Diarmuid Ryan of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The Doonbeg team from 25 years ago which was honoured during the Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Mark O Donnell of St Breckan’s in action against Tommy Rooney of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Shane Neville of Cratloe in action against Liam Tierney of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cathal Mc Inerney of Cratloe in action against Paddy Doherty of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins of Cratloe in action against Colm O Brien of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins of Cratloe in action against Colm O Brien of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Alan Sweeney of St Breckan’s in action against Conal O Hanlon of Cratloe during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Sean Collins of Cratloe in action against Rowan Danagher of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Riain Mc Namara of Cratloe in action against Cian Burke of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cratloe Fans fly their flag during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Referee Niall Quinn during the Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

David Collins of Cratloe in action against Rowan Danagher of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Tommy Rooney of Cratloe in action against Padraig Kelly of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Liam Markham of Cratloe in action against Jack Sheedy of St Breckan’s during their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The St Breckan’s team stands for the anthem before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The Cratloe team stands for the anthem before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The Cratloe and St Breckan’s teams march behind the Tulla Pipe Band before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The Cratloe and St Breckan’s teams march behind the Tulla Pipe Band before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cian Burke , captain of St Breckan’s, leads out his team behind the Tulla Pipe Band before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Kevin Harnett, captain of Cratloe, leads out his team behind the Tulla Pipe Band before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Fans of St Breckan’s before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Captains Cian Burke of St Breckan’s and Kevin Harnett of Cratloe before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Manager of Cratloe Colm Collins before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Odran O Dwyer, coach of St Breckan’s, before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Pat Haugh of St Breckan’s before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Manger of St Breckan’s Declan O Keeffe before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The St Breckan’s team before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

The Cratloe team before their Senior Championship final at Cusack Park. Photograph by John Kelly

Cratloe: Padraigh Chaplin; Liam Markham, Kevin Harnett, David Collins; Riain McNamara, Mike Brennan, Enda Boyce; Diarmuid Ryan, Tommy Rooney; Conal O’Hanlon; Sean Collins, Shane Neville; Rian Considine, Cathal McInerney, Podge Collins Subs: Conor Ryan for Rooney (HT), Jack McInerney Considine (54)

Scorers: Cathal McInerney (1–6, 3f); Tommy Rooney, Diarmuid Ryan, Rian Considine, Mike Brennan (0-1 each)

St Breckan’s: Mark O’Donnell; Conor Burke, Raphael Considine, Paddy Doherty; Colm O’Brien, Alan Sweeney, Jack Sheedy; Paudie Kelly, Liam Tierney; Cian Burke, Shane Fitzpatrick, Maccon Byrne; Jamie Stack, Joe McGann, Rowan Danaher Subs: Padraig O’Dwyer for Sheedy (20, inj), Denis O’Callaghan for O’Brien (38, inj), Tristan O’Callaghan for O’Donnell (49), Cathal Guerin for Fitzpatrick (55)

Scorers: Jamie Stack (0-5, 2f); Joe McGann (1-2); Paudie Kelly (0-1, 45)

Referee: Niall Quinn (St Joseph’s Miltown)