Tag Archives: All-Ireland

The drama and excitement of the All-Ireland hurling final.

Clare 0-25 Cork 3-16 It was heartstopping stuff. For the majority of this All-Ireland senior hurling final Clare were the better side yet they ended up having to get the equalising point in injury time. Few would have written the script for this enthralling contest and fewer still would have predicted that the equalising score would come from corner-back Domhnall O’Donovan. The Clonlara man who was outstanding throughout came up-field as the game just past the scheduled two minutes of injury time. He took a pass from his clubmate Nicky O’Connell and from the 45m line on the Cusack Stand side of the grounds, he floaded the ball between the uprights. It was the least Clare deserved from a game they dominated for long periods. Clare held a two-point advantage (0-12 to 0-10) at half time but, in truth, they should have been further ahead. In the final four minutes of the half Cork had outscored the Bannermen 0-4 to …

Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald told the post match press conference that he was extremely proud of his team. Clare drew the All-Ireland final, thanks to a dramatic injury time point from corner back Domhnall O’Donovan. When Pat Horgan gave Cork the lead in injury time it was the first time that the Jimmy Barry Murphy managed team had lead during what were 70 pulsating minutes. “It just showed what character and what steel is about. I am so proud of my guys. Whether they win, lose or draw the next day, I don’t give a damn. That’s being honest. There was a lot of tough things went against them out there today. I won’t say unfair. I could. But they still came back for more,” Fitzgerald said. “You think about it, three goals in the second half and we scored none. No matter what happens, I’m so, so proud of them. Will they get up to that height the next …

Thumbs up! Patrick Kelly makes A great save early in the game

The Clare fans are on their way in droves to Croke Park. They’re all in good cheer and confident of victory.

OPINIONS may be divided as to who will claim the All-Ireland senior title but all are agreed that there will be little between the sides. Tactics are a dominant topic. Will Clare continue with the sweeper system that was so effective in the wins over Galway and Limerick? In the event of this happening, what will Cork do to counteract the ploy? Will Brian Murphy return to the Cork starting line-up having missed their semi-final win over Dublin due to injury? If so, will he again be assigned the role of marking Tony Kelly, which he did so effectively in the Munster semi-final? What is certain is both management teams have put hours and hours of thought and planning into what tactics they will put into practice on Sunday. Two months ago, few would have predicted a meeting of the Rebels and the Banner in the final. Clare were comprehensively beaten by Cork in the Munster semi-final. The Leesiders then …

Who’d have thought you’d hear former British prime minister, Maggie Thatcher and Davy Fitzgerald mentioned in the same breath? Well, that’s what happened when five hurling experts got talking in Cairde, Barrack Street, Ennis. Peter O’Connell let the conversation flow as smoothly as the tea and coffee Compare how this panel has prepared to your own day? Jackie O’Gorman: I remember we had a Saturday morning session once in Ennis [1970s]. It was on at about 12. [Mick] Moroney came late, of course. We were going round the field and I said ‘Moroney, you’re dodging it today’. ‘Christ, I’m not,’ he said. ‘There’s rain promised this evening and I had to put 2,000 bales in before I came down’. That couldn’t happen now. The farmer, the blocklayer, the plasterer. It just couldn’t be done. Seánie McMahon: It was only when I gave up hurling [2006] that I realised how much time was going into it. And I’d say it’ll be …

INADVERENTLY, Davy Fitzgerald drew unhelpful attention upon himself and Clare by not attending the All-Ireland press night in Ennis. In a year in which most of his important decisions, relating to what happens on the field, have been vindicated, that was a poor call by the Clare manager and his advisers. The only way Clare will avoid being rounded upon by the national media is if they win on Sunday. While Fitzgerald might justifiably feel he is entitled to make up his own mind if he attends these events or not, in effect he turned a negative focus on Clare by staying away. In contrast, Jimmy Barry Murphy was available to all sections of the media at the Cork press day in Pairc Uí Rínn. That level of co-operation guarantees nothing and will mean nothing if Cork lose but it does suggest the Cork manager is more comfortable dealing with an All-Ireland final build up. By not making a fuss …