Adam Hogan, left, and Shane McGrath of Feakle celebrate after their sides victory in the Clare County Senior Club Hurling Championship final match between Sixmilebridge and Feakle at Cusack Park in Clare. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
Clare Senior Hurling Championship Final
Feakle 1-17 Sixmilebridge 0-13
By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park, Ennis
36 years after their last county title, it was worth the wait as Feakle powered to the Clare Senior Hurling Championship honours in front of 6,557 in Cusack Park, Ennis.
Having see this final postponed by eight days due to Storm Ashley, nothing was going to stand in Feakle’s way in what was a superb collective display that saw them lead a vastly experienced Sixmilebridge from start to finish.
Indeed, Ger Conway’s side could even afford to pass up a 23rd minute penalty along with three earlier goal sightings and still maintain their lofty position, aided predominantly by an eight point haul from talisman Shane McGrath and some excellent performances from captain Oisin Donnellan and Ronan O’Connor.
The East Clare side had six different scorers in their first wave including a trio of McGrath frees to settle them into their stride at 0-8 to 0-3 by the 19th minute.
Feakle looked to be on their way to victory when Oisin O’Connor was brought down for a 23rd minute penalty but goalkeeper Derek Fahy was equal to McGrath’s effort as a buoyant Sixmilebridge went about further lessening the damage through Alex Morey at 0-8 to 0-6.
Injury-time points for Packie Daly and Steven Conway ensured a 0-10 to 0-06 cushion though and with the conditions to come, Feakle only fleshed out that margin further on the restart.
Three McGrath placed balls were finally decorated by the only goal of the game in the 41st minute as teenage substitute Owen McGann made an immediate impact to soar 1-13 to 0-07 clear.
Credit Sixmilebridge for not lowering their heads though as leaders such as Alex Morey, Shane Golden, Brian Corry and captain Jamie Shanahan lowered the arrears to just five entering the final quarter.
Despite their relative inexperience, Feakle didn’t reach for the panic button, with McGrath fittingly getting them back on track twice amidst a major scare when Seadna Morey tested the reflexes of county team-mate Eibhear Quilligan in the 56th minute.
Feakle finished the stronger to finally end a seemingly interminable 36 year wait to get their hands back on the coveted Canon Hamilton trophy.
Scorers for Feakle: Shane McGrath (0-8, 6f, 2’65); Owen McGann (1-0); Steven Conway, Oisin Donnellan, Eoin Tuohy (0-2 each); Martin Daly, Killian Bane, Packie Daly (0-1 each)
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Alex Morey (0-5f); Shane Golden, Brian Corry (0-2 each); Lorcan Fitzpatrick, David Kennedy, Jamie Shanahan, Brian Carey (0-1 each)
Feakle: Eibhear Quilligan; Oisin Clune, Adam Hogan, Eoghan Daly; Killian Bane, Conn Smyth, Eoin Tuohy; Ronan O’Connor, Enda Noonan; Oisin Donnellan, Shane McGrath, Steven Conway; Packie Daly, Martin Daly, Oisin O’Connor.
Subs: Owen McGann for O. O’Connor (37), Raymond Bane for P. Daly (46), Enda Madden for Noonan (54), Fiachra Donnellan for M. Daly (59)
Sixmilebridge: Derek Fahy; Colm Flynn, Barry Fitzpatrick, Noel Purcell; Conor Deasy, Seadna Morey, Paidi Fitzpatrick,; Jason Loughnane, Matthew O’Halloran; Lorcan Fitzpatrick, Jamie Shanahan, Shane Golden; Brian Corry, Alex Morey, David Kennedy.
Subs: Caimin Morey for Deasy (25), Brian Carey for Loughnane (37), Alan Mulready for Kennedy (37), Fiachra Ó Braoin for A. Morey (60), Leon Kelly for Purcell (61)
Referee: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)
