Clough-Ballacolla claimed a third Laois SHC title in a row last month.
By Cian O'Connell
These truly are glorious days for Clough-Ballacolla. Three Laois SHC titles on the spin have been gleaned, several other teams in the club have competed for silverware too meaning a real feel good factor exists.
Ultimately it means important matches are arriving thick and fast for Clough-Ballacolla, who face Kilmacud Crokes in the AIB Leinster Club SHC at Parnell Park on Sunday.
Chairperson Oonagh Maher, from a family that his given distinguished service on and off the field of play, acknowledges that this is a particularly special time for Clough-Ballacolla. “It has been a great three years,” she says.
“Our intermediates won a county final too this year and our minors so this year has been particularly good for us. So hopefully it continue on Sunday.
“It is going to be a tough game against Kilmacud Crokes, we know that from last year. Hopefully the lads can do it as it will be a great day on Sunday.
“It is nice that we get to share it with each other. It has been good with the hurling.”
Consistent and crafty in Laois, how have Clough-Ballacolla maintained such high standards recently? “I think they are just a great unit,” Maher says. “A lot of the mentors are hurlers, who are going back into coaching roles. So a lot of our hurlers do take underage teams, to try to develop them on.
Clough-Ballacolla full back Darren Maher.
“That was shown with our minors. We had a good few lads, who played with the club at senior level involved in that and some lads that are still playing. We are a small community, everyone just helps out where they can.”
Such a willingness to contribute matters deeply according to Maher. “We have four adult teams, three of the team got to county finals,” she says.
“We are a club of 300 people, it is amazing what we do. Some people nearly call us a cult - that we all stay together. We don't venture too far from the village.
“The dedication of the players and management at different times to help out the lads, to put them where they needed to be. In fairness we have a good committee too, we have a good juvenile structure. I think the community has rallied around.
“All we have in our village is hurling, we have two pubs that were closed during Covid, the shop is gone. There isn't a lot to do in the village except to hurl or play sport.”
Having flared to prominence with Loughmore-Castleiney, manager Declan Laffan’s role in the Clough-Ballacolla tale is worthy of the utmost respect. “Declan has fitted in great, he comes from a similar enough club,” Maher says.
“He understands what it means to us, the same as what it means to his own club. The players trust him and he trusts the players. He has been brilliant for us since he took over.”
Clough-Ballacolla manager Declan Laffan.
Maher has relished being involved in the administrative side of Clough-Ballacolla. “I was PRO for a couple of years, then I stepped away for a year. We needed a chairperson, I seemed to have got caught with it, but it hasn't been a bad three years for me. I will be going out on a high anyway.
“It has been weird as chairperson because for the first two years there wasn't a whole lot with Covid. This year is the first year that I have witnessed a lot of what needs to be done with the full year calendar. I enjoy it, we have a great committee with a great secretary. The whole committee helps out wherever they can, everyone has different roles so it is great.
“You know you can ask people to give a hand at different fundraisers. It isn't the same people for each fundraiser. We have different people to help out on certain ones. It is great that you know that you can ask people in the community, who are willing to help out.”
Away from Clough-Ballacolla duty, Maher has also contributed to initiatives carried out by Laois Gaels to support inter-county teams. “It has been great, it started up a couple of years ago - Bryan Breen, he spearheads a lot of it,” she says.
“This year we have put a lot of effort into a fundraiser for the development group - our minors, U16s, all of them with Laois. We have looked after them a lot more this year. Hopefully we can get it up and running again for next year.
“You see Portarlington doing really well in the football. We both did the three in a row, it is great. Even for Laois hurling when you see clubs doing well lads can get called into the county panel. It has been great.”
Clough-Ballacolla’s adventure continues.
