Buckley’s late winner breaks Cratloe hearts

Dr Crokes (Kerry) 0-13 Cratloe (Clare) 0-12

In a truly phenomenal individual effort he covered every blade of grass on that pitch over and over but now it was over he was still, statue-still. He knew, as surely as did everyone else in the 2,384 attendance, this was a game the Clare champions should have won.

Podge you see is a competitor, as fierce and driven as any who has ever taken to that famous pitch on the Ennis Road in Limerick. He has already won All-Ireland senior and U21 hurling titles with Clare this year and was almost an automatic choice on the All Star team. No matter. With his father Colm as team manager, his closest of close friends — including brother Sean at wing-forward — alongside him, this was a title he desperately wanted to win. This was a title he knew Cratloe had in their grasp but allowed slip through their fingers.