County final glory can mean everything to supporters
The answer surprises people, but it’s true.
“I have had many great days with Kilkenny but nothing matches the delight I felt when James Stephens won the Kilkenny county title in 2004.”
A surprise indeed as the great man had no direct involvement in that James Stephens team. However, that sums up fairly accurately what the success with the club means to GAA followers. If it means that much to Cody, the most successful manager of our age, what does it mean to ordinary mortals who never got near a county team? And over the next few weeks we will see Cody’s sentiments echoed nationwide as clubs battle for immortality through county championship success. Be it Anthony Daly-inspired Kilmoyley winning their 22nd hurling title in Kerry or Mick O’Neill’s Clonakilty winning their first county since 1996, Sunday last will be remembered with great pride in the respective parishes.
As Cody said, there is nothing to match the joy and camaraderie of success with the club especially when these successes are few and far between.
The clash of Clonakilty and St. Finbarr’s in the county final on Sunday at Páirc Uí Chaiomh was a very special occasion for Cork followers. Over 10,000 people turned up as city versus country clashed in a major joust.
When Clonakilty, showing the benefits of the energy derived from their sponsors (Clonakilty Black Pudding), led by eight points as the game entered the final quarter some neutrals in the crowd began to leave. But they left too soon, as a club as famous and decorated as St. Finbarr’s weren’t going to throw in the towel that easily. The final quarter was a complete transformation of what went before. It was gripping, exciting and tense as the Barr’s hit a great goal and rattled off some fine points to draw level with five minutes left.
A team that comes from nowhere to rattle the dominant side with a few minute left invariably wins the contest. When a team is as dominant as Clon were on Sunday and then suddenly lose an eight-point lead, especially in football, it’s almost impossible to regain momentum.
But, to their eternal credit, Clonakilty made a few astute switches, regained their composure and stopped the rot.
Their winner came from an unlikely source: substitute wing-back David O’Regan was entrusted to take a free kick from over 45 metres out. This was real pressure but O’Regan showed nerves of steel and a strong and accurate boot to send the ball straight and high between the posts.
Buoyed by that splendid kick, Clon were back in business. They were a point ahead and they were in no mood to concede another score to the rampant Barr’s lads. The final whistle brought scenes of incredible belief and joy as the Clon boys ensured that the Andy Scannell Cup was going to be on the table when they sat down for their black pudding yesterday morning.
When people to go to county championship matches they always look out for players who might make it at county level. It’s hard to judge by one game but certainly Conor McManus showed a lot of class. I was impressed too by the work-rate of Timmy Aglin at midfield – very similar to Seamus Scanlon of Kerry – a great worker and driving force. His brother, Tony, at full-back was impressive too, while for the Barr’s Michael Shields and Jim O’Donoghue caught the eye.
Clonakilty now have the county championship trophy to adorn their superb new facilities, and who is to say there is not a lot more to come. As Cody said the club is Numero Uno – always.
Ask Clon and Kilmoyley.
