Big guns, new heroes celebrate county championships

IT was a day for the aristocrats and the New Order. Old money and nouveau-riche. The past and the future. It was decision day yesterday in 13 county championships. And yes, it was unlucky for some.

But for others, like Garryspillane it is a day to be cherished. Not alone were they winning their first Limerick SHC title, they were doing it against their neighbours Kilmallock. The three-point margin of victory could have been 300 such was the delirious and joyous response of fans and players alike when Pat O’Connor called halt. Former Clare selector Tony Considine was their Moses, leading them to this promised land. And did he enjoy it? What do you think?

“It’s always a thrill when you’re involved with a winning championship team, be it club or county, but when it’s the first county senior title, that’s special. All the credit must go to the players, they were really focused, they were just not going to be beaten, and that decision wasn’t just made yesterday, it was made 12 months ago, when we lost to Ahane in very disappointing circumstances, an injury-time point. When the draw was made this year, we were in the so-called group of death, ourselves, Patrickswell, Ahane, Ballybrown. ‘The worst possible draw,’ Jim Dooley, a real Garryspillane man, said to me; ‘No, I said, the best possible draw. Now we’ll see what we’re made of.’” And how they did.