Clarecastle crowned lords of the mud dance

Clarecastle 0-9 Wolfe Tones 0-7

Wexford’s All-Ireland winning manager won a couple of Clare county senior titles with Newmarket, but had he been in Ennis for yesterday’s 2005 decider, he might have put a little rider on that celebrated proclamation.

The Riverdance of Sport, yes, provided the conditions are kind. It’s late October, we’ve just had a week of torrential rain and there was a curtain-raiser (the Clare senior B final, and congratulations to the Forde-backed Ogonelloe on their win). Not even the famed Cusack Park sod could withstand such an onslaught.

This wasn’t a stage for the fancy dancers, it was a day for digging in, one of the dog days of hurling.

“All week we said the players would have to stand up today, and they did,” claimed Clarecastle captain Stephen Sheedy in his victory speech. They stood up to the occasion, right enough (as did Wolfe Tones), but all over the pitch, in conditions more conducive to ice-skating, players from both sides were going down.

The first half especially, played in a constant drizzle, was a lottery, constructive hurling made practically impossible. Scores were always going to be at a premium, and with the ball holding on a sticky sod, defences dominated.

This was especially true of the Clarecastle rearguard, the full-back line of man-of-the-match Ger Canny, Martin Sheedy and Mark McNamara completely on top, given great cover by the half row of Jamie O’Connor, Conor and Ollie Plunkett.

That dominance was reflected in the half-time scoreline, just two points conceded, from Wolfe Tones wing-forward David Reidy and corner-forward Gareth McPhillips.

It wasn’t much better for the forwards at the other end of the pitch, where the Lohan brothers, Brian and Frank, excelled down the middle for Wolfe Tones and Barry Loughnane was also very prominent on the wing.

Five points was all that defence conceded in the first half, and each one had to be chiselled from that granite sextet. Most impressive for Clarecastle in that period was Tyrone Kearse, who scored two and made another, despite the close attention of Bobby McPhillips. 0-5 to 0-2 at the break then, Clarecastle ahead but Wolfe Tones turning with the aid of a slight breeze.

It hadn’t been pretty and wasn’t likely to change, and it didn’t, at 0-5 to 0-4 in the second half, Wolfe Tones getting slightly the better of the exchanges.

Crucially, the Clarecastle forwards managed to do just that bit better on the scoreboard, into the elements, than Tones had in the first half.

Just as crucial, those same forwards were also defending extremely well.

Time after time, Clarecastle forwards were denied scores by that magnificent Wolfe Tones defence, but time after time they then turned the tables, exerted tremendous pressure themselves, prevented Wolfe Tones from setting up attacks from the back.

It was trench warfare, more hob-nailed boot than dancing slipper. Mind you, there was one moment of magic as there always is in any top-class hurling contest.

In the second minute of injury-time, two points behind, Wolfe Tones were pressing hard. On a couple of earlier occasions they had come close to the goal that would have decided this game, full-forward Declan O’Rourke flashing a first-time shot just wide of one post in the 32nd minute; substitute Mark Regan missing a chance on the other side just before.

Clarecastle keeper John ‘Skinny’ had meanwhile dealt comfortably with a couple of dangerous high balls.

Then came that moment. For the first and only time in this game on either side, a fluid move between several players resulted in a clear shot on goal.

It fell to Tones wing-forward Patsy Keyes and he hit it on the meat from 20m through a forest of players. Casey can only have seen it late, but he reacted brilliantly, dived, ball deflected out for a 65. The ball again dropped into the danger area but Ger ‘Badger’ Canny made the final clearance for Clarecastle.

“Shannon, words won’t console ye,” said a magnanimous Sheedy, cup in hand; “It was some slog, but thanks be to God we came out at the right end of it. We’ve lost finals, so we know what it’s like, but ye have many fine players, and there’s no doubt ye’ll be back.”

So they will, surely, but this was a day for the battle-hardened. Having tasted both victory in 2003 and defeat in 2002 at the ultimate stage in the last three seasons, Clarecastle are that.

They will savour this success, before turning their attention to the winners of Garryspillane (Limerick) and Ballygunner (Waterford) in a few weeks.

Scorers: Clarecastle: D Quinn 0-4 (0-3 frees); T Kearse 0-3; J Pyne, S Moloney, 0-1 each. Wolfe Tones: D Reidy 0-5 (0-3 frees); K McCarthy, G McPhillips, 0-1 each.

CLARECASTLE: J Casey; G Canny, M Sheedy, M McNamara; J O’Connor, C Plunkett, O Plunkett; J Pyne, J Clancy; D Scanlon, S Sheedy, T Kearse; S Moloney, E Flynn, D Quinn. Subs: A O’Loughlin (Scanlon 56) Blood sub: G Barry (C Plunkett 46/49).

WOLFE TONES: R Carley; G O’Connell, B Lohan, Diarmuid O’Rourke; B McPhillips, F Lohan, B Loughnane; B O’Connell, K McCarthy, P Keyes; P O’Rourke, Declan O’Rourke, G McPhillips. Subs: R Hehir (P O’Rourke 23); A Moloney (B McPhillips 47); M Regan (G McPhillips 56).

Referee: J Healy (Smith-O’Briens).

Attendance: 10,400.