Everything bar the odds stacked in Ballyea’s favour

MANY would have you believe there is a better chance of a snowman, packing shades and sunscreen, crossing the Sahara than Ballyea beating Clarecastle in the Clare SHC final tomorrow.

The attitude is entirely understandable. Clarecastle are the legendary power brokers of the code in the Banner, while Ballyea, with whom they share a parish, are in the uncharted territory. But it seems quite happy to be there.

"The pressure is all on Clarecastle, and rightly so," says Ballyea club chairman Michael O'Neill. "When you go through the fifteen, Clarecastle have all the experience, they look the better side on paper."

But there is one very obvious exception. "Tony Griffin is our most vital player, a great motivator, great clubman. He works all over Munster but never misses a training session, and his example would have inspired a lot of the younger lads here.

"It's great encouragement for them, Tony has proved that a player from a small club can make it to the top. Years ago, that wouldn't have happened, or if it did, he would have been gone probably to Clarecastle."

Before Ballyea hit the big-time many players did go. Indeed two natives, brothers Martin and Stephen Sheedy, will man pivotal positions for Clarecastle tomorrow. It is not a bone of contention between the clubs however, more an accepted fact of life.

"I don't think we'd have anyone who hates them," reckons Anthony Daly, former Clare captain and current Clarecastle stalwart.

"We've always been the stronger club, always played at senior level while Ballyea were at junior. It wasn't until a couple of years ago when they won intermediate, that they came up to senior B, but I can't remember us ever meeting."

Even if the odds are stacked against Ballyea, and they are, everything else is in their favour.

"There isn't going to be a single individual outside of Clarecastle who wants to see us winning this one," laughs Daly.

"We're overwhelming favourites, no point denying that. It's kind of a bum situation in that every neutral will be against us, will give us absolutely no credit if we win, even if we win well. While if we lose, we'll be crucified for ever more, in Clarecastle especially. That's the reality of it.

"Ballyea, I'd say, are a bit like the Clare team in '95, they must feel it's just their year. They topped their B group, are already qualified for the B final, in the A final now after beating two A teams in the quarter-final and semi-final. I'd say they're ready to take on anyone at this stage."

Many of the names on the Ballyea side are instantly recognisable in Clare, but only as surnames. Four Griffins, two sets of brothers, with Tony's sibling, Frankie, at midfield, Eamonn and John (Ballyea captain) on the wings at half-back; then you have the Chambers, Tomas, Brian and Donal; the Hehirs, Michael and Alan.

All strong Clare names.

Of them all however, only Tony Griffin has senior inter-county experience, though Paddy O'Connell at centre-back, Donal Chambers and Alan Hehir on the panel, were with this year's intermediate side, while keeper Shane O'Neill lined out for the U-21's.

Wing-forward Kevin Sheehan, still only 17, played with Clare U-16's last year.

For Clarecastle?

Well apart from Anthony Daly and Stephen Sheedy, from the Clare glory days of 1995 and 1997, Conor Plunkett is a solid member of the current Clare side (operating very successfully as a centre-forward in this Clarecastle side) while Shane Plunkett, Ken Ralph, Danny Scanlon have all been on the current senior panel at various stages.

All the pointers are towards a Clarecastle win, perhaps a big win, and that wouldn't be disputed, even within Ballyea.

But it's one game, it's a final, it's a derby, it's hurling, it's championship; and history is strewn with the rubble of fallen favourites.