Gilligan aiming to Bridge nine year wait

WHEN Sixmilebridge overcame Cratloe in the Clare senior hurling semi-final, the focus fell on veteran keeper Davy Fitzgerald who, despite being out of the game for a number of years, answered an emergency call and showed he had lost little of the nerve and catlike reactions that had seen him win two All-Irelands with Clare in the mid-90s.

The new Clare manager will again be togged this week as cover for regular keeper Derek Fahy who has recovered from his broken cheekbone, but there is another veteran on this Sixmilebridge team, another former Clare star grabbing the headlines right through their unbeaten march to tomorrow’s final, Niall Gilligan.

Two years ago the man with the lethal blade retired from inter-county hurling. This year he came back at a lower level and inspired Clare to its first ever All-Ireland intermediate title.

Now, team captain, through his scoring exploits from play and placed balls, has inspired an otherwise youthful Bridge side to its first county senior final since 2002.

But they are up against it of course. They’ll face the experienced reigning champions Crusheen, finalists in three of the last five years, unbeaten also in their run to date. But, says Niall, they’ve had their own very positive experience this year.

“Our first-round match against Clarecastle we were expected to win well but only won by a point,” he said.

“Hot favourites in the quarter-final against Inagh/Kilnamona, we won that by only two points. Those kind of tight matches stand to you and it did in the semi-final when we held off Cratloe (1-17 to 1-14, Niall with nine of those points). Bar myself and one or two more we have a young team and to come out on the right side of those kinds of battles will bring us on a lot.

“How much? We’ll know on Sunday. Crusheen are no flash-in-the-pan, they’ve been around the block at this stage, beaten by only a point in the 2007 final by Tulla, so we know we’re up against it. There won’t be a whole lot in it, that’s for sure.”

It’s all bonus territory now for Niall, a resounding endorsement of his decision to keep on hurling after quitting the big stage.

“At my age, every minute of every game could be your last so you try to make the most of it.

“When I finished with Clare seniors I was able to really enjoy my hurling again. Start training in the month of February, tip away a couple of times a week with maybe a league game at the weekend.

“I’m living in the village, training at eight o’clock, leave the house 15 minutes beforehand and you’re home in just over an hour – it’s been very enjoyable. To be able to play with the young lads is great too.

“We’ve won the last five U16 finals, reached the last three minor finals, and won two of the last three U21 finals, including this year.

“The underage talent is definitely coming through and now we have lads like Jamie Shanahan and Seadhna Morey starting this Sunday, both of them still minor.

“Seadhna played very well at corner-back for the Clare minors for the last two years, a serious talent. He played a few games for us this year up at wing-forward, played very well too, but he was moved to centre-back the last day and he shone there. I’d say you could play him anywhere, even in goals, and he’d do well. Jamie Shanahan the same, and he’ll be minor again next year — they’ll be two men for the county seniors someday soon. Both of them could yet match the record of Gerry McInerney (former Bridge and Clare great) back in 1979 and win minor, U21 and senior in the one year.”

Whatever about that little bit of history, Niall will be hoping to pick up his own fourth county title as well as trying to help most of the rest pick up their first.

But with the Dillons, Cian, Cathal and Cronan in the Crusheen defence, the Brigdale brothers alongside them, John and Alan, along with Ciarán O’Doherty up against them, scores will be hard-earned.

It could all come down to frees, to the free-takers – in such circumstances, would you bet against Niall Gilligan?

Clare SHC final: Sixmilebridge v Crusheen, tomorrow, 3.30pm, Ennis. (Live on Tg4).