Culbert made right call to join O’Meara

Sixmilebridge coach Brian Culbert had a choice when former team-mate John O’Meara was appointed manager of the club’s senior hurling team for the landmark 2013 campaign.

The two know each other well, having starred together on the last Bridge team to win the Munster senior title, 13 years ago.

In that final against Waterford’s Mount Sion, Culbert and O’Meara formed two-thirds of a potent full-forward line.

Culbert, just 18 at the time, scored 1-4 from play and Niall Gilligan at full-forward bagged 1-8. O’Meara didn’t score but his workrate and nuisance factor was crucial in theSemple Stadium victory.

At underage level with the club in recent years, Culbert and O’Meara have worked wonders and it was perhaps inevitable they would reunite at senior level.

Culbert smiles: “He [O’Meara] retired me to go on board with him [as coach]. I was sub last year so I technically hung up my boots to go with him. I wasn’t making the team any more and I’d rather be coaching than sitting on the line. So instead of the young fellas taking my place on the team, I decided it might be handier to coach them.”

As U16 manager, Culbert oversaw two county title wins and, two years ago, he was over the minors as a Bridge team containing current Clare seniors Seadna Morey and Jamie Shanahan ruled the roost in the Banner. Culbert himself enjoyed a fine playing career, winning two Harty Cup medals and an All-Ireland title with St Flannan’s. He also captained Clare minor and U21 teams and was a senior panellist for four years. But, at club level, the undoubted highlights were the 2000 county and provincial title wins.

And Culbert recalls: “Myself and O’Meara were corner-forwards that day [against Mount Sion], with Gilly full-forward. It was my second year on the panel and a roller coaster, like this year. We just kept going game on game [to the final].”

Culbert laughs: “Some might say that was the last good game I ever played for the Bridge! We lost to Graigue-Ballycallan in the All-Ireland semi-final, after a replay. We thought we’d be back there every year after that.”

Sixmilebridge did return to contest a Munster final in 2002, but on thatoccasion Mount Sion gained revenge. After that, 11 long, painful years passed before the club climbed to the top of the pile in Clare again.

Gilligan is still pulling the strings, with Culbert and O’Meara orchestrating matters on the touchline. Last Sunday in Cork, Gilligan (37) was at it again, leading from the front as the Bridge put Midleton to the sword at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. One point into the Blackrock End was vintage Gilly.

Culbert says: “The point he got on the sideline — we were directly behind him and the minute it left his hurley, it was straight over the bar. I said it to O’Meara — ‘my God, that’s some score’. Over the shoulder.

“If anyone deserved to win a [county] championship after 11 years, it’s Gilly. The problem with some county lads is that they only concentrate on county but he’s the one fella for whom the Bridge is thenumber one goal.”

So while one club legend is still wearing the saffron and blue of Sixmilebridge, another is grappling with the prospect of masterminding the potential downfall of his home club.

Former Clare star and Sixmilebridge native Sean Stack is manager of opponents Na Piarsaigh in Sunday’s Munster final. Culbert reflects: “He’s a club legend. He’s done a terrific job with Na Piarsaigh, considering they’re going for a second Munster Club in three years. And to win such a difficult county championship in Limerick just shows we’re up against it.”