For Ballyea, winning in the face of adversity has become the norm

Tony Kelly, Ballyea's and Clare’s marquee player, couldn’t play in the county final after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury last month

Ballyea's injured county star Tony Kelly. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

When Ballyea gathered in a huddle at the end of the third quarter near the Friary goal yesterday, they were trailing by three points but fully comfortable with the position they were in.

In their two previous county final wins, in 2016 and 2018, Ballyea had been in similar difficult scenarios in the second halves, against Clonlara (drawn 2016 final) and Cratloe in 2018. But they found a way each time. And they fully believed that they would again yesterday.