Double champions Éire Óg are kings of Clare
Éire Óg players celebrate with the cup after completing the double. Picture: Eamon Ward
Éire Óg are unequivocal kings of Clare after a late footballing flourish bridged a historic senior championship double for the club for the first time in 96 years in Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg on Sunday afternoon.
Seven days on from seeing off Clooney-Quin to garner a first hurling title since 1990, Shane Daniels’ footballers, backed by eight dual players who featured in both finals, eventually outlasted neighbours St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield with an 11-point final quarter turnaround to emulate predecessors Ennis Dalcassians’ 1929 feat.
“It’s a massive achievement for the club as a whole,” beamed manager Daniels at the final whistle. “We’ve been on a journey for the past four or five years and trained really hard, but the hurlers have been on that journey as well and they finally broke through the door this year and thoroughly deserved it as they are a fantastic team.
“We want as many Éire Óg teams as possible winning titles but this is special, there’s no doubt about it and credit to the dual players in particular who have made such sacrifices to make this double a reality.”
Captain Aaron Fitzgerald, man-of-the-match Ciaran Russell, Oran Cahill, David McNamara, Darren Moroney, Darren O’Brien, Jarlath Collins and Nially McMahon were instrumental on both Sundays to ensure that the Jack Daly (football) and Canon Hamilton (hurling) trophies will remain in the capital for the next 12 months.
Bidding for a fourth football crown in five seasons, Éire Óg’s flawless 25-match winning championship run was really tested by a St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield side determined to make the most of their first senior final appearance in 13 years.
Two first-half opportunist goals through Odhran O’Connell were in contrast to three uncharacteristic misses for Éire Óg who frustratingly saw Luke Pyne and Ikem Ugwueru miss the target before the latter’s injury-time bullet was tipped away by goalkeeper Tom O’Brien.
Crucially though, the champions always seemed to be able to find the answers when required as Mark McInerney’s brace of two-pointers twice reeled in the Parish to ensure a 0-7 to 0-7 interval stalemate.
David McNamara inched Éire Óg back in front on the resumption, only to be floored once more by a third Parish wave, this time Paddy Bugler and Michael Nash converting two-pointers to power St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield four clear at 2-6 to 0-8 by the two-thirds mark.
In such a compelling derby decider, the ultimate difference in the end proved to be Éire Óg’s superior experience and strength in depth as Daniels emptied their bench to match-altering effect.
“The hardest part of my job all year was picking the team every day we go out. We knew the quality we have on the bench and we tried to keep the whole camp as hungry as we could and thankfully that came to fruition today as I think we got 1-3 off the bench which is phenomenal.”
Amid a remarkable 1-8 unanswered finale, substitutes Gavin Cooney (1-0), Jack Joyce (0-2) and Aidan McGrath inspired their side to double glory.
“Look, we’re absolutely delighted to come out with the win there at the end,” admitted a relieved Daniels. “It was heart-stopping at times and we had to dig deep just to get a result.
“I’ve been listening to people saying that we haven’t been really tested this year but we were tested today so I’m delighted for the lads that they did show their character as we have leaders all over the pitch.
“I knew the character of the lads would eventually shine through and to be honest I’m so so proud of them and the entire club for carrying out such a brilliant achievement.”
M McInerney 0-7 (2tpf, 1tp, 1f); G Cooney 1-0; J Joyce (1tp), I Ugwueru 0-2 each; C Russell, O Cahill, D McNamara, R Lanigan, A McGrath 0-1 each
O O’Connell 2-0; P Bugler (1tpf), M Nash 0-2 each; T McDonald, J Rafferty 0-1 each
C Howard; D Ryan, A Fitzgerald, M Doherty; C Russell, G D’Auria, R Lanigan; D McNamara, G Murray; O Cahill, I Ugwueru, D O’Brien, M McInerney, L Pyne, D Moroney
J Joyce for Pyne (40), J Collins for O’Brien (40), A McGrath for Moroney (47), G Cooney for Murray (50), N McMahon for McNamara (61)
T O’Brien; E Thynne, D O’Shea, F Kelleher; E Boyle, C O’Brien, C McDonough; J Curran, T McDonald; O O’Connell, M Nash, L Clune, J Rafferty, T Curran, P Bugler
N Hardiman for McDonald (45, inj), D Boyle for O’Connell (50), C Hannan for Clune (55), S Costelloe for T. Curran (59)
N Quinn (St. Joseph’s Miltown)
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