Clarinbridge on cloud nine

Dara Bradley

CLARINBRIDGE were crowned the 2010 Galway senior hurling champions for only the second time in the club’s history after steamrolling Loughrea in extra-time of the county final replay in front of at least 10,000 spectators at Kenny Park on Sunday.

Loughrea seemed poised for victory, holding a three-points lead, 0-13 to 0-10, in the 26th minute of the second-half but Clarinbridge staged a rousing late rally with two frees, one in injury-time, and a ‘65 from corner-forward Paul Coen – who took over placed ball responsibilities from Mark Kerins late on – to force extra-time.

The momentum was now with the ‘Bridge, the fitter outfit, who completely dominated the exchanges in the two ten minute periods of extra-time, outscoring Loughrea by five points to two.

All Micheál Donoghue’s charges’ extra-time scores were from play courtesy of Barry Daly, whose point gave the ‘Bridge the lead for the first time in the match two minutes into extra-time, Eanna Murphy, Mark Kerins – a delightful piece of skill, the centre-forward lifted the ball and doubled on it from near the half-way line – Alan Kerins and Eoin Forde, compared with just two frees for Loughrea’s Neil Keary.

It was a rejuvenated Clarinbridge that emerged in extra-time brimful of energy and determination whereas Loughrea, who never once fell behind in normal time, just didn’t have the legs to keep up with their opponents’ verve and the 2006 winners faded badly in the additional 20 minutes.

Loughrea have now lost four county finals since 2003 but it could have been a different story – Joe Sweeney’s men were in the ascendancy in the first half and probably should have established a greater interval lead.

Kenneth Colleran in particular was causing problems for the Clarinbridge rearguard while Johnny Maher was doing damage, too, but Loughrea led by just 0-7 to 0-6 at the turnaround.

The champions though, buoyed on by heroic displays from official man-of-the-match Jamie Cannon and centre-back David Forde, who was surely just a whisker away from getting that accolade, kept plugging away and showed enormous character and determination not to throw in the towel and to go on and force extra-time.

Switching Alan Kerins to midfield in the fourth quarter and in extra-time had a massive bearing on the outcome but, in the end, it was Clarinbridge’s greater fitness levels – and determination – which were vital in carrying the day and securing their first county title since the 2001 breakthrough year.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.