Gort must now turn their sights on Coolderry

BARELY a month ago, James Stephens, Oulart-the-Ballagh, Ballyboden, Ballygunner and the reigning champions Clarinbridge were the perceived main contenders for All-Ireland club hurling glory but, against the odds, all of them have bitten the dust in the interim as this year’s title race continues to throw tradition and expectation out the window.

All of a sudden, Gort have emerged as the new favourites to lift the Tommy Moore Cup – the fact that successive Galway champions don’t annually have to contend with an arduous provincial campaign always ensures they figure prominently in the betting in any event – and must now have every chance of maintaining the county’s great record in the championship.

Naturally, the Gort mentors and players would have been keeping a close eye on the action in last Sunday’s provincial finals and though the general assumption was that they would end up facing Oulart-the-Ballagh in next February’s All-Ireland semi-final, they must now refocus their sights on Coolderry of Offaly who added to the protracted torment of Wexford hurling at Nowlan Park.

With Oulart’s team boss and outstanding ex-player, Liam Dunne, having been recently appointed the Wexford manager, together with the club’s semi-final triumph over James Stephens, hurling supporters around the county were starting to believe that a corner was being turned in lifting the Slaneymen out of the doldrums, but that optimism looks greatly misplaced on the evidence of Sunday’s Leinster decider.

Once again, a Wexford team had enough chances and possession to have carried the day, but instead Oulart-the-Ballagh were guilty of poor shooting and poor decision-making, while the team’s lack of composure also undermined their challenge. In the circumstances, it was difficult to comprehend why Dunne opted to replace key forwards, Rory Jacob and Eoin Moore, before the end of the match.

You’d always have question marks about a team like Oulart which has been a long time around and still has to win a Leinster club title. Last Sunday again showed why.

In contrast, a much improved Coolderry outfit were again typically economic. Having knocked out Ballyboden in the semi-final, Oulart would have held no fear for them. The Offaly champions may lack some physique around the field, notwithstanding the influential presence of the Brady bothers, Kevin and Joe, along with the rugged Martin Corcoran up front, but they are a seasoned outfit backboned by current and former county players.

With fellow Lorrha man, Ken Hogan, at the sideline helm, Coolderry wouldn’t lack for coaching or motivation either, while they have been on a gradual upward curve since surviving a close shave against Clareen in the county quarter-final on their way to retaining the Offaly title for the first time since 1963. It was also the club’s 29th county triumph, extending their lead over Birr at the head of the roll of honour to seven.

Coolderry had many heroes last Sunday, including central defenders Trevor Corcoran and Joe Brady, free-taker Damien Murray and Brian Carroll, who sent over three critical points from play, but their top man again was Cathal Parlon, son of former IFA President, Tom. Cathal was a very young member of the Offaly squad when I was in charge a few years ago, but he was utterly committed and fearless.

Having scored 1-6 from play against Ballyboden, Parlon turned in another match-winning performance in Nowlan Park. Apart from landing three points, the in-form attacker also scored a priceless goal early in the second-half to put Coolderry in the driving seat. Though surrounded by a host of Oulart defenders and seemingly with no where to go, Parlon somehow managed to rustle his way through before steering the ball to the net from a tight angle.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.