Brilliant Kelly and Galvin lift Clare to more glory

Hurling followers were treated to another spectacular All-Ireland final in Thurles on Saturday evening when a supremely talented Clare under 21 team completed an historic three-in-a-row of championship triumphs in front of a fine crowd of over 15,000. It was a pulsating showdown played at an unrelenting pace as these young Banner men galloped into the record books despite facing a Wexford outfit which refused to give up.

The match compared favourable virtually in every aspect to the drawn senior final the week previously except in the area of marksmanship. Between them, Clare and Wexford amassed 12 wides in the opening-half, while Kilkenny and Tipperary had two less than that figure for the entire 70 minutes. The conversion rate, however, improved dramatically on the resumption as Clare lived up to their strong pre-match favourites billing.

In the end, two players stood out from the crowd for them. Tony Kelly, the 2013 Hurler of the Year, bounced back to his best form with a magnificent performance on the forty which saw him land seven points from play. The Clare captain produced a brilliant individual effort and the Wexford defence never really got to grips with the fleet-footed Ballyea player.

Not far behind Kelly was midfielder Colm Gavin, one of six players on the squad who was winning a third All-Ireland U-21 medal and also a key member of last year’s triumphant Clare senior team. Galvin’s touch, balance, reading of the play and accuracy – he landed four second-half points, including the final two of the game – were also critical to the Munster champions who carried the day on a 2-20 to 3-11 scoreline.

Clare were also well served by the likes of the fit-again Conor Cleary at centre back, Seadna Morey, Jamie Shanahan, Eoin Enright, Aaron Cunningham and David Reidy, while the Duggans, Peter and Bobby, were also influential in the half-forward line at times. Their team-work and overall distribution was generally a step ahead of Wexford, but this talented squad still had to roll up their sleeves to get the job done.

Though there were occasions when the Leinster title holders threatened to be over-run, their physically strong team never faltered in terms of commitment. Wexford trailed by 1-8 to 0-6 at the interval and had fallen nine points behind by the 50th minute, but still battled away in a fashion which must offer some encouragement that better days lay ahead for a county which has been a long time in the hurling doldrums.

They caused plenty of trouble for the Clare full back line when high balls were delivered to the opposition’s square and those three second-half goals from substitute David Dunne (2) and full forward Conor McDonald were the direct result of route one hurling. Wexford had the margin back to three points by the 56th minute but, in the style of a class team, Clare closed the deal with Kelly and Galvin fittingly putting the seal on a momentous achievement for Clare hurling.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.